WAITOMO CAVES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 25 May 1926, Page 5

WAITOMO CAVES.

INCREASING TOURIST TRAFFIC. The growing popularity of the Waitomo Caves as a tourist attraction is shown by the fact that the surplus of revenue over expenditure in connection therewith has risen from £229 in 1910 to £3500' in 1925. Not only was last years ’ profit a. record (says the Auckland Star), hut the same period also showed the greatest- number of visitors, the figures reaching 8163. One very decided' drawback so far, as tourists are concerned! is the paucity of the hostel accommodation, which results in the majority having to curtail their stay to an extent which fre.qeuntly causes much disappointment, inasmuch as it is. only at slack times. — which, are now very rare —that accommodation can be booked for more than a single day. Last year, the site for the new hostel l was prepared, and it is stated that Cabinet has -sanctioned t-lie erection of the new buildings, but so far there is no sign of when the work will be proceeded with. The only additional building is the erection of badly-needed quarters for the staff, which, are now finished after being a long time building. It is to be hoped that this will -be speedily followed, by the equally needed additional quarters for visitors, for, the present facilities are -so hopelessly inadequate that there is a, danger of many people cutting out altogether their projected visits to the caves on account of the inconvenience which- the present condi-tions-entail.. ...