Venturetreks — holidays with a difference

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 31, 24 December 1985, Page 11 (Supplement)

Venturetreks — holidays with a difference

A Venturetreks holiday is not just for visitors to the Waimarino but it can also be rewarding for local people. Venturetreks run a series of local outdoor holidays between 29 December and 3 1 March. The base for the holidays is Venturelodge, in Burns Street, Ohakune, where hotel-standard accommodation set in six acres of bush is provided. One of the first holidays offered next year is a fiveday Pioneering Adventure run by Ruapehu College teacher Merrilyn George. Merrilyn, who is currently researching and writing a

book about the history of the Waimarino and has an extensive knowledge of the history of the area^said the trip would suit local people. "Not only would they be seeing places they had not seen before but the history of each area will be explained as they go,"she said. One of the highlights of the trip will be a visit to the Hiruharama Marae at Jerusalem where those associated with the marae will explain the history of the area and the Wanganui River. There will be a jet-boat ride up the Wanganui River and a trip to the historic Bridge to Nowhere.

As with last year's adventure when Merrilyn took a one-day group, the remains of local sawmills will be looked at, along with the development of the railway, farming and the history of market gardening. Manager of Venturetreks, Walter Romanes, takes a gentle adventure from 29 December to 3 January. Walter has had over 30 years of adventuring which have included expeditions to the Himalayas, Antarctic and Cape Horn, and annually, for the last 15 years, a group trip to a remote area of the world. During the gentle adventure week, activities may include river rafting, canoeing, jetboating, horse riding, evening talks and slide shows at Venturelodge. One of New Zealand's fin-

est photographers, Jack Sprosen, will spend five days with a group of novice and intermediate photographers to help each person to get the best from their equipment and gain an understanding of composition, lighting and subject matter, including dramatic landscapes, derelict buildings, rivers, native forests and alpine plants. Each day will be spent in the Tongariro National Park and evenings will be spent discussing audiovisual work and slides, and advice will be given on caring for equipment and how to achieve special effects. Other holidays include water-colour painting with one of New Zealand's best known water colour artists, Julia Forbes who specialises in outdoor painting.