"MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23106, 4 February 1937, Page 13

"MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY"

AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS' IMPRESSIONS FLYING VISIT TO LAKES DISTRICT Describing the trip as one which they would not have missed for anything, a party of round-trip tourists on the Marama rejoined that vessel at Dunedin yesterday, after having spent three days travelling by road from Bluff by way of the southern lakes district, covering a total of 650 miles. Only one regret was expressed, and that related to the shortness of the time available for seeing the attractions which were available. The party, which numbered 15, made the trip at the suggestion of one of its members. The project was discussed on the trip across the Tasman, and on the arrival of the Marama at Bluff Mr Linton Hodge, manager of the Invercargill branch of the Union Steam Ship Company, was consulted, with the result that arrangements were immediately put in hand for the trip to be made by bus. The party left Invercargill on Monday and travelled by way of Mossburn to Te Anau, up the Eglinton Valley road to the Homer Saddle and back to Te Anau, where the night was spent. On Tuesday morning the trip was resumed, and the party, after seeing Lake Manapouri, travelled through Lumsden to Kingston and by way of the new road to Queenstown. Tuesday night was spent there, and yesterday the journey to Dunedin was made by way of Cromwell, Roxburgh and Milton. "It was a magnificent trip," one member of the party told a Daily Times reporter, "and it is a thousand pities that people in Australia do not know about the wonders of your country. I can promise you that we are all going back loaded with literature and enthusiasm, and will send mora Australians out here." One of the tourists said he considered it unfortunate that more time in New Zealand was not available for passengers making the round trip to take part in such excursions, but it was realised that many difficulties stood in the way. If even one extra day were available many more people would make the trip which they had just completed. All were very proud of the fact that they were the first to take part in such an excursion. As the distance covered totalled 650 miles, the average daily mileage of the party was nearly 220.