Tourist buses return to Milford

Forty buses filled with tourists made a trip to Milford Sound yesterday morning, the first since the only access road to the tourist attraction was badly damaged in a storm a fortnight ago.

Three convoys were scheduled to make the journey and NZ Transport Agency Milford Road Alliance manager Kevin Thompson said despite some heavy rain, which was common in Fiordland all year, and some minor flooding, the first two convoys set off as planned.

Agency journey manager Peter Brown said three daily return convoys were planned initially, subject to weather and urgent road repairs. The first convoy of 52 vehicles left East Gate at 10am. The second convoy at 12.30 was made up of 31 vehicles.

Southland District councillor Ebel Kremer said the return of tourist buses to the Sound was ‘‘fantastic news.

‘‘It’s been a good co-ordinated approach from everyone involved and I’m sure the local businesses will be pleased to have them back.’’

Despite the road closure, Te Anau had been ‘‘reasonably busy’’ with tourists during the fortnight, he said. ‘‘There’s more to Fiordland than just Milford, and people have realised that. There’s Doubtful Sound of course, plenty of trips you can do ... Te Anau has been open for business and the other opportunities here have been marketed very well. Restaurant businesses have been busy – we were never closed.’’

The convoys would be reviewed as repairs advance.

‘‘A huge amount of work is under way on this highway. By asking people to travel by bus, we minimise the time we need our crews to stop work,’’ Brown said.

A state of emergency was declared when a storm battered Fiordland this month.