THE TOURIST RESORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 12

THE TOURIST RESORTS.

WORK OF IMPROVEMENT.

WAITOMO CAVES HOSTEL. ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION. NEW MILFORD SOUND BUILDING. The prospects for the coming tourist season are very bright, and the Tourist Department is receiving a continual flow of letters from overseas asking particulars of New Zealand resorts and sport. These have all been replied to, and in a number of cases replies have been received from people giving definite dates concerning their arrival in the Dominion. During the present slack season the department is taking every opportunity of improving its resorts in various parts oi the country. Mr. J. W. Clarke, manager of the local tourist oflicc, stilted yesterday that at Waitomo Caves the work of metalling the tracks to the caves and duck-walking the caves themselves had been completed by the Public Works Department. This necessary work would greatly improve conditions for visitors, and those who had visited the caves since these improvements had been made had commented very favourably upon them. Room lor More Visitors. The latest reports from Waitomo indicated that good progress had been made by the contractor, Mr. N. Cole, of Auckland, with the construction of extensive additions in concrete to the hostel. arid with the prospect of better weather conditions the work would be completed in time for the coming tourist season The plans provide for an up-to-date hostel, with all the latest ap pnintments Accommodation will lie provided for 50 more persons. Spacious verandahs will be built, and provision will be made for gardens and also a parking place for cars There will also be a steam laundry, while the scheme of improvements includes a golf course and tennis courts. The main consideration at present, however, is the completion of additions to the hostel. Lake Waikaremoana Road. At Waikaremoana, the work of improving the road round the lake has been steadily gone on with, and it should be in good order by the coming season. Progress has also been made with the Ruatahuna and Flopuruahine track, giving access by pack horse or foot to the edge of the lake from the Rotorua end. Here a launch will pick up tourists and convey them to the accommodation house Lake Waikaremoana has suffered to an extent in the past on account of its inaccessibility, but the improvements should enhance its popularity during the coming season. Position of Milford Sound. Considerable improvements are m prospect for tourists visiting Milford Sound The accommodation huts at the head of the Sound were destroyed by fire toward the end of last season, but plans and specifications for a new accommodation house are now being prepared by the Public Works Department. The new house will probably be built on the site of the old accommodation house at one time conducted by the late Mr Donald Sutherland, a pionoer in the district. The old house is reported to be m a state of decay The Public Works Department is also busy preparing plans for a new slipway at Lake Te Anau. Among other improvements is the completion of a new bath house at Franz Josef Glacier. The bath house is situated about a mile from the present accommodation house. Ihe work of improving the bivouac at Aimer Glacier will be put in hand shortly. There is every prospect of the Dominion having a record tourist season Many who were here last year stated they were coining back. In addition, the department is guided by steady increases in tho numbers of visitors from overseas from year to year, and there is every reason" to believe that this increase will be well maintained during the coming season. THE JOYS OF MOUNT COOK. ENTHUSIASTIC NOVICES. [by telegraph.—own correspondent. ] HERMITAGE, Wednesday. A party of 26 winter sports enthusiasts under tho leadership of Professor R. M. Algie arrived at the Hermitage on Tues day evening after a long motor run of over 130 miles from Temuka. A heavy fall of snow a few days previously had laid a mantle of white over the whole of the l'asman and Hooker Valleys and the snow was still almost a foot deep round the Hermitage when the party set off for its first taste of the joys of ski-ing and tobogganing this morning. The majority of the party were paying their first winter visit to Mount Cook and a light fall of snow after breakfast gave the right setting for tho morning's spor« The slope near the Hermitage was selected for the novices' first lesson on skis and tho track soon became very fast. Tobog ganing provided additional thrills and in spite of the inevitable spills and somersaults the morning's sport was thoroughly enjoyed bv every member of the party. A walk across "the snow to Kea Point about 2J, miles distant completed the first day's programme. The afternoon was brilliantly clear and sunny and Mount Cook presented a magnificent spectacle.