TARANAKIS TOURIST RESORT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81891, 21 November 1906, Page 2

TARANAKIS TOURIST RESORT

MOUNT EGMONT.. The warm winds and copious raiiis ot tno past week have melted large patches from old Egmont's wiutei mantle of ice and snow, and already the talk is of mountain picnics. What belter place than the Mountain House to spend a holiday ? What better spot 111 which to rest from the labors of the town, to feast on scenic beauty, to drink in great draughts of pure mountain air, to shake off for the time the convenances of city life and its dust and worry, to leave for a while the cares of business and allow a glimpse of nature at her best to disjpet thl,; cobwe ; bs pi existence among structures of man's creation? Mount Egmont is our chief holiday resort, and every year its popularity increases. A few years ago only tho venturesome and nardy sought to reach the houses far up the mountain slopes, for logs, bogs, and bouldors had to be negotiated on the way. Accommodation, too, was scant and rough, and the wealth of bush scenery in the main unexplored and undefined. Tnen we heard of parties of roysterers filling the night with their nideous noises, and sleep was out of the question; so that Mount Egmont was admired from the distance by the many, explored by Lhe few. Then, again, it was absolutely necessary for all to carry the whole of the provisions for the picnic, a task of no small difficulty. The scene has changed. The visitor to the mountain can now take his ■. r her seat in a vehicle—the local livery stab)ekeepers can supply a turn-out equal to anything- in the colony—and not leave it until the driver pulls up at the North Egmont Mountain House. The drive is over excellent roads, ascending and ever ascending through glorious bush scenery on either side, with an unusual wealth >f fern growth of all kinds. Winding in and out a veritab'e fairyland, tlii# road at last emerges on "the clearing," with the main house and cottage in the foreground, broad acres of intervening bush and stream and the grand majestic mountain in the njar distance. The accommodation has vastly improved, a nice little cottage being set apart- from the main house for engagement by private parties. The big accommodalion houise for nearly a hundred visitors has now been lined throughout, and stocks of picnic provender are kept by the custodian, Mr Morris. He and his wife are veritable treasures, and t'tw\i assiduous attention to their duties, involving l the comfort and enjoyment of visitors, is re, markablo. The scenic attractions include -the ascent of the peak itself, and a splendid panoramic view of the country may be obtained without taking all this climbing exercise. Bell's Falls, the Waitvakaiho gorge, and Humphries' Castle are within easy walking distance, and all round are the beautiful bushy glades. As a picniti resort, or a health resort, Mount Egmont is unequalled. In tli is issue the committee in charge notifies the tariff at the North Egmont house. '