NEW NATIONAL PARK'S UNIQUE GLACIERS, UNRIVALLED SCENERY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29143, 2 March 1960, Page 24 (Supplement)

NEW NATIONAL PARK'S UNIQUE GLACIERS, UNRIVALLED SCENERY

[Bp BRIAN CLEMENS]

The Government’s greatest tribute to Westland in its centenary year has been its action in vesting more than 300 square miles of virgin bush and alpine country in the glacier region as a national park. The area, which will be named the Westland National Park, will be gazetted this month-—within a year of the first proposal for its establishment being made public. It will be the ninth national park to be established in New Zealand.

Containing within its boundaries glacial features unique in the world, the new national park also boasts outstanding scenic attractions of bush, mountain, and lake rivalled perhaps only by a few areas in the vast, 3,000,000-acre tract of the Southern Lakes and Fiordland which comprises the Fiordland National Park. The new national park, with an area of 210,000 acres, will rank fourth in size behind Fiordland, Urewera (485,410 acres), and Arthur’s Pass (239,152 acres).

The twin glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox, which rise among the vast snowfields in the heart of the Southern Alps, in the shadow of peaks over 10,000 ft in height, are the only ones in the world which descend into sub*tropical forest Remnants of the last ice age, before the thick, luxurious bush clothed the mountain ranges of Westland up to a height of 4000 ft, the glaciers have been the last to retreat to higher levels. Their terminal faces are at a lower altitude than any glacier in temperate climates. The Franz Josef glacier falls 8000 ft in its course of eight miles from where it rises in the. Alps. It terminates in an ice cliff half a mile wide and 100 ft deep. Both glaciers drop to below 700 ft above sea level, and the sight of these huge rivers of ice “flowing’' through attractive bush, particularly in summer when the rata is in bloom, flooding the mountain slopes with crimson flowers, is certain eventually to attract thousands more tourists to the park than at present. Embracing an area of nearly a quarter million acres, from the main diyide to within a few miles of the coast, the park has the advantage of a common boundary to the east with the Mount Cook National Park. “It is evident that the development of the park must be carried out in close co-ordination

with development of the Mount Cook park,” said the supervisor of New Zealand National parks (Mr R. W. Cleland). By this planned development of the area huts to be erected by the two park boards can be strategically sited through the alps on the most popular alpine traverses between Canterbury and Westland, and many other features for the safety of climbers and others entering the region can be incorporated. These will include efficient radio connection between huts in both parks for use in emergencies and to send advance notice of the movements of parties crossing either way. Rangers from both parks will be on hand to lead, at short notice, rescue operations in the alpine area in the event of accidents, which are generally of a serious nature in such remote, exposed localities. The maintenance of tracks for the guidance of parties will also be carried out in close liason between the two national parks. The northern boundary of the park is the Tatare river, near the Franz Josef township. It follows this stream, a tributary of the Waiho which flows out of the glacier, to its headwater, then along 'lhe Maxmillian range to Mount Elie de Beaumont (10,200 ft on the main divide. It then has a common boundary with the Mount Cook national park along the Southern Alps to the Karangarua river.

quarter mile of reading will have to be carried out, but once this work is completed it is expected that vehicles could be maintained up the riverbed to the terminal face.

That visitors who have travelled hundreds of miles by road or rail should not be denied access to the glacier face by such a short distance of much-needed roading is the view expressed by Mr Cleland.

Men employed by the Lands and Survey Department which was responsible for the park’s jurisdiction until its final gazetting—have been engaged for some months on the restoration of tracks and bridges in the area. Much of the work up to the beginning of this year had been in the Franz Josef vicinity, where there are at present about 18% miles of tracks to be maintained. Hot Springs and Glaciers The Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland (Mr J. Fitzharris), said work carried out re-

Lands tor Westland (Mr J. Fitzharris), said work carried out recently in the park had included a survey of all high-altitude huts, complete reconstruction of the Cone Rock bridge at Fox glacier and major repairs to the Callery gorge bridge and the bridge over Arthur’s creek, and further track maintenance. It was also intended to enlarge a pool formed by a little known hot spring near the Franz Josef glacier, he said. A brochure on the region says it possesses some of the finest bush, alpine, and lake scenery to be found anywhere in New Zealand. In addition to these undoubted attractions there is a rich variety of bird life, while the heavy Westland rain forest boasts one of the highest concentrations of indigenous tree and sub-alpine plant life. For those with limited time in the area the scenic flights operating from the Fox glacier, Hokitika, and Waiho, which show to greatest advantage the splendid panorama of vast expanses of snow and ice on a score of 10,000 ft peaks, and the bush and lakes extending far to the coastline, should become an increasingly popular service. A feature of the park which is rapidly attracting large numbers of enthusiasts through the increasing use of ski-planes, is the 20,000 acres of snowfields at the head of the glaciers. The fields, lacking ski tows, are only visited by the more energetic followers of the sport, but flights by ski-equipped craft which lands skiers and equipment on the snowfields have opened up an area which has been virtually Inaccessible in the past

Outlying scenic reserves around Lakes Wahapo and Mapourika have been included in the park, which also incorporates a narrow stretch of land extending to a short distance from the coast at Gillespie’s Beach, the breeding ground for a colony of seals. This stretch of the park takes in Lake Matheson, a renowned scenic spot in which are reflected the massive peaks of Mounts Cook and Tasman, the two highest in New Zealand.

A five-year development plan for the park is under consideration by the national parks authority. Included in the major works to be carried out will be the construction of new roads for improved access; the construction of new road and foot-bridges across the larger streams; the reconstruction of bridges already existing; the erection of huts, and track cutting and reclearing. An example of the type of improvements envisaged is the formation of a vehicle track from the main road for three-quarters of a mile to Lake Mathieson so that tourists will .be able to arrive at the lake edge early in the morning when the reflections of th? major peaks are at their best. Reconstruction of parts of the Copland track which has fallen into disrepair are also contemplated.

One of the main problems facing those concerned with the park’s development has been that of access to the Fox glacier. Costly rock blasting work to provide a