CAMP FOR MOTORISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 12

CAMP FOR MOTORISTS.

SITE IN NATIONAL PARK. REPRESENTATIONS SUCCEED. AREA NEAR WHAKAPAPA HUTS. A camp for motorists is to be established in the Tongarjro National Park on a site at the southern side of the new road between the Chateau and Scoria Flat, about 600 yards above the old Whakapapa Huts. The Auckland Automobile Association received advice to this effect yesterday from the chairman of the Tongariro National Park Board. The area will be ready in time for Christmas touring. Before the days of the Chateau the Whakapapa Huts were available to trampers both in winter and summer, and these facilities are still in use. The everincreasing proportion of motorists who take a camping holiday in summer has rendered the accommodation in the huts totally inadequate! Requests for camping facilities previously had been made by the association and success was achieved when the man-' agement of the Chateau was vested in the board. The camp will bo controlled by the manager of the Chateau and campers will be able to purchase supplies from the store there. A large area will be available facing toward the road, from which a track at present runs' through the silver beech forest to the banks of the Whakapapa River. This is to be widened to give road access to another large and level area on the banks of the river. In this stream it is proposed to form a large swimming pool by damming a section with boulders from tbe riverbed. The bush on cither side of the track beween the two large camping areas contains a number of small clearings, which will form suitable sites for campers who prefer more privacy than will bo possible on the extensive spaces. The main water supply for the Chateau runs past the site and this will be tapped to provide water for campers. Fireplaces are to be constructed and there will be sheltered cooking facilities. It is understood that the National Park Board probably will fall into line with the local authorities throughout tho North Island in adopting the recognised charges for camping of 2s 6d a day, or 12s 6d a week.