Hollyford Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hollyford Valley |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Geography | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| State/Province | Fiordland |
| River | Hollyford River |
The Hollyford Valley is a beautiful valley located in Fiordland, which is in the southwest part of New Zealand's South Island. It gets its name from the Hollyford River. This river flows through the valley from the Southern Alps all the way to the Tasman Sea.
The valley is covered in thick Beech forest, with trees growing on the hillsides and along the valley floor. It used to be a very remote place, meaning it was hard to get to. Even today, there's only one main road, Milford Road, that goes near it. This road comes from Te Anau in the south. However, it turns off towards Milford Sound before reaching the coast.
Where the road turns off, there's a small museum. This spot is also the starting point for many tramping (hiking) trails. About 2,000 people each year explore the wild areas of the Hollyford Valley.
Hollyford River
The Hollyford River is the main river that flows through the Hollyford Valley. It collects water from the valley and carries it all the way to Martins Bay, which is on the Tasman Sea.
Hollyford Track
The Hollyford Track is a popular walking trail that lets visitors explore the Hollyford Valley. It's a great way for tourists to see the natural beauty of the area up close.
Davey Gunn
From 1936, a local farmer named David Gunn helped make the Hollyford Valley famous. He worked hard to tell people about how amazing and beautiful the valley was, encouraging more visitors to come and see it.
Future Road Plans
For a long time, people have talked about building a new road from the turnoff near the Hollyford Valley towards Haast. This idea first came up in the 1870s! It would follow the river and then go along the rugged coastline. However, building such a road has always been considered too expensive.
In 2010, the idea came up again. Some people thought a toll road (where you pay to use it) could be built. They believed this road would be good for tourism and could make travel to Milford Sound faster. But, groups who care about nature were worried. They thought the road might harm the Fiordland National Park and lead to more development in protected areas.
In early 2010, the government decided that the road was not a high priority. This was because of the high cost and the expected benefits for tourism. So, the plan was put on hold.
Milford Dart Tunnel Proposal
Another idea for improving travel in the area was a tunnel called the Milford Dart Tunnel. This tunnel would be for private coaches. In 2012, the Minister for Conservation gave a basic approval for this project. However, some conservation groups were concerned.
They worried that building the tunnel could affect the Hollyford River and the unique plants and animals in the valley. For example, dirty water from the construction site might pollute the clean river. People also worried that making this wild, natural area too easy to reach by road might harm its special, remote feeling. This remote feeling is what attracts many adventurous hikers and sightseers in the first place.
