TONGARIRO PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18022, 22 February 1922, Page 6

TONGARIRO PARK.

ITS GROWING POPULARUTY,. INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION. BETTER ROAD NEEDED, The recent spell of clear, fine wither has added greatly to tho enjoyment of all Auckland holiday-makers, more particufarly those who have been visiting Tongariro National Park, where the weather is over the dominating feature of a holiday trip. Ever since the opening of the season, the Government hut at Whakapapa has been in occupation, visitors to the park during the last few weeks having had an exceptionally happy and diverting time.

; Among those recently at the hut was a party of ladies from Marton, each one of whom achieved the triumph of climbing Ruapehu's highest peaks. The weather vas perfect for mountaineeriiig, and starting at four in the morning the party reached the top well before midday, reaching the hut again about four in the afternoon. Each member of the party, although suffering severely from the sun and snow-bun, inseparable fro m mountain climbing, expressed herseli as delighted with the trip, which was accomplished much more easily than had been expected. Many of those who have visited the park lately declare it is quite time the Government increased and improved the accommodation. Although more and more people are visiting Tongariro each season, thero are hundreds of others who wish to do so. but are compelled to defer their visit until the accommodation is a little less primitive. At present, it is frankly only for mountaineers. In tie first place, the five-mile track leading from the Waimarino-Tokaanu Road to the hut is in a very bad condition, even though the weather hag been so good. There are many deep ruts and boggy holes almost a couple of feet deep, ani the trip is a very rough one for the horses which do the carting for camper,!. Until a short time ago, it was stated, there were 110 mattresses of any kind in the bunks. Thin paliasses have now been provided, but campers state that these are I quite inadequate on cold nights, and even I during the last two or three weeks of per- ; fact weather some exceedingly cold nights have been experienced in the mountains. In spite of these drawbacks, the majority of those who have visited the park have been most enthusiastic as to its beauties and charm, although many of them openly regret that so little has been done to draw the great mass of visitors who would find in the invigorating mountain air and splendid scenery untold 'benefit and holiday diversion. The establishme it of a permanent hostel at the foot of Ruapehu, possibly on the present site of the Whakapapa hut, is advocated as a work which the Tourist Department should take in hand immediately finances permit, for until such accommodation is provided it is impossible for the park to be utilise*?, as it should be, as ths jreat holiday-making centre of the North island.

Another point mentioned ty a recent visitor to the district is the exceedingly bai condition of certain parts of the Waimarino-Tokaanu Road. The first mile or so from Waimarino is unmotalled, and even in fine weather i 3 extremely rough for motor-cars. "I have been told that the itiad to Tokaanu was a good one," remarked the visitor, "formed by prison labour and well metalled. It was good for a little more than half the way, and after that it was inexpressibly bad. The road across the plains from Waimarino, mostly metalled, gave quite good travelling, but when we started to go down toward Lake Roto Aira we struck the old Constabulary Road, formed about the seventies, I was told, and apparently' left unattended ever since. For about }-. 20 miles, right in to Tokaanu, our trip was just a succession of shatteriif bumps, enough to shake the life out;waf>: passengers and car alike. It is a grtiV. pity, for the run is a very fine one, over 40 miles of beautiful scenery, ard half of it spoiled bv the great disoprn- . fort of an abominable road."