TOURISTS GET BUSY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 December 1924, Page 10

TOURISTS GET BUSY.

MANY BOOKINGS AHEAD

AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. Times have never been better with the Government Tourist Bureau at Auckland than those experienced so far this season. Already the demand for transport to and accommodation at numerous popular holiday' resorts througout the Dominions excels the best results at the corresponding period of past years. Applications began about two months ago, and- - steadily quickened and increased - until the Lookings to date exceed those at tile same time: last year by neary 40 per cent. Thousands of. prospective holiday tourists have booked' early and have; finalised their travelling arrangements and bed; and i board 1 for the yuletide season, and the strain upon the existing accommodation at several of the ■ most- popular resorts is evennow acute. Soon there will be nothing available except tents. The brisk holiday tourist business at the, Auckland; Bureau is the experience of the Tourist Department as a whole, all district offices having reported to headquarters that their bookings are well ahead of results last year at this period of the season. There is to he a record exodus of Aucklanders this yuletide to the beautiful lakes of Otago. Local bookings for the southern highlands are exceptionally heavy, while those for the Milford Track trio represent a. notable record for Auckland. The West- Coast of the South Island, and particularly the rugged district containing the lowest glacier in the worldhas attracted a large number of Auckland holiday tourists this year. Local hookings to Mount Cook are also verv good.

The increasing popularity of Tongariro National Park is hindered almost to a vexatious extent by lack of adequate accommodation' for all who desire to enjoy the bracing altitude of this charming alpine resort. All .the available space at the existing huts lias been taken, and accommodation in tents is the only choice. Tourists have still to whistle for more accommodation at Waitomo Caves. Last year this unique resort attracted 7400 visitors, and* to quote the naive comment of a departmental administrator, “the number would'have been gieater,, only we could not give' accommodation to all who desired it ” Two American professors, of whom one was a biologist, recently visited the caves, . and subsequently forwarded' this, appreciation to .the officer in charge of tlie Auckland Tourist Bureau: “Our expeiieiice at -WAitomo was most ’unique. The beauty and fascination of the glowworm grotto is beyond compare.

, Deparp men tal records show that Auckland has become the. holiday mecca for many people in the 'South 'island, •aud particularly for the good: folk of Dunedin, whose hookings alreadv are very numerous.