Distinction Te Anau Hotel and Villas's renowned restaurant 'The MacKinnon Room' is named after a local explorer Quinton MacKinnon.
Born in Scotland in 1851, he arrived on the shores of Lake Te Anau in the early 1870's to explore the rugged grandeur of Fiordland.
In 1888, the most famous of his discoveries took place when he crossed the pass over the mountain from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. This is now known as the MacKinnon Pass. Over the next four years he guided parties over his route to Milford Sound.
In 1892, MacKinnon was commissioned by the New Zealand government for three months to clear scrub from Milford Track. After loading the boat with supplies, MacKinnon was never seen again. Month's later, after his cap was found in a bay of Lake Te Anau by an observant shepherd, a search party was formed. The boat was soon discovered in an upright position with all contents still aboard but Quinton MacKinnon was never found.
Today the route that MacKinnon pioneered over the Milford Track is used by thousands of people who walk the four day trek to Milford Sound described as the "finest walk in the world".