Holiday with the experts at Ohakune's Venturelodge

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 32, 29 January 1985, Page 7

Holiday with the experts at Ohakune's Venturelodge

Holidays ranging from gentle outdoor adventures to a landscape painting safari are being offered at Ohakune's 'Venturelodge' this summer. Each week a specialist guide takes a group of visitors based at Venturelodge, on tours into the surrounding area, the tours being tailored for each group 's particular interests. Last week Geoff Moon, the most widely published nature photographer in New Zealand, who has written many books on New Zealand birds and bird photography, took a group of novice and intermediate photographers for six days of nature photography. Walter Romanes, a partowner of Venturelodge, began the programme of "holidays with the experts" last year.

There was good response to the courses, which lead to the number and variety of this summer's courses being increased. Mr Romanes took a group on a 'gentle adventure' tour in early January and will be taking another group in late February. The week is designed for people who have little experience in the outdoors but would like to "have a go." Activities in this programme include canoeing the Wanganui River, jet- . boating, rafting and horseriding. The number of people in each group is usually between 16 to 20. Venturelodge can sleep up to 30 people. During the winter months Venturelodge fills up with ski enthusiasts, but like so many holiday businesses in

Ohakune when the skiers leave town business is quiet. It was to try to do something to fill the lodge during the summer months that the summer programme was introduced. And judging by the response this summer, the plan appears to be working. The programme will continue until late March when the lodge will close until July. Special interest weeks still to come include The Natural History Adventure, which will be held between February 4th and 9th. Mr John Morton will be in charge of this party. Between 18th and 23rd February Ewan Cameron will look after a party interested in 'Plants of Mountain and Forest'. Says Ewan, "This holiday will make participants familiar with plants of the colourful mountain herbfield and surrounding forest areas. "It will illustrate the wealth of our native flora and I aim to give a general understanding of plant identification, relationships and key features which separate them from lookalikes." Then from February 25th to March 2nd Walter Romanes will take another of his "gentle adventures" courses. This week a party of enthusiasts are taking part

in 'The Volcano Adventure' with Les Kermode. Says Les, "The huge volcanic sentinel of Mt. Ruapehu dominates the surrounding land with a majesty that inspires those who appreciate the outdoors to discover for themselves the vastness of time and energy that has produced this familiar but restless landscape."