THE NATIONAL PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIVIII, Issue 17684, 20 January 1921, Page 8

THE NATIONAL PARK.

A POPULAR RESORT. NUMEROUS CAMPING PARTIES About 60 people have recently been spending their holidays in the National Park, writes our Wahnarino correspondent. The Whakapapa hut was well filled, and others camped alongside or went on to the various other huts round the mountains. Numerous ascents were made of all the mountains. Some of the climbers also went to the warm crater lake on Ruapehu for a swim, nearly 9000 ft. above sea level. The scoria ridge on the east side of this lake is reported to be warm, with steam issuing from it in parts. Other parties camped near the fishing streams, and are finding the fishing better this year than last season, owing to the warm, dry weather. Work has now been started on the formation of trackß, which are to give improved access from the Whakapapa hut to Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and other places of interest. The Tourist Department has recently appointed a caretaker and ranger for the central portion of the National Park, with headquarters near Waimarino. The road in to Mount Ruapehu has now dried up, so that visitors will have no difficulty in getting their luggage and stores carted to the hut during the dry weather. Before winter comes on it is expected that the formation of the permanent road will be well forward.