WEST. COAST RESORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19503, 11 June 1925, Page 2

WEST. COAST RESORTS.

A. TOUR IX MAY. c AVOIDING THE CROWDS. Mr W. O'Connell (officer in charge of the local Tourist Office) has returned from a three weeks’ tour of several of the South Island holidays resorts ..Speaking yesterday to a Daily Times reporter, Mr O’Conncil said that there seemed to bo a general impression that the month of May was too late for visiting the tourist resorts of the South Island, but during his tour to Queenstown, Pembroke, Mount Cook, Franz Josef Glacier, Buller Gorge and East Coast he experienced only two wet days. Moreover, the travelling, especially by motor car, was more pleasant during the mild May weather than in the hot summer. Nor was there the same crowding in the accommodation houses that there was in the height of the season, and naturally the olf-season tourist got such better attention. “What seems to strike one more particularly on this trip,” said Mr O’Connell, ‘ is the remarkable variety in the scenery and the special attractions that each resort offers. On the journey through the orchard country of Central Otago on the way to Queenstown at this time of the year the autumn tints are very beautiful, especially round about Roxburgh and Clyde. The journey over the Crown Range to Pembroke is very interesting, and there is a fine view of Queenstown and the surrounding country to be seen from the top of the range. Pembroke,” he continued, M is a resort which has become very popular during the last few years, and it is bound to become more so, as there are many beautiful spots to visit round Lakes Wanaka and Hawca, which are at present very little known. The run from Pombroke to the Mount Cook Hermitage through the Lludis Pass is very interesting. The first view of the Mount Cook Range obtained near Lake Pukaki is one not likely to bo forgotten. Although late in May when we arrived at the Hermitage we had very warm weather. “During the off-season the winter sports enthusiast is well catered for at the house itself, heaters being fitted in every room. Like most other places the management finds it difficult to know how to accommodate the crowds at holiday times, but this will be relieved somewhat next season, as several new rooms have been aslled to the main buildings ■ _ . “The scenery on the AVest Coast is of a totally different type. On the way down to the Franz Josef Glacier from Hokitika one passes through 100 miles of beautiful bush, and it is a wonderful sight on reaching Waiho to see this huge bulk of ice pushing its way through the bush to within a short distance of the coast line. It is only a few minutes’ walk on to the ice from ‘the hotel, and there are so many fine trips to do round about that one could easily spend a week or a fortnight there. A few years ago this trip was comparatively little known, but now that the means of communication are so good it is a recognised trip for all visitors to the coast. “After the Glacier, the rail is taken from Hokitika to Greymouth and Reefton, and on by motor through the famous Buller Gorge to Westport and Nelson. From Nelson the East Coast route can bo taken through Blenheim and Kaikoura to Christchurch. The scenery down the Last Louse is very flue. One motors for practically 70 miles with the sea coast on one side and rugged mountains on the other. Some time could tie spent at Kaikoura, whore two first-class hotels have just been built. “The roads right through on these trips are in good order, and those who prefer motoring in their own ears should have no difficulty in getting through.”