MOTUOAPA BAY PROJECT

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 149, 3 December 1954, Page 5

MOTUOAPA BAY PROJECT

For some time the Wellington Branch of the Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand has planned to establish a youth hostel in the Taupo district. A letter from the Wellington Branch secretary was before the Taupo Borough Council in August last, outlining the Association's plans and asking lor any help the Council might be able to give. The Council decided to advise the Association to communicate with the Taupo Businessmen's and Ratepayers' Associations who, it was thought, might be able | to supply information that would be of assistance in securing a site.

Generous Assistance

The erection of a twenty-four bed hostel for the Wellington Association is now under way at Motuoapa Bay, on the eastern shore of the Lake and it is hoped that it may be ready by the New Year. . The building is being financed I by Mr and Mrs E. F. Collinson, Palmerston North, who generously presented the branch with a small bach on the same section some months ago. The new hostel will be the association's third in the North Island, and Auckland and other branches aiso have plans for more. The two Motuoapa Bay hostels are separated by trees. They have a beautiful view of the bay. The new hostel will be the main one, but the small one, which has two rooms, will probably be used for additional accommodation. The new hostel will include two bunkrooms separated by a sizeable common-room. There will be a kitchen, storeroom a£id two washrooms.

Wellington hostellers have made a couple of trips to assist the builders. Two of their biggest tasks were digging a six-foot hole for a septic tank, and helping level the section. Another trip is planned for early next month. The Napier branch has two places in view for hostels. One is 30 miles from Napier on the Nap-ier-Taupo road and the other is at Tarawera.