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TAMATEA
DUSKY SOUND
In the footsteps of Cook
By Vicki Knell
In early July 2020 we received this message from our good mate Bob -
‘We’re doing it!...wanna come too? Chopper into Dusky...play and explore...passage up to Breaksea
and Doubtful...get some stories...connect with magic NZ...exit via Lake Manapouri 5 days 4 nights...
ditch the pre xmas madness https:www.wildfiordland.co.nz
There was no hesitation, we were in boots and all. We felt privileged to be included in the group of
10 Bob was putting together and very lucky to have the resources to afford the trip - it’s not cheap
but we knew it was going to be one of those trips of a lifetime and it was worth every penny.
Little did I know that I would lose my Dad in November, a month before our December departure
date, making this trip all the more poignant. Even though he wasn’t joining us, looking at maps of
Dusky Sound and pouring over the Wild Fiordland website I think Dad had been just as excited as
we were about our upcoming adventure.
Our trip began at the Fiordland Helicopters Te Anau hangar. Here we met with Fiona Lee - one of
the owners of Wild Fiordland with 20+ years living and working in Fiordland and Kim Hollows, owner
and pioneering pilot of Fiordland Helicopters. We were entering the realm of Fiordland legends.
The excitement among our team was palpable - who doesn’t love a helicopter flight and what a way
to start the trip! Armed with last minute instructions from Fi and having been introduced to Scotty
Milsted who was to be one of our guides for the next 5 days, we loaded up into 2 choppers.
The flight took us over Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri and with clear weather we were treated to
extensive views of the Manapouri hydroelectric power project. We also got a close look at mountain
ranges including the Dingwall, Merrie, Kilcoy and Braan. Spiralling down into Supper Cove and the
mouth of the Seaforth River it was hard to see where we were going to land as dense bush reached
right down to the water. The skill of the pilots meant we were able to land on a wooden platform no
larger than the size of a beach towel!.