let us introduce a fabulous holiday park:
The Great Views Holiday
Park
– Te Anau
What
can I say? The name says it all. The Great Views Holiday Park is
1.2 kms from Te Anau on SH 94,
the road to Milford.
This five acre elevated park site is
right by the Upukerora
River where
the trout
beckon. It is the kind of place one feels the need to linger just to
have
another look at the sunset over Lake Te Anau, New Zealand’s second
largest
lake, and the mountains of the Fiordland National Park.
It was 1927 when road work
began and originally went
right through where the present park is now located. The early
intention was to
create a road to the Te Anau Downs station but they continued on to
Milford
Sound much to the pleasure of all of us today. The park owners, Ross
and Ivy
Saunders, remember the Sunday drives to Te Anau Downs station where
Ivy’s
father once worked.
In addition
to
the fabulous setting one is blessed with two of the finest owners on
site who
go over and above to see everyone is comfortable and enjoying their
stay.
Thirty-one years ago Ross and Ivy, a couple
of bee
keepers from the Winton area, bought this scrub tract of land as a
hobby farm
never dreaming they would one day be campground owners. Watching the
tourists
pass by every day on their way to Milford
gave them the inspiration to give it a go seventeen years ago. Slowly
at first
with just caravan and tent facilities they annually began adding cabins
and
facilities and are continually improving.
Today,
in a park that is kept spic and span from top
to bottom, you can find over forty powered sites and the same number of
non-power sites for your vehicle along with tent sites and the standard
and
deluxe cabins.
These modern facilities
still give one a feel for
really camping with the many large well placed shrub and tree plantings
that
divide the campsites. When parked here one can look out your camper van
windows
at scenery that you drive all over this country to find. In addition
they
provide a luxury spa room and a sauna, both the same as new and
extremely clean,
with heated tile floors. For those of you who just trekked around the
vicinity
in the many walks provided this is a true luxury. Stay two nights and
it is
free to use only $7 pp otherwise.
One of the most modern
fitness centres I have ever
seen at a Holiday
Park is
yours to use to
keep up the program you may be on back home. There is an infant’s
facility,
playground, modern ablution block and a large new block to be built by
this
winter with heated tile floors. There is a modern laundry, internet
room, a
very complete kitchen and dining room plus an outdoor dining area.
They also provide a free
Kepler Track shuttle and a
booking office for local trips and attractions. A 250metre walk to the Upukerora River just down the hill
provides you
the opportunity to swim, fish or kayak. If you want to kayak the river
or take
a mountain bike ride both bikes and kayaks are free to use by anyone
staying at
the park. It is only a 15 minute walk to Te Anau or you can take the
fifty
minute lake walk.
This is the walking capital of New Zealand. They also
offer a free London
taxi to
and from town for their guests.
The newest program for their guests is
probably the most exciting. They have bought a modern bus and are
offering coach and cruise trips to Milford Sound in conjunction with
the park for guests. let me tell you from personal experience the drive
to Milford Sounds is one of the most spectacular in the world but not
easy on the vehicle. The very first time we took our bus down our
brakes burnt out and had to be towed back and wait weeks in Te Anau for
repairs. We plan to go with these guys next time we are down there.
Anyhow I can take more photos this way.
What I recommend is to use
this camp as your base when
exploring the region. Start from here to explore Milford
and Doubtful Sounds or as a base for doing the Kepler, Routeburn and Milford walking
tracks.
Whatever your pleasure this is one of the few parks on the edge of the
wilderness area of New Zealand that makes you feel you are actually in
the
wilderness but still enjoying all the conveniences one can find for
your traveling
lifestyle.
Fiordland Great
Views Holiday Park
Milford Road
Te
Anau
Ph:
03-249-7059
Fax:
03-249-7277
Reservations
only: free phone 0508346735
Email:
firodland.holidaypark@xtra.co.nz
Website:
www.fiordlandgreatviewsholidaypark.co.nz
Powered
sites: $14.00 per person
Non-powered
sites: $12.00 per person
