Holiday programme in five locations

Press, 26 December 1986, Page 10

Holiday programme in five locations

This summer the Department of Lands and Survey will run holiday programmes in five locations in Canterbury, offering a wide variety of holiday activities. Guided walks, to areas of scenic and historic interest, talks, films and slide shows will be held at the two national parks and on some of the scenic reserves of Canterbury. Programmes will be run at Quail Island, Banks Peninsula, Peel Forest and in the Mount Cook and Arthur’s Pass National Parks. Quail Island, in Lyttelton Harbour, has now become established as a popular recreation area. Its history as a leper colony and quarantine station provides plenty of interest for the island’s holiday programme. Guided walks will be held twice

weekly from January 4 to January 31. A few trips have also been arranged to Ripapa Island. Information from Quail Island Information Centre. Phone Lyttelton 8554. The Banks Peninsula programme will be based at the Akaroa Courthouse. Guided walks through some of the scenic and historic reserves will be held from January 516. One highlight will be a visit to Onawe Pa Historic Reserve. Information: Akaroa Courthouse. Phone Akaroa 334. Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve has long been a popular camping and picnicking spot for holidaymakers. The Peel Forest programme caters both for people staying at Peel Forest and those visiting the area

for the day. A variety of guided walks, evening programmes and a children’s programme will run from December 27 to January 25. Information: Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve. Phone Arundel 826. . A full range of guided trips from easy half-day walks to reasonably strenuous full-day tramps will be offered by those taking part in the programmes at Canterbury’s two national parks, at Arthur’s Pass and Mount Cook. Evening activities at the respective visitor centres will include films, slide shows and talks. The Mount Cook programme will run from December 26 to February 6; the Arthur’s Pass programme from December 26 to January 18. Information: Phone Mount Cook 819; Arthur’s Pass 500.