THE ROUTEBURN VALLEY

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4554, 26 February 1942, Page 3

THE ROUTEBURN VALLEY

W SCENIC BEAUTY UNSURPASSED On Sunday last a party of local residents journeyed up the lake, some to go fishing in the Greenstone river and some to Kinloch for the motor trip to the Routeburn Valley. Leaving Queenstown in the morning per the launch Muratai, a very pleasant trip was made up the lake. The reflections were wonderful and the hills looked magnificent. The conditions were ideal for travelling, there being little or no wind and plenty of The launch called in at Elfin Bay to set down the fishermen and then proceeded to the Head of Lake. On arriving at Kinloch the remaining members of the party wore transferred to Mr Bryant’s motor coach and proceeded up the Routeburn Valley. Grandeur of a kind seldom equalled and never bettered was to be seen on all sides. It is truly said that the scenic beauty of this valley has never been surpassed in any part of the world. Delicate-look-ing clematis, flowering on the birch trees, with the bright red flower of the rata catching the sun’s rays, made a bright splash of colour against the numerous shades of green. Birds whistling and the murmur of the streams provide music that can never be set down on paper. Nature in all her glory was to be seen and heard and even the deer, most timid of all animals, did not seem to be unduly afraid of the party. Leaving the motor coach at the end of the road, the party journeyed on foot part way up the track. Like a silvey ribbon on

velvet, the bridal veil falls reflected the sun’s rays which seemed to be composed of fairies dancing and waving their star-studded wands. Although the falls are not pretentious in height, they made up for that lack by their outstanding beauty. Appearing out of the green-clad mountain, they disappear with the same suddenness. Looking down from the track into the clear waters of the Routcburn river, the party saw many fine trout and the ease with which they swam against the current was in itself an interesting sight. Returning to the bus, the party journeyed back to Kinloeh and saw many grand scenes that were missed on the outward journey. Paradise duck, looking for all the world like policemen, were seen in large numbers, and even the sheep and cattle took on a romantic form as they grazed amidst the rugged grandeur of this beautiful valley. Leaving Kinloeh just before dark, the party saw the sun in all its glory departing from the landscape and colours never before seen on an artist’s pallette were blazed across the sky; a symbol of peace and beauty only to be seen in places such as the Head of the Lake. The party at Elfin Bay were picked up on the way home and although the number of fish caught was small, the beauty of the river and its surrounding hills was some compensation for the loss of loss of sport. Trips such as these are getting more popular and it is believed that, like most things, beauty such as tfle Routeburn Valley, offers at our back door, is overlooked by most people end shoul 1 be made more widely known.