NORTH AND SOUTH

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19941, 30 May 1930, Page 14

NORTH AND SOUTH

HOLIDAY RESORTS VISITED.

MR L. J. BAYFIELD'S TOUR. An account of his visit to the Tongariro National Park and tho return trip to Marlborough Sounds over the new Blenheim-Tophouse-Murchison road to Westport, and also over the new Wcst-port-Greymouth coastal road was given to a Press reporter yesterday by Mr L. J. Bayfield, manager of tht local branch of the Tourist Dopartment. The Chateau Tongariro, Mr Bayfield says, is quite the best hotel in New Zealand, containing as it does all facilities for convenience and amusement of guests in the evenings, or, should the weather be wot. The Chateau has been well patronised since the day it opened, the average number being, up to the time Mr Bayfield was there, eighty per day. An eighteenhole golf course has been laid down by Mr Gillies, a well-known golfer of Hamilton, and it slopes right from the front of the Chateau. Situated as it us almost in tho centre of. the North Island, the Chateau makes a very convenient place of call for people travelling in almost any direction.

Marlborough Sounds. Mr Bayfield spent eight days in Marlborough Sounds, principally in Konopuru. -The weather was perfect, i i swimming being indulged in so late in the year. Tho Sounds usually enjoy sunny weather right up till the end of June or the middle of July. As the many bays are so well sheltered, on a bright, sunny day they become quite warm. "The people of New Zealand do not realise what good spots rhey have in the i)om|nion to visit during tho winter months, wljien the, cities are having their winter weathor," he added. "For some reason or other 90 per cent, of New Zealandeis have got into the habit of taking their holiday* between Christmas and Easter. The -eather, of course, is usually good then, but this is a time when many people are travelling,* and one cannot always receive the attention one would get from the transport services, hotels, etc., outside these months. This is a point worth considering by anybody thinking of taking a holiday. There is plenty of fishing to be had in Marlborough Sounds, our party catching al many an fifty blue cod in an hour just off Ship's Cove, the place where Captain Cook first raised the British flag on New Zealand shores In 177u. A suitable monument has been erected here, detailing the various landings made by Captain Cook. Hie once erocted tents there, and left invalid members of his crew to recuperate. There is a vety fine Government reserve of about 2000 acres, well covered in very heavy native bush.

Westport to Wellington In a Day. "From Pioton we journeyed oyer the new Blenheim-Topboiise-MurcbJettn road, over which a service* has ; W* recently started to run. the toad, with the exception of one <fr two oreoks.. which will be bridged l» the , ti flfaf future, is quite a good oae, be:i»B> %■ top gear road all the way. The!3**ekf: mentioned are easily crossed,, fciilejl there has been a period of heavy rain, when they become difficult. This road will eventually enable people to leave the West Coast in the morning and arrive in Picton in time to catch the steamer for Wellington the same day. This means that later on, when the Lyall and Inangahua section of the Bui; ler road, which is being reconstructed after the earthquake damage, la finished, people will De able to have their breakfast in Westport and their evening meal in Wellington. Lake Botoiti, which is on this road, is a very pretty spot, fishing and shooting of all classes to be had in abundance. There is, so far, no accommodation house right at Lako Botoiti, but no doubt thfs will come later on. At present there »re a number of baches which can be hired, while a number of people go there in the Bummer time and pitch their tents. While in Picton the party also drove over the Plcton-Grove-Havelook road which runs through beautiful native bush and .skirts the edge, of Queen Char, lotto and Pelorus Sounds. This road is not yet a good one, being really only passable in dry weather, but as soon as it is metalled, it will make one - of the prettiest little drives in New Zealand.

Fantastic Book Formations. "Good progress has bean made in the construction of the coastal road between Westport and Greymouth—-sixty-fivo miles. There is now only one difficult river (the Fox) to be bridged, and when this is finished the run will become quite an easy and very beautiful one. From various vantage points along the road magnificent panoramic stretches of sea coast and wooded hills are seen. At Punakalki one will see the fantastic rook forma* tioni, such as the Pancake Bocks and the blowholes in the immediate vicinity. The foliage here also takes on a more tropical aspect, the nlkau palms and graceful king ferns being well In evidence. The rock formation in itself « an extraordinary sight, and is alone worth the visit. The main blowhole is; seen to advantage should a heavy sea be running. The sea rushes with tre* mondous force into subterranean caves, and is spouted up, geyser-like, in a shower of spray to a great height and to the accompaniment of a thunderous, booming noise." t Kaikoura was also visited, and although it is so late in the year, beautiful sunny days were encountered. Kaikoura is quite a pretty spot for anybody to spend a few days, situated as it is right on the sea coast and providing fishing, shooting, golf links, tennis courts, etc., etc Mr Bayfield found accommodation in all placos remarkably, good, and the handling of tho cars by the service drivers Was exoellent. ~