QUEENSTOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 406, 7 November 1874, Page 2

QUEENSTOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS.

{By a Rambler.) So many writers have descanted on the beauties of Queenstown, from Anthony Trollope down to the ncwspaperpenny-a-liner, that this pleasant watering place has become world-renowned. It may therefore be considered presumptuous to further describe the romantic surroundings of Lake "Wakatip, or to eulogise the peaceful scenery of Lake Hayes and the Frankton Flat ; but with the holiday time of the year fast approaching, and my fellow toilers anxiously looking around for some quiet spot in which to luxuriate for a few -weeks, I merely wish to lay before them a sketch of the trip from Dunedin. Any one leaving that city can diversify the journey by going or returning via Kingston Invercargill, and the Bluff, thence by boat to Pore Chalmers ; and those who do not care for the sea, can coach it from Invercargill to Milton, passing through one of the finest farming districts in New Zealand. Travellers going fromDunedintoQjieenstown by the mail coach will have to spend three days on the road, with the choice of going through the Taieri, Waihola, Milton, Glenore. Lawrence, and the Teviot, or taking the north road via Blueskin, Palmerston, and the Pigroot, and thence to Clyde. The former road is generally .preferred by tourists, as being more picturesque, and the hotel accommodation at the different stages i 3 also much better, which is a matter worthy of the consideration of those travelling for pleasure, that is if they /go in for creature comforts. The junction of both roads is at Clyde, where excellent accommodation is provided by several good hotels, and a day will not be misspent in ■wandering about this pleasant township. The Monte Cbristo farm and orcharde are specially worthy of a visit, and Mr. Iferaud is ever ready to show his splendid collection of trees, and vines to those who take an interest in them. A very superior class of wines is made by Mr. Feraud, and will compare favourably with any produced in the colonies. There arc several other fine orchards in tbe^^^ vicinity of Clyde, but Mr. Feraud's is the/ crSme de la creme on the Otago Goldfields. On leaving Clyde the road enters a narrow gorge, and for a distance of thirteen miles along the banks of the Clutha ■ River to Cromwell there is nothing to be seen the whole of the distance bu*; hills on each, side with. tho river tumbling along its rocky bed below, rushing through the narrow gorge, and making a sound like the surge beating on the sea shore. Cromwell does not present a very striking appearance at first sight. Most of the buildings are of the primitive goldfields stamp, amongst which rusty iron buildings predominate. Improvements in this respect are, however rapidly being gone f>n with, and as the town rises in importance, the buildings will no doubt improve accordingly. The K&warau and Clutha Rivers effect a junction at Cromwell. The Clutha, which is spanned by a bridge at the entrance to the town presents a. similar appearance to'the Kawarau, it beingconfined to a narrow channel at thia spot, and the water speeds under the bridge with great velocity. From Cromwell the main load, crosses the flat for about two miles, and on the terrace above the town a fine riew of the surrounding country can be had. The Dunstan mountains — Mount Pisa, the Crown Range, the Carricks — and other lofty mountains can all be seen from that spot, and it ia certainly an imposing spectacle to view these lofty ranges towering thousands of feet towards, the sky, anJ snow-dad throughout the year. The road to the Wanaka and Hawea Lakes branches off at Cromwell, and to any one that could afford the time, the journey would well repay them. jThe scenery at the head water* of the Clutha, aud around tho shores of the lakes, ia grand in the extreme; the barren mountain scenery, so common to this part of Otago, being there diversified by splendid bush. With better means o£ communication the Wanaka country will at no distant date be a powerful rival to Queenstown in attracting visitors. The distance from Cromwell to the Wanaka is about 35 miles, and the road to it passes near the Bendigo reefs, where the celebrated Cromwell Co.'s claim is situated, which as yet is the most promising lode opened in Otago. The quantity of gold obtained in this claim is immense, and it is proving to be quite a mine of wealfcli to its lucky owners. The distance from, Qucenstown to Cromwell is 40 niiles. After crossing the Cromwell Plat and entering the Kawarau Gorge very little variety of scenery presents itself. For many miles thesame eternal piles of rocks are to be seen, with the river rushing on in its mad career, and here and there an, occasional digger fossicking away on its banks, seeking for deposits of golden wash that floods. " have deposited in crannies of the rocks years ago. Some of these men have exhibited considerable energy and mechanical tact in conducting water for sluicing purposes along the bluffs, and in two places water is taken across the river through zinc piping suspended on wires. Here can also be seen ropes stretched across the stream with a cradle thereon, by which means people cross the treacherous river where a boat could not live. The Gentle Annie and Roaring Meg passed, the next object of interest is the new bridge latelyerected over the Kawarau. The river formerly had to be crossed near the site of the bridge by a punt, but the enterprise of Mr. M'Oor^ mack, who has put the bridge up as a private speculation, obviates any delay or incou^ venience in crossing. The road then crosses a flat for some distance, and then some bluffs of rock are passed that will make the boldest desire to get out of the coach and walk, if it is the first time of passing over the road, as. for hundreds of feet above and below there is nothing but perpendicular precipices, whereto roll over would be merely a short cut to, eternity. These places are, however, quickly, passed, as the roadway is excellent and no. danger need be apprehended with a careful driver. The Kawarau is again crossed at Morven Ferry — this time by a punt ; and on rising the hill on the opposite side, quite a relief is experienced, as green fields and pleasant looking homesteads burst into view» and very pleasing they look after the dull monotony of the road hitherto passed over from Clyde. The dust storms so prevalent on the road up from^the Dunstan Plains also disappear here, much to the relief of the • travellers. About two miles from the Perry is the branch road running into the Arrow township,- through -which tho -mn.il coach, passes. There is, however, a more direct road to Queenstown, saving a considerable distance to those who do not wish to visit the Arrow, but the former is generally used. Afterleaving Arrowtown the coach comes out intQ the main road alongside Lake Hayes, and from thence to Queenstown; a prettier piece of country could hardly be traversed. Pretty homesteads dot the country round, and a nicer sheet of water for boating than Lake Hayes does not exist. The lake lies nestled in a basin, and is quite a pigmy in comparison with the mighty Wakitipu. Passing on we leave Mr. Hallenstein's Thurlby domain on the right. This is a magnificent place, and its owner is justly proud, of it, We next "Cross the famous Shotover River by a substantial bridge. There is some pretty scenery up this stream in places. Arthur's Point is specially worthy of a visit, and numerous objects of interest can be pointed out in the vicinity. It is on this river that the Shotover Terrace Gold Mining Co. have their celebrated claim. After leaving the Shotover we come on to the Frankton Flat. There is a small township here, and at the rear of Mr. Anderson's hotel is the Wakatip Hospital, also the homestead of Messrs. Bojes Bros., and very prettily situated it is ; the grounds border the lake, and a high range forms the background. Leaving Frankton the scenery on the far

side of the Lake from the road is grand in the extreme, every turn in the road presenting some fresh object of interest. A good view of the lake can be had after leaving Frankton, with the Remarkable Mountains showing out in bold relief. They well deserve the name of remarkable, as such a peculiar jumbling together of rocks in fantastic shapes is seldom met with. The town of Queenstown lies in a small bay, and it is not until the traveller is close upon it that it can be seen from the road. A better spot for a township could hardly be selected, as it is well sheltered from the wind, and the ground on which the business places are built is perfectly level. The buildings in Queenstown are far in advance of most of the up country townships, and many of them would be a credit to Dunedin. The same remark applies to the hotels. Eichardt's Queen's Arms, and Powell's Family Hotel accommodation will be found equal to anything in New Zealand. There is a public Park at Queenatown on a small peninsula, in which trees and shrubs have been planted, and in a few years it will be a pretty place. In it there is a lagoon on which skating is largely indulged when it is frozen in winter. Two Bteamera ply from the jetty to Kingston, and take occasional trips up the lake to the various stations and saw mills, and it is on the lake £hat the finest views can be obtained. At the head of the lake the waters of the rivers Dart and Rees empty themselves. At this point they are only divided by a neck of land. The mountains surrounding are worthy of the name, but Mount Earnslaw, visible in •clear weather caps them all. This peak is upwards of 9,000 feet above the sea level," and its sides are covered with glaciers which will no doubt attract a large number of tourists years hence when locomotion is rendered easier and cheaper by means of railways. The railway now iircourse of construction from Invercargill will, when completed, be the best means of getting to the lakes from Dunedin. Haying given an outline of the principal objects of interest at Queenstown and on the road, I will merely add that for invalids during the summer months, a healthier spot could hardly be chosen; the excessive heat experienced in many of the districts in the Province is here toned down by the lakes, and fine balmy weather is enjoyed for six months in the year. Boats can be hired at the jetty, and a, sail on the lake is very enjoyable, though none hub competent boatmen should under- 1 take the charge of .the small craft, as some parts of the lake is subject to sudden squalls, ;and a turn over into the icy-cold water, in many places unfathomable, wouldnotbe conducive to health. There are numerous pleasant bridle tracks going up towards the head of the lake, and thence over to Martin's Bay on the West Coast. Then there is Ben Lomond close to the town to scramble over, from the summit of whicl^a very wide view is obtained. An addifcJojia) attraction ah Queenstown at the present time is its being the locale of the American Transit of Venus party who have taken up their quarters there, and their observations are looked forward to with great interest. Altogether there is not a place in the Middle Island that presents so many attractions of a varied nature as Queenstown for a holiday resort, and during the incoming summer no^ doußt a larger number of people from the Australian Colonies wiU visit it than on previous years, as its fame is now rapidly spreading, and the lakes and mountains will in years to come be as much thought of as the Alps and lakes of the older world.