NATIONAL PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 10

NATIONAL PARK.

WEEK-END EXCURSIONS. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S SCHEME. VISITS TO NEW ZEALAND'S WONDERLAND. National Park is becoming increasingly popular. It is mainly on account of that.fact that the Railway Department decided to run the Daylight Limited express much earlier this year than previously, and now that accommodation at the Park has been increased week-end excursions are becoming popular. This week-end, for instance, a party of 30 Parliamentarians and their wives left Wellington by the Daylight Limited this morning, and will return South by the : Daylight Limited from Auckland on Monday. Although the Tongariro Park Tourist Co.'s new chateau has not been officially opened as yet, guests are being accommodated at the hostel as well as in the renovated huts. For some weeks there has been a steady influx of tourists and visitors, ,and many have attended winter sports gatherings on the sides of Mount Ruapehu, underneath which tho handsome chateau nestles'. Glorious views are to be had'on all aides from the large and spacious halls and lounges, with their landscape windows. The official opening of the chateau will take place next month; but meantime several week-end excursions are being provided for by the Railway Department, in conjunction with the Tongariro Park Tourist Co., the first of which will commence on Saturday, October 2C, and will continue over till Monday, October 28, which is Labour Day. Special excursion fares have been insti- , tuted, and a special train leaving Auckland at 12.40 p.m., on the Saturday, for Rotorua will take National Park passengers as far as Frankton Junction. Here the travellers will join another special train at 3.30 p.m., and will arrive at National Park at 8.30 p.m. On the return journey the tickets will be available by the Wellington-Auckland Daylight Limited express, or ordinary express trains leaving National Park at 4.9 p.m. and 11.12 p.m. respectively on Labour Day. These trains will arrive at Auckland at 11.0 p.m. on Labour Day and 6.40 a.m. on Tuesday respectively. There is accommodation for over 200 people at the chateau, and up till this morning 08 applications had been received by Mr. C. W. Wood, the local representative for the company. Through booking has been instituted, and this includes rail fare and accommodation, the Tongariro Park Tourist Co. providing transit from National' Park station to the chateau. The total charges for the trip have been made as reasonable as possible £3 10/ second-class and £4 first-class) and include everything. By means of these arrangements and services one of New Zealand's greatest tourist attractions has been brought right to Auckland's back-door. .