POPULAR WAITOMO

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 858, 30 December 1929, Page 14

POPULAR WAITOMO

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION TAXED MANY TURNED AWAY From Our Own Conespondcnt TE KUITI, Today. That the Waitomo Caves still rank as a favourite mecea for sightseers in the Dominion has neen strikingly demonstrated during the past holiday

week. . The manager of the hostel at Waii tomo, Mr. Cook, reports a record number of visitors to the caves, and the | staffs at the hostel and caves have had to work at high pressure during the whole week. Visitors from as far apart as Switzerland and SliangI lrai were among those who inspected ( this underground wonder. In order Ito cope with, the traffic, six guides | have been employed continuously both I day and night, and on Friday night i over 200 people were conducted through the caves. The hostel accommodation was quite inadequate to cater for the numbers desiring service, and although beds had been placed in every available place, including the drawingroom, the lounge and halls, the management was compelled to turn away visitors nightly. The Waitomo Valley has attracted j many camping parties, over 20 camps I being established in the vicinity of the l caves on Friday. Further parties arrived on Saturday, and with the prospect of fine weather prevailing during the next few days, the numbers availing themselves of this eni joyable mode of holiday-making will j be greatly augmented. Full use of the delightful camping- ■ ground at Waitete viaduct lias been | made by visiting motorists during the past week.