Parks summer programme being planned

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 22, 1 November 1983, Page 3

Parks summer programme being planned

New tramping routes and extra staff will extend this year's Tongariro summer programme. Half and full day tramping programmes will be Offered every d.ay of the season from 27 December to the end of January. A spokesman for the Tongariro National Park summer programme said the programme will operate in all three areas ... from park headquarters at Whakapapa and from the two ranger stations at Turangi and Ohakune. The summer walks programme is a team effort involving rangers, parks board staff, park interpreter/guides, office staff and receptionists in all three areas. "By increasing the number of staff we can cater for any ^^mber of people," said the rk Headquarters spokesman. "Every year there is an increased demand." Last year more than 150 people went on the popular Crater

Lake walks from Ohakune while on the Whakapapa side, groups as big as 1501 70 people at a time climbed to the Crater. "M.any of these park visitors are tourists or out-of-towners. We would like to see more locals on the walks ... particularly teenagers." The walks and tramps are graded from easy to strenuous/demanding, for all ages and levels of fitness. Some interesting, new routes are offered on this year's programme. One which people are not iikely to have done includes the Waitonga Falls and the Three Falls. Another good one, is up to the Limestone . Caves and Railway Dam on the Ohakune side. "It's up on the hill behind the ranger station. You climb up to the caves and traverse along the top and down to the railway dam which is no longer in use." The dam was built for steam engines just after the turn of the century.

Views of the Hapuawhenua Viaduct and the Taonui Viaduct feature in one walk. These old, curved, rail viaducts are due to be replaced with the electrification of the main trunk line. "We wanted to let people see them before they go." The track from Horopito to Ohakune is to be realigned, possibly in the summer of '84. "Quite a bit of the park is going to be affected by the. realignment." "Some ares of the park will be taken by the railways but hopefully we will pick up others." There is no charge for the walks except to cover the cost of the 'goat'(bus) up the mountain where necessary. A children's programme will be run every afternoon. At Park Headquarters the programme startsat 4.30pm. At the Ohakune Ranger Station the programme runs from 2.00pm.

In the evening the ranger stations at each of the three centres will feature films and talks by both Parks board staff and guest speakers. For further information about the variety of activities available contact the ranger stations at Whakapapa, Turangi or Ohakune.

Details of the programme will be published in the next edition of the Tongariro National park newspaper which is expected to be available about the middle of this month.

Sandra

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