TOURING WORLD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 52, 11 July 1947, Page 2

TOURING WORLD

YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN VISITOR TO ROTORUA Undertaking a bicycle tour of the world, a young South African, Mr Michael McDonald, arrived in Rotorua this week. He has already made an extensive coverage of the South Island. Arriving at Auckland from Sydney on the Marine Phoenix, on June 6, Mr McDonald set out on his tour to see New Zealand. Owing to slight damage to his racing cycle, he was unable to do all the trip on it. Travelling to Lyttelton, he visited Bluff, and then worked through the various South Island centres to Christchurch. He saw snow at close range on the Southern Alps for the first time. Later he went to Wellington, coming to Rotorua by way of New Plymouth. Mt. Egmont he considered to be the second finest sight in the countries he has travelled through. In first position he placed the Victoria Falls, of Africa. He is spending a few days in the Rotorua district to see thermal activity, after which he will go to North Auckland areas on his bicycle. Mr McDonald left his hometown of Johannesburg on February 7. He arrived at Fremantle by boat and then, by a circuitous land route, cycled over 4000 miles to Sydney. He then came across to New Zealand.

When his tour of the Dominion is ended, Mr McDonald intends to travel to the United States, after spending a short time on various Pacific Islands which are on his route. 'He then hopes to cross to England.

Mr McDonald is a keen cyclist, and holds a number of records in South Africa. He toured through much of the African hinterland on his bicycle before setting out for overseas.