COMING TOURIST RESORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 7

COMING TOURIST RESORT.

THE NATIONAL PARK. WONDERFUL ATTRACTIONS. ■ Volcanoes partially active, beautiful glaciers, lugged scenery, bleak deserts, and plant life of absolutely unique description are the main features of New Zealand's groat National Park, which the Main Trunk railway is now bringing within a comfortable day's journey of Wellington .or Auckland. It stands midway between these centres, and is destined to become one of the most important tourist resorts in the Dominion. This prospect is borne out by the highly interesting report on the National Park submitted to the Government by Dr. L. Cockayne, Ph.D.. who was commissioned to inquire into the flora of the region, and Mr. E. Phillips Turner, inspector of scenic reserves. The park's present boundaries, they state, consist of the circumferences of three circles drawn round Tongariro, Ngaurulioe, and Ruapehu respectively, having a radius of three miles for the two former, and four to the last-named. It is pointed out that Tongariro National i ark was set. aside because of the presence of certain more or less active volcanoes, and because they were not only a valuable scenic possession for any country, but they formed the climax, as it were, of the celebrated thermal region of the North Island. Co-related, too, with these volcanic ranges was much interesting scenery of a varied character. " Volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, lakes, and gorges are to be seen elsewhere," continues the report, "but our forests, meadows; and even deserts stand alone. Thus it follows that in all scenic reserves, and in those larger ones called national parks, the preservation of the vegetation should be the matter of first consideration, and no area gives an accurate picture of the district of which it forms a portion if it does not contain typical examples of all these combinations of species called, scientifically, 'plant associations ' or ' plant formations.' " Originally the park was made up chiefly of steep slopes and deep gullies covered with •volcanic cinders and ash, destitute of all plant life, but if the boundaries proposed in the report are adopted, there will be various fine pieces of beech forest, the mountain beech on the east, the tooth-leaved and silver beeches on the south-west and in certain deep gorges not far from the Tokaatm Road. There will also be fine collections of alpine plants, embracing such remarkable species as Dacrydium laxifolium, the smallest member of the pine-tree family in the world, the whipcord veronica, the handsome veronica laevis', the charming eyebright, mountain daisies, and many other plants found nowhere but in the mountain fastnesses of New Zealand. The importance of preserving the indigenous plants is strongly urged. The scenery is probably of a more varied character than any other equal area of land in the Dominion, states the report. Ruapehu. 9200 ft in altitude, has beautiful glaciers on its east, west, and southern slopes. •On the summit of Ruapehu,. occupying its ancient crater, is a glacier as remarkable in ■Hi way as any in the world. This contains "in its bosom a small lake of water, warm at, times, at others more or less cold: clear also '■at one time and sometimes turbid, while on its surface frequently float, small icebergs /broken off from the 200 ft of perpendicular cliff bounding part of its margin. From this glacier comes the celebrated Waiigaehu River, whose waters, even at its mouth, are 'highly charged with sulphrous acid and certain sulphates. ; Ngauruhoe, the highest of the active volcanoes, is an easy excursion from, the Ruapehu mountain lint, and the climber is rewarded by not merely an extensive view, but stands on the a-im.of the crater," with a mud • volcano in its centre "and a strong jet of ;'steam, blowing with a; loud noise from its ihidden . recesses.- Between. 'Ngaurulioe- and 'Ruapehu is a., saddle some 40.00 ft in altitude (loading to the west, and here are two interesting crater lakes called Nga Puna, a Tama. Tongariro contains two active craters --one the Red crater so named from the colour of its walls, and Te Mari, which is the more active of tYip: two, and said to have been in eruption ten years ago. There are also the very powerful blow holes of Ketetahi, constantly emitting vast volumes of steam; here too are several hot springs containing various kinds of water, and probably of much importance from their curative properties.

Nor are the signs of present volcanic activity the sole interest. The ancient craters, and especially the lava flows, are truly wonderful sights, particularly the recent one from T». Mari, which not so many years ago cut a fiery path through the totara forest, or 'the still more ancient flow in the great Oturere crater, now weathered into the most fantastic forms. There are rivers, such as the Ohinehango and Waiholianu, which issue from the solid rock, widening out. into quiet pools, haunts of wild cluck, or dash at once over their stony beds as true Alpine torrents. The tooth-leaved beech forest of the west and south, with its open undergrowth and bright green foliage looking like lace-work, is equal to the same association as found in the Cold Lakes region. It is important, states the report, that for the sake of plant life no grazing animals shall have access to the park, but tiro is even more to be. dreaded, as a plant association once burnt out could, never exactly reproduce itself now that introduced plants are established in New Zealand.

Dealing with methods of access for visitors, the report, states that so long as the coach service exists the road from Tokaanu lo Waiouru will lie of prime importance. By it the Mountain House is 23 miles from Waiouru. the final four being by an excellent track leaving 'the main road near the 19-mile peg. When the Main Trunk line is completed there will be a demand for a more rapid route to Ruapehu from the line, it-self, and the report recommends two courses. From Waiouru the visitor can ride 12 miles along the road, then crossing the sandy Onetapu Desert for three or four miles, and the mountain may be ascended from near the source of the Wangaehu. The other route would start from Rangatana, on the railway, following the course of the. Mangaehuhu River, which flows in almost a straight line from its glacier. From the terminal face of the ice to the railway lino is about, 9i miles, eight of which are through the beech forest.