The Hollyford Track has officially reopened

The 56km, four-day track has been closed since February 2020 and is Fiordland National Park’s only major low-altitude track.

The track sustained serious damage in the three-day weather event which also closed the Routeburn and Milford tracks. 

DOC’s Southern South Island operations director Aaron Fleming said it is the last of Fiordland’s major multi-day tracks to be reopened.

“It’s fantastic to have the Hollyford Track at a stage where it can be safely reopened to people with the appropriate backcountry skills,” he said.

Trampers will need to start their tramp 3km earlier this season, as final repairs to the Hollyford Road are not expected to be completed until April/May 2021.

“People can safely walk from the new car park at Girder Creek to the track start. This trail will remain in use while repair work is carried out on that final 3km section of road,” Fleming said.

In its current state, the track is suitable for trampers with a moderate to high level of backcountry skills.

“Some bridges have been removed or not replaced, so there are new warning signs in place on the track and at huts to advise trampers of the unbridged streams that may become impassable in heavy rain,” Fleming said.

All side-tracks accessed from the Hollyford Road below the Lake Marian car park remain closed.