Trampers are happy to pay

BY FRITHA TAGG

Queen Charlotte Track walkers say they are happy to pay a proposed fee to landowners to cross their land if it means the track stays open.

Members of the Fat Bastards Walking Group, made up of four couples from Whakatane, were on a Beachcomber Cruises boat from Anakiwa to Picton yesterday after spending three days on the track.

The group had stayed a night each at Punga Lodge and Portage and were raving about the food and accommodation.

"The whole bloody thing is good," said group member Miles McConway.

"A challenging walk, and [it is] nice the way the track is easily shared with walkers and bikers."

His wife Judi McConway agreed, saying she'd be happy to pay. "Anything which encourages landowners to remain involved is all good."

The couple had heard talk about the proposed fees during one of their overnight stays.

Mrs McConway was particularly pleased with the standard of the toilets on the track, but suggested that the last section could have one more set.

The only bad part of her walk was the blister she developed on the last day.

Chris Shale, who lives in Sydney, spent six days on the track, electing to take extra time with a rest day in the middle.

"The accommodation was excellent and although the track was hard at times, it was very peaceful."

She would also be happy to pay a fee to cross private land, saying if that was the way the land lay in relation to the track, then it was OK.

Alan and Delwyn Byrne, from Whakatane, said the track was awesome.

"It was tough enough, everything we expected," Mr Byrne said. "The facilities on the track are great. We did the $5 donation thing at the start of the track and certainly don't have a problem with a small fee."

Geoff and Anne Pope of Rockhampton, Queensland had completed a half-day walk from Torea Bay to Mistletoe Bay, where they were collected by the Beachcomber boat.

"It was a decent walk, four hours plus. The views were just beautiful – stunning, actually. Lots of beautiful ferns. The views alone were worth the walk."

They were fine with paying a fee.

"We paid fees in China for going places, and there are places in Australia where you pay. If it helps keep the track in good condition and keeps things like rubbish under control, it is all good. We didn't see any rubbish on the track."

The 71-kilometre track is a major tourist attraction for Marlborough, bringing an estimated $10 million into the local economy each year.

The track crosses land owned by multiple private owners as well as the Department of Conservation. The private owners have long sought compensation and recognition for the commercial use of their land.

Last week the landowners put their fee proposal to commercial track users, who received the news positively.

All are now working towards implementing the proposal in a way that suits everyone.

- The Marlborough Express