National parks

Press, 10 December 1981, Page 27

National parks

Camping is an excellent way to discover New Zealand’s national parks. In many of the national parks there are no formal camping grounds and campers really live close to nature. However, if this does not suit, alternative accommodation such as motels and huts are available.

The parks are a good place for active, outdoor holidays for pursuits such as fishing, swimming and nature walks. In New Zealand there are 10 national parks (three in the North Island and seven in the South Island). From December to February rangers in the national parks run short guided walks. There are no charges for these tours and campers should get in touch with the park headquarters for details.

Arthur’s Pass is the closest national park to Christchurch. The township, which is tbe base for activities in the park, is 140 km

from Christchurch. The park straddles the main divide of the Southern Alps and provides striking contrasts between the mountain beech forests of Canterbury and the mixed rain forests of Westland.

There are no special camping facilities in the Arthur’s Pass National Park, but areas suitable for camping are shown on maps available from the Lands and Survey Department.

Mount Cook National Park is 335 km from Christchurch. Possibly the park’s greatest attraction is its magnificent alpine scenery. All but five of the 27 peaks in New Zealand over 3050 m are within the park. Many of these may be seen from vantage points easily reached on foot.

There is a fully-equipped camping ground at Glentanner Park Camp, 20km from Mount Cook village, and limited camping facilities within the park at White Horse Hill.