National park's visitors increase

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 31, 19 January 1988, Page 5

National park's visitors increase

The centenary o f Tongariro National Park in 1987 coupled with greater public awareness through the media attributed to the increased numbers of visitors to the park t h i s summer, according to staff. Tongariro National Park's Whakapapa summer nature programme which finishes this week has been well patronised with numbers of visitors well up on last year. Staff anticipate the number to be well over 3000. The most popular walks proved to be the Tongariro Crossing, Mt Ruapehu crater lake and Ngauruhoe/Tongariro summits. A trip that proved popular with the children was to the Okupata Caves, north of Whakapapa. Another was the park children's activity programme which attracted around 25 youngsters a day. Large numbers also attended evening talks that featured guest speakers and such topics as 'Birds o f Tongariro', 'Early Ascents' and 'Eruptions of Ngauruhoe'. Park officials said the majority of visitors were New Zealanders -

some visiting the park for the first time, and some overseas tourists. Whakapapa's camping grounds experienced high numbers of campers utilising the facilities during the peak holiday period at New Year. Whanganui summer Pipiriki's Whaharangi Trig and Drop Scene Walks attracted as many as 6 0 people on an outing, while averaging around 20 people each trip. Senior Conservation Officer Dennis McDonnell said staff at Pipiriki had experienced no problems with the numbers and people were showing a keen interest in their environment. Mr McDonnell said huts in the Whanganui National Park were not being well patronised which he attributed chiefly to the humid weather. "Most people are happy to camp outdoors, it's too warm to sleep inside," he said. Hut wardens at huts along the Matemateaonga Track collected more fees than the river huts collectively, according to Mr McDonnell. Pipiriki's summer nature programme finishes this Saturday with a half day walk to the Drop Scene.