Westland National Park

Press, 17 June 1980, Page 28

Westland National Park

The glacier' : region of South Westland was legally made a National Park in 1960 to coincide with Westland’s centennial year... ' Westland National Park is unique in both the landforms and the vegetation which fall within its boundaries.. Its 88,000 hectares extend from the Tasman Sea to the highest'

peaks of the Great Divide and offer many opportunities for visitors , to .see it at first hand. Glacier excursions, alpine ski touring, . mountaineering and ' ski-plane flights make good -use of the higher . regions while forest walks, hunting, fishing and tramping are popular lower down the slopes. . ’

Among South Westland’s scenic attractions the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers rate highly. Tourist centres have developed around these two areas and there is a full range of services and facilities available. National Park Service rangers are stationed at both Franz Josef and Fox

Glacier and both villages have Park Visitor Centres with models, displays, publications and staff available to provide information and assistance. During the summer there are nature programmes with Ranger-con-ducted walks, evening talks, films and special children’s programmes.