HUNTING LODGE AT WAKATIPU

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 7

HUNTING LODGE AT WAKATIPU

To Attract U.S. Tourists • (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Nov. 28. The Pacific director of Pan American World Airways (Mr W Mullahey) will arrive in Southland early next year to inspect the facilities at a luxury hunting lodge, designed to attract Americans to New Zealand.

This was announced today by the chairman of directors of Amphibian Airways, Ltd. (Mr A. H. Hamilton). The hunting lodge has been established at the homestead of the Arcadia station, at Paradise, at the head of Lake Wakatipu. All arrangements had now been completed to try to capture part of the tourist dollar trade, said Mr Hamilton. The Arcadia Lodge attractions, which were unique in New Zealand, would be shown to Mr Mullahey. After two days’ hunting, Mr Mullahey, who would be accompanied by his wife, would be taken to Lake McKerrow, where there is a high standard fishing lodge. Weather permitting, Mr Mullahey would also be flown to Milford Sound and Te Anau.

Arcadia Lodge was primarily designed for overseas visitors. The service and amenities would be of luxury standard. Besides hunting, there were excellent fishing and fine scenery. Guests would be accommodated at the lodge when they first arrived, but later would be taken to two hunting camps up the valley. They would ride horses to these. Every conceivable comfort that Americans would want would be provided at the camps. Mr Hamilton said that Americans who would be able to afford to make the trip would mostly be past the age where they could do strenuous hunting. Therefore their way would be made as easy as possible. If the project were approved by Mr Mullahey, it would undoubtedly be widely publicised by his organisation. However, Amphibian Airways was indepently promoting the venture in the United States.