UPSURGE IN VISITORS TO ARTHUR’S PASS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30761, 27 May 1965, Page 5

UPSURGE IN VISITORS TO ARTHUR’S PASS

Visitors to the Arthur’s Pass National Park are steadily increasing, particularly those making day trips on the week-end.

“Improved road access will mean more visitors than ever, and there will be great demand for roadside picnic areas and shelters,” said the park board’s chief ranger. Mr P. Croft, in his report to the annual meeting yesterday

The Nation®; ?arks Authority had approved as projects all capital works planned by the board, members were informed. The sum

of £3OOO had been allocated toward the cost of a new threebedroomed married ranger’s house. The balance applied for—£3soo—would be available in the next financial year.

The National Parks Authority had also made an additional grant of £lBOO toward the cost of a first-aid room at the Alpine museum, and installing heating in the building, the total grant for this work now being £3400. Picnic Areas

Great use was being made of the present picnic areas, said Mr Croft, but some sites were proving inadequate to meet the demand. The Waimakariri bridge area, possibly the most popular, needed better access and more parking space.

AH shelters were in good order, and well used. “These buildings have developed into starting points for trips into the park,” Mr Croft said. The new Arthur’s Pass shelter would be finished in

June and a new one could be built in the Andrew stream area. Alpine Museum Regular programmes of nature walks, and talks, had been given during school holidays, Mr Croft said. On public holidays, talks and film evenings at the Alpine Museum had been regular features. In the year to March 31, an estimated 6500 persons had visited the museum (1700 signed the visitors’ book from December 23 to March 31), while 3037 visitors had attended talks and film evenings presented by the ranger staff. “Future use of the museum’s social hall must consider entertainment other than purely park talks,” Mr Croft said. “Dances, films, and social evenings would all help to interest young visitors. With the installation of a new heating system, more activities can now be undertaken.”