TOURIST CRUISES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 January 1939, Page 11

TOURIST CRUISES

VISIT TO SOUTH ISLAND > REPORT TO TItAVKI. ASSOCIATION j 1-at. Lui s involved in the problem of in- | creasing the number of cruise ships to | visit the South Island are discussed in a j report presented to a meeting of the exe- , cutive of the South Islands Travel Asso- I eialion in Ureymouth this week by the di- ! rector, Mr J.'.J. W. Pollard. The ‘‘turn -round” cruises, the report j! explains, are made by liners "filling in their ‘'turn-round” time at the Austral- , inn end. "These trips are limited in time I to about 10 days, which gives about three I days, and it is clear that the companies' j preference is for no more than two ports | i-» the Dominion on each trip. The Orient ! line is evidently interested and wp can | say at the same time that the Shaw Savill line is also contemplating some activity in | the tourist field with Australian passeng- j crs. I util Milford Sound is linked to the rest of the island by road there is some j chance that the company will consider a j programme involving the northern end of i the island, making Lyttelton and Pictou I the ports of call for the vessel. Experience has shown that about one-third of the passengers on these cruises leave the j | vessel for (lie overland trip between ports, and that about one-third do not make any I long distance trips from the ships. "Some important points suggest fchem- [ selves, and 1 think the executive should take them into consideration,” continues |Mr Pollard. ”(a) The need of moorings at Milford Sound for large liners, j “(b) The value of the Haast Pass road i linking south Wert land with Otago, thus j giving tourists lauding at Milford alterna- . tivc routes through the island. * (c) The magnificent prospect opened j up by a road which will link South Westland with the Eglinglon valley and Lake I To Anau. j MOORINGS AT MILFORD SOUND ‘‘Many years ago vessels visiting Milford could moor at a buoy, but this buoy j came adrift and has not been replaced. In I any case, the point at. which it was situai ated has shoaled and could not be used for large liners to-day. Harrison Cove, ! where protection is afforded by The Lion, | could probably afford good anchorage, but buoys would be required for moorings and for assisting large vessels to swiug. Some ; inquiry into tins matter is desirable be- ! cause safe moorings will be essential if large modern liners, offering big wind surface, are to make Milford a port of call. Tbe executive might consider the value of asking the Marine Department to take up this matter so that, if possible, the moorings may be in position by the time tbe Milford road is opened. "Progress is being made with the road to cross the Haast Pass, but it will not be opened in time for the exhibition period. This road will have a tremendous ini' fluence on the future of travel in the j South Island by offering a road trip with |no need for covering the same truck twice. The campaign for this route has been long, and any impatience now is due to the recognition of the great influence lor increased tourist traffic this connexion will have, “The road from Jackson’s Day to Eglinton is another project of wonderful pos* ! sibilitios. One thing certain is that the i road south an ill not stop at Jackson’s , Bay, ami the link with the Eglinton Val. I ley road at the divide will be man». The ! distance from Wcheka to this point is j about 200 miles, and from the Haast river I t.o the Eglinton Valley is about 110 miles, ! From Jackson’s Hay to the Eglinton Val. j ley is about &G miles, and the cost-lias j been estimated at £200,000. This would i provide a motor highway through match- | less scenery.”