“ HURRY ON. "

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1928, Page 1

“ HURRY ON. "

HUSTLINC THE TOURIST. A CINDERELLA AMONG RESORTS. 'Christchurch “ Sun ”.) “ See New Zealand last and take your time,” should he the slogan of the New Zealand Government Tourist Department. which lacks perspective and appreciation of scenic values in its attitude to one of the greatest national wonders in the Dominion, the Franz Josef Glacier. There is ample evidence that tourists arc hurried through the Dominion, the experience of recent overseas visit ors is worth anything they ought to know.

Wailio Gorge and its district, say, from Ross to Welieka and the ho Glacier, complete a veritable wonderland, and a national park unexaniple in the Empire. Where can he found in any other part such a combination of glaciers, rivers, lakes, flora, avifauna, thermal springs, and snow-pinnacled mountains, as Wailio Gorge can offer There is sufficient beauty, at approaching, and beyond Wailio Gorg to make one forget the grandeur of even the Buller Gorge. From Boss, the road, forest-walled, and with every bend offering a fresh delight, leads into a land of enchantment. Mighty trees, giant ferns, sub-tropical undergrowth, cameos of mirror-like lakes, the mystery of age-old glaciers, the noisy chatter of rivers, the sunset pastels amid the snows, tho llnmo of rata, evening filled with the wings of pigeon and the song of tui and bellbird, cast an abiding spell. Of course the uiimatcliable central attraction—tlie “ big show”—is the Franz Josef Glacier, its mighty ice-mass moving forever downward from the vast snowfields sprawling m the alpine chain nearly 9000 feet above. “ MUST AfOVE ON.”

“ Give the ice the ‘ once-over,’ and then move on.” says the Tourist Department, in effect, to the sight-seeker from other lands. “ 1 would like to stay here for a few days, but 1 must move on,” said a tourist from Scotland, to the writer "Why?” He replied, "All my hotels are hooked and I must go on. 1 wonder why your Government officials rush us through the country at breakneck speed! ”

Other tourists made similar complaints. All were of the opinion thn more time should be given for them to see Wailio Gorge properly.

Tt is 91 miles from Hokitika to Wailio Gorge. Tourists have thei itineraries arranged so that they cover that distance in one day, arriving at the Glacier Hotel about 5 p.m. Next day they are allowed to look at the ice, and on the following morning the tourists are travelling back again ove those 91 miles. ' No opportunity is given to visitors to make tlie run of 17 miles over a magnificent scenic route to the Fox Glacier country, no chance is given for an excursion on Lake Mapourika, a lew miles from the hotel, and no chance of following the sun-dappled hush-walks at one’s leisure. “ Hurry on, please! ” DEPART.M ENT FORGE TS. It seems to be forgotten by tlie Tourist Department that a large proportion of the tourists who visit New Zealand from overseas are people he-

yoiul the spright liuess of youth. Why hurry them along, and prove that the department knows and appreciates least of all the scenic attractions within the compass of our remarkably wellendowed small islands?

All people who visit Wailio Gorge speak of its great future, but this wonderland is there now; it is a reality of the present, a Cinderella among our resorts. The Rt. Mon. L. O. At. S. Amerv, Secretary of State for the Dominions, started to talk scenery from the time of his two-days’ stay at Wailio Gorge. He spent one night at the Hermitage, Mount Cook, and early tho next morning he went into the snows, headed for the Franz Josef Glacier, PER.TI NEXT Q UESTIONS.

.Mr Aincry was not bound by a Tourist Department itinerary which maps out one day at Waiho Gorge for tourist and three days at Mount Cook. Why this haste on the West Coast and leisure on the East Coast? Is there more variety at Mount Cook than there is at Waiho Gorge? Are mountainclimbing and ski-ing a stronger appeal to middle-aged tourists than thermal springs, bush walks, lake excursions, the glacier, the birds, flowers and rivers? One may omit the expense. Jn any ease plenty of mountain climbing may be had at the glacier, and Mi Amery spoke of the ski-ing grounds at the head of the Franz Josef and the Kox Glaciers as equal to any such grounds in the world. One day at Waiho Gorge is a ridiculous allotment of time to people who seek advice from officials who should know, and there is no reason why tourists should lie rushed through tnc country according to the present schedule.

It would he hotter and more broadminded if the Tourist Department in Wellington or at its branches overseas said to people: “See the rest of the world first, and take your time in New Zealand.”