Taking a look at region's summer potential

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 24, 13 November 1984, Page 3

Taking a look at region's summer potential

Media representatives who met in Ohakune last week for the Ohakune Motel Association's familiarisation visit, stressed to local motel owners, tour operators, Chief Ranger Lisle Irwin, AHI's Andy Chapman and Mayor Bill Taylor, that there is an urgent need for a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone number to obtain information about Ohakune. This service was needed not just in the winter, as presently operated by AHI, but all year round. These comments came at a social get-together at the Hobbit on Tuesday 6 November followed by speeches and a film presentation by both Mr Irwin and Mr Chapman on the beauty of the Tongariro National Park both in winter and summer. The representatives from the NZ Times, Dominion, NZ Herald, Radio Pacific, Cue magazine, Tourist and Publicity Department, AA Travel, Government Tourist Bureau and East City News arrived in Ohakune on Monday 5 November and were taken for a drive up the Mountain Road as well as out to Karioi Lakes and Waimarino Golf Club. That evening they dined at the Ohakune Hotel. Highlight for most of the journalists was Tuesday 's 'Whitewater Raft Trip' on the upper and middle reaches of the Tongariro River, organised by Sue Allomes of Ruapehu Outback Adventures. Dinner that evening was a chance for the media representatives to hear more about what is available in the region in summer time. They heard from local horse-trek operator, Robert Stout about his trekking

operation based at Karioi. Then Snow Brannigan, renowned trout expert told the gathering of the wealth of trout both brown and rainbow that live in the Waimarino waters. Mayor Bill Taylor then welcomed the guests to Ohakune explaining the development of the town and the many opportunities both winter and summer that are here. Sue Allomes then expanded further on her company's operation in the region. Questions were asked thick and fast about subjects ranging from where the regional information centre is to what ways Ohakune can publicise further the activities available in summer. On Wednesday 7 Nov-

ember, the group left for Pipiriki early in the morning to take a jet-boat ride on the Wanganui River courtesy of Pipiriki. Jet Boat Tours. In perfect conditions, they were able to see the beauty of the surroundings along the river whilst enjoying the thrill of a jet-boat ride. Once back on the jetty, they were served a picnic lunch on the old ferry, M.V. Ongarue, followed by a brief talk from the Pipiriki ranger station representative Fiona Lundy. They then toured the Pipiriki Colonial House before they separated, the Wellington based journalists driving on to Wanganui to catch a plane there, and the Auckland reporters to Taupo for their return trip home. According to co-ordinator, Phil Jackson of The Hobbit, the visit appeared to be a successful one as many questions were asked and the reaction from the representatives to the answers and to their experiences

in the region were favourable. He, along with everyone else in the region, now eagerly awaits the editorial features the journalists' respective publications will run.

Mary Anne

Gill