AS OTHERS SEE US.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1921, Page 3

AS OTHERS SEE US.

SCENIC WONDERS OF WESTLAND, NEW ZEALAND. (From a New York Tourist Journal). In a preceding issue we published some very attractive lake and glacier views of the Westland district of the South Island of New Zealand, and on page 8, 10, and 12 of the present number some additional pictures may he seen. The Westland district comprises a territory that lies on the west side of the South Island and properly extends below the centre of the western coastline, and though the Milford Sound district, and though, the lakes and ranges of the vicinity (see front cover illustration) are not classed as in Westland, the scenic panorama of that region is but a continuation of the prodigious natural wonders of the Westland area. 7\f uc h of the Westland country is still unexplored, though a fairly easy and usual route for the tourist is mapped out. By one method of approach the tourist would leave Wellington (at the south end of the North Island) by steamboat for Nelson and Westport. Formerly a feature of this trip was tbe volunteer piloting of the ship through the French Pass by “Pelorus Jack,” a snow-white porpoise-like fish of about a dozen feet in length which had tbe rare distinction of being protected by Act of Parliament. Since the war begun he lias not been seen, although for twenty years he is said not to have missed a ship. , , . From Nelson one may take the tram and coach route through to Reeftqn, Greymouth and Hokitika; or he may disembark at Westport, coach through the Buffer Gorge to Reefton, going from thence by train to Greymouth and Hokitika. By the other route the traveller leaves Christchurch by train for Arthur’s Pass, and from thence coaches over Arthur’s Pass down the beautiful Otirn Gorge to the terminus of tho Otira-Greymouth-Hikitika railway. The journey may he broken at Lake Moana. This route was long known to the Maori, who used it in their travels to procure the famous New Zealand greenstone, or jade from the West Coast, and it was afterwards used by the whites who went in quest of the stiff more precious gold. Lakes Kanieri and Mahinapua are in the vicinity of Hokitika, and the Hokitika Gorge, Overlook Hill and Blue Spur road make interesting drives. From Hokitika to South Westland, take the train to Ross, an interesting mining town, where in the neighbourhood may he seen sluicing operations on a large scale, and deep level alluvial mining. From Ross, auto or coach ride to Franz Josef Glacier. The route passes through some of the finest scenery in the Dominion. The Mikonui bush road. Lake lanthe, Mount Hercules Lakes Waihapo and Mapounka, are passed in order. At Lake Mapourika the Franz Josef Glacier is seen m the distance. There is an accommodation hotel at the Waiho Gorge, from which visits may be paid to tbe glacier, only two and a half miles distant. The track leads through beautiful, semitropical forest, which extends to within a short distance of the ice face. On each bank of .the Glacier valley tracks have been made by the Government authorities, giving facilities for viewing one of the most remarkable glaciers in tlie world. At tbe face of the ice wall forming the nose of the Glacier, the visitor is only 600 above sea level, and for many miles up the valley, in close proximity to the icestream the vegetation is abundant and semi-tropical. There is a road through beautiful forest and mountain country to the Fox Glacier, seventeen miles further south, but it must be traversed on foot or on horseback. One may also go farther south on horseback over the Copelan Saddle or Haast Pass, into Canterbury or Otago country. As a mountaineering feat one may reach Westland by various high Alpine passes from the Hermitage in Canterbury, the chief ones being Graham’s Saddle, Pioneer Pass, Harper’s Saddle, and Fitzgerald’s Pass.