Summer Tours Through New Zealand

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 28

Summer Tours Through New Zealand

For the benefit of the readers of this journal we give a short summary of Summer Tours through the North and South Island. As many are at a loss to understand the manifold instructions and pieces of advice given in the various guide books published by agents of hotels and pleasure resorts, we give to our readers a short account of the various districts that could be readily visited by strangers and pleasure seekers, and the principal attractions and wonders to be seen there.

The Government Railway Commissioners have informed the public by means of posters, that special tourist tickets wiU be issued at the principal Railway Stations until 31st March IS9I. These tickots are available for use over all Government lines for a period of six weeks from the dato of issue. The passenger can break his journey at any station and has tho advantage of not only travelling at a very reduced rate, but is saved the necessity of always purchasing tickets, tans saving a lot of time and bother. The price of these tickets is as usual £S, and it is not necessary for ths traveller to commence his journey on tbe day the ticket is issued, as is the case with ordinary passenger tickets. From Wellington, the tourist has the advantage of the Railway as far asEkatahuna, thence by coach to Woodville, there taking the train to Napier. By this route, tho train, drawn by a ‘Fell ’ engine crosses the summit of the Rimutaka. Three lines of rails are laid on this line, for these speoial engines, and the tourist is at once amazed and delighted with tho beauties of the scenery he passes through. Featherston, Greytown, and Masterton, (the latter the principal town in this famous Wairarapa Valley) are all passed on the journey. At Masterton are situated the fish breeding ponds belonging to the Acclimatisation Society, and lovers of the gentle art would do well to spend a day amongst the numerous trout streams in the district.

The country from Eketahuna to Woodville—the 70-mile bush—is, or was, heavily timbered forest land. A few years ago not a vestige of a farm could be seen, but now prosperous towns have sprung up, each one with its newspaper, hotels, and churches. From Woodville to Napier tbe line passes through the Squatters’ Paradise—the home of the wool-kings. Large flocks of meri-o sheep roam the vast plains and hilly slopes of Hawkes Bay. The traveller will_ find much to admire in Hawkes Bay and in Napier, its principal town. Another route can also bo taken from Woodville by coach to Palmerston 12 miles, where the traveller joins the mail train for New Plymouth. The coach passes through the fapaous Manawatu Gorge, where the scenery beggarß description. The road cut out of the solid rock passes above the boiling river, and the scene is one of grandeur and rugged beauty. On the opposite bank the engineers are busy laying the railway line to connect Woodville and Napier with Palmerston, and it is expected the line will be open fot traffic within a few months. Leaving Palmerston the train passes through some splendid country. Wanganui district is paßsed through, Patea and Hawera, the richest grazing land in the known world, and New Plymouth, where boring operations for petroleum are now being carried on. The Union, or Northern Company’s steamers carry the tourist to Auckland, where a wide range is open to the sight-seer. Auckland and district has been truly described as the * Wonderland of the World.’ Extinct volcanoes are to be seen on every side, and the numerous caves which abound will more than repay a visit to those interested in geology. Bat the wonders are not to be seen near Auckland. The traveller must again take train and visit Te Aroha, where are to be found the hot springs, noted for their wonderful curative powers in gout and rheumatic complaints. Hundreds of persons have testified as to their effioacy. Numerous hotels aud temperance hoardinghouses abound, and a splendid public domain nicely planted is refreshing to the eye of the weary traveller. The famous Waitomo Caves are a sight that mast be seen—any description would be inadequate. Passing down the river in a canoe you enter the Cave, and if you provide yourself with a piece of magnesium wire the sight that is presented is one to be remembered. Huge stalactites hang round, reflecting in a thousand colours tho lights displayed by tho .torch-bearers. The caves have only lately been explored, and your first entrance to them reminds you vividly of Gustave Dora’s famous illustrations of L’lnferno. The jourLey to these caves from the railway line will occupy one day, and the expense is but a trifle.

Joining tho train again you are soon speeding on to your goal, the Hot Lakes, boiling springs, and goysers of Ohinemutu. At Oxford you leave tho train and take the ooaoh for Rotorua, a few hours’ journey. The writer will not attempt to describe these beauties and attractions. No man has ever yet done it, and probably no man ever will. Words fai to express in anything like fair terms the thoughts of the tourist when he beholds these wonders.

If the tourist prefers it he may disembark from the train at Okoroire (the last station before reaching Oxford, where excellent hotel accommodation is now provided on the estate of Mr Nathan), and proceed thence by coach direct to Rotorua. Before doing so, however, he should visit the Okoroire Sanatorium and take advantage of the hot baths, which are so grateful and comforting after a long day’s journey in the Lake Country. These baths, which comprise the only sulphur springs on the Auckland side of Rotorua, and are situated at a stone’s throw from the hotel on the left bank of the Waihau river, have a tempsrature ranging from 95 to 113 degrees, while in one of them, the bather can step from the hot water into a natural recess of the Waihon, embowered in ferns, and enjoy a cold bath, as the torrent of the river sweeps past in foam. There are also at Okoroire additional attractions in the shape of water-

falls. natural hot springs, &c, the surroundings of the former being in many respects similar to those of the famed Hnka Falls in miniature.

At Rotorua are situated the Government Sanatorium and baths under the care of Dr Ginders. These baths have proved effectual in the most difficult of rhenmatic cases, while other springs close at hand are noted for their cure of skin diseases. Excellent accommodation is to be found at Rotorua ; several firstolass hotels are open, and every information is cheerfully afforded to the visitor, and no pains spared to point out the wonders of the place. The traveller on leaving Rotorua may return by cocch and train to Auckland, or, if he prefers it, may take coach to Tauranga, a pretty little place on tbe East Coast, and thence to Auckland by steamer, the trip from Rotorua occupying 24 hours. Return tickets by train, to include coach and rail fares, or round tickets, to include coache?, steamer, and railway, are issued at the railway station, Auckland. The price of the former (which are available either via Oxford or Okcroire) are £3 7e 6d, and that of the latter (for the round trip via Tauranga) £5. Return tickets from Auckland to Te Aroha by train (six hours’ journey), price £1 10s. These tickets are available for one month from date of issue, and. may be purchased throughout tho year. Of course, the tourist who is provided with an excursion £8 ticket, it is only neoeasary for him to pay ooach and steam fares, his tourist ticket passing him over all Government Railway lines. Whilst at Rotorua the tourist should visit Wairakei, where steam blow holes and. geyrers may be seen in a state of violent eruption. Guides and accommodation will be found at the Wairakei Hotel. Wairakei is on the line from Rotorua to Napier, and coaches make the trip twice A week. The traveller makes his arrangements at Napier or Rotorua for coach fares. More information of those wonders can be obtained by tbe tourist at Auckland than we are able to give him, and we commend those travelling to call at any of the Government Railway Stations for the particulars of the various routes, all of which will be given to the stranger. After the traveller has exhausted the North Island, the immense agricultural plains, rugged ice-clad mountains, and unrivalled picturesque scenery of the South Island gives to the tourist some faint idea of New Zealand’s works of nature. It is impossible in a hurried journey to see a tithe of these wonders, and what we could give here, would be but an inadequate description.

From Christchurch a trip to Hammer Plains, Hot Springs, is a very enjoyable one ; the country passed through is some of the best in North Canterbury. Return tickets to include rail and coach, available for one month, may be obtained at Christchurch Railway Station daily ; price, £1 ICs. Leaving Christchurch by the Southern express the Alpine climer, who thirsts for an ascent of Mount Cook, * The Cloud Piercer,’ changes trains at Timaru and goes on as far as Fairlie Creek, taking coaoh from there to Mount Cook Hermitage, where experienced guides await to conduct the traveller to the summit and glory. Return tickets for this journey (including £3 10s coach fare) to include coach and rail to Christchurch and back, may be had at Christchurch station, price, £4 15s ; and from Dunedin to Hermit, age and back for £5 ss, tickets in both cases being available for a month. The cold lakes of the Sonth Island are beyond compare. Lake Wakatipu like an immense mirror, the water cold as ice, and filled with splendid trout, is Bituated half a day’s journey from Invercargill and is crossed by aregular passenger steamer conveying tourists to Queenstown, The high points of the snow-clad peaks which surround the the lake are to be seen reflected with faithful accuracy in the blue depths of tho placid waters. Tickets (return) available for this journey may be had from the various railway stations as follows :—From Christchurch, £5 17s fid ; from Dunedin, £3 ; from Invercargill, £1 17s fid ; in all these cases the one ticket will include steamer fare aoross the lake. The Christchurch tickets are available for return for eight weeks, and those from Dunedin and Invercargill for six weeks from date of issue. We need not remind the tourist that tbe £8 tickets mentioned in the beginning of this article include all Government Railway fares, and it is only necessary to purchase steamer tickets which can be had on board.

We have tried to give the traveller a brief description of a few of the many journeys he may profitably take, and we will continue to publish this summary during the comiDg tourist season. Any further information 13 always available at the Government Railway Stations, and every facility is afforded tho stranger of viewing our magnificent country at a trifling cost. In conclusion, we give the stranger a few words of advice. Whilst so much may bo seen in a few weeks, months would not enable one to see half the wonders of this interesting land, and a year might be spent without exhausting the resources of a spot so renowned for its wealth of far-famed scenery. Again we wish it to be understood that in no instance is the railway department responsible for coach or steam services, but it is only fair to state that these services are well carried out and are always run to time, meeting trains with a promptitude that is commendable.