Fiordland is New Zealand’s largest nationwide park and residential to many hidden gems. Fiordland by no means ceases to thrill and shock me. I by no means tire of visiting. There at all times appears to be a brand new stroll, a brand new hut, a brand new secret spot ready for me. Come rain or shine, winter or summer time, Fiordland is ideal any time of 12 months.
We all know that Milford Sound usually will get all the consideration in Fiordland, with Doubtful Sound arising second, however there are such a lot of different locations you possibly can entry right here. For these of you seeking to get off the overwhelmed vacationer observe and step someplace extraordinary, boy, have I discovered the place for you!
Allow me to introduce the Borland Valley! Buckle up when you’re like me and haven’t heard a lot about this space. If you’re eye-rolling me proper now, pipe down. Let a woman get excited!
Epic views, unbelievable nature, no vacationers, straightforward tracks, the Borland space of Fiordland is exceptional for therefore many causes.
The native Department of Conservation workplace in Te Anau might be my favourite DOC workplace. They are always working with the neighborhood. From providing implausible nature-based adventures to doing nice issues for Fiordland, they rock. They additionally placed on so many unbelievable occasions (normally in summer time) that share a few of the greatest tales from the area you may not have identified a lot about.
Last January, I tagged alongside on one in all their day journeys to the Borland Valley to find the unbelievable alpine world of vegetation.
Spoiler alert – it’s so cool! You guys know I’m an enormous plant nerd, however I do know little of native alpine vegetation past fairly buttercups and daisies and, in fact, all of the tussock. With famend botanist Brian Rance, we explored all alongside the Borland Saddle and Mt Burns space, peering down on the floor and marveling at this lovely, tiny jungle beneath our toes.
It was a type of good summer time days the place it felt like you may attain up and contact the sky. Hot and sunny, it’s not what you would possibly count on if you image the foggy cliffs of Milford Sound. It’s about an hour and a half drive south from Te Anau to the Borland Saddle on Borland Road. Here is the place you possibly can start to climb up in direction of Mt Burns.
Fiordland is gigantic, and most of it’s inaccessible by roads. But the Borland Valley is likely one of the few areas with street entry, although it’s not at all times for the faint of coronary heart. Unsealed, slim, and steep, it’s positively not really useful for campervans. 4WD is normally the perfect. DOC mentions that there isn’t a gasoline, communication (together with mobile phone protection), or emergency providers alongside its size; subsequently, solely these correctly geared up ought to try to barter the street.
For anybody dwelling in New Zealand lengthy sufficient, that sounds about normal. For guests, ensure you plan.
As you climb up the Borland space, you possibly can catch glimpses of Lake Monowai within the distance. A well-liked spot for fishing, kayaking, and boating, it’s an ideal a part of Fiordland.
Lake Monowai additionally powers one of many South Island’s oldest hydroelectric stations, which opened in 1925. Back in 1963, a employees’ camp was arrange, the Pig Creek Hostel, and the development of a street and electrical energy line started by the distant mountains to the West Arm Power Station in Manapōuri. Nowadays, the employees’ camp has been extensively redeveloped into the Borland Lodge, an training and lodging complicated, a belief the place faculty teams and folks come to study out of doors training or to base themselves in an exquisite place.
The Borland Road continues to be used to keep up the facility line, which you’ll see as you climb up Mt Burns.
The biodiversity of this a part of Fiordland is magnificent! Road entry up nearly to 1,000 meters makes this distinctive alpine surroundings extra accessible, not that it’s busy.
It’s a brief, steep climb in direction of the Mt Burns tarns by the tussocks. Here is the place issues get actually lovely. In early summertime, you may also have the ability to see the gorgeous Mount Cook Buttercup.
In the gap, you possibly can see the Borland Road, with the long-lasting powerlines, and down in direction of Green Lake, one other distinctive tramping space. It’s laborious to not cease each jiffy to absorb the highly effective landscapes. With some luck, you’ll most likely have the place all to yourselves.
The unbelievable droseras (sundews) are a few of New Zealand’s solely carnivorous vegetation. They had been plentiful alongside the climb to the saddle. As nicely as cushionbogs and strange orchids, 9 species of snow grass, this makes the Borland essentially the most numerous space in New Zealand in terms of alpine vegetation.
Many different alpine vegetation like hebes, aciphyllas, celmisias, and dracophyllums cowl the open panorama. You don’t wish to squash any of them as you choose your method by the grasses.
Once you get to the tarns, you could observe your nostril as you climb increased alongside the creek in direction of Mt Burns.
As somebody inherently drawn towards the great thing about the peaks, I actually loved slowing down. It’s straightforward to get caught up with the concept of arriving at a vacation spot as a substitute of wanting down beneath my toes. I’d have walked proper on by so many of those vegetation prior to now. Knowing what I used to be taking a look at and what to search for made this journey all of the extra particular.
I already know I’ll be again once more to this a part of Fiordland for a extra prolonged go to.
Have you heard of the Borland Valley and this nook of Fiordland?
Many due to Great South for internet hosting me in Fiordland; like at all times, I’m conserving it actual – as when you might count on much less from me!