TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 10 September 1923, Page 3

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

AN ATTRACTIVE HOLIDAY RESORT The Tougariro National Park, which is controlled by an official Board, with the Hon. Minister of Lands as chairman, comprises an area of nearly 200,000 acres. The original area of the park was 62,300 acres, but the Act of 1922 increased the area to 145,000 acres, and this has since been further increased until nearly 200,000 acres are included. ‘The annual report states that the park is second to none throughout the world in its scenic attractions. It contains the highest mountain in the North Island, Ruapehu (9175 ft) perpetually snow.-cladj the active volcano Ngauruhoc (7515 ft); Tongariro (G4po ft); To Mari (4990 ft); and the Rod Crater. On' the crest of Ruapehu is a lake-of hot water. North of the mountain group is Roto Aira-Lake, one of the most beautiful in the North Island. There arc also many other attractions, making the park an ideal holiday resort.

Within the park arc largo areas of native forest, deep forges,’ active craters, hot springs, cold springs, rushing streams, waterfalls and many attractive features of New Zealand scenery. » All streams are well stocked with rainbow trout. The bird life include pigeon, kaka,-bellbird, parakeet, tomtit, rifleman wren, pihoihoi, whitehead, grey warbler, and blue mountain duck, whilst muttonbirds or ocean petrels come and nest on the slopes of the mountain.

When the Board took control, there were six huts -in the park, and the Board contemplate the erection of a large hostel on the Waimarino side of the mountain. The huts provide sleeping accommodation,' but campers and visitors require to take their own bedding, provisions, etc. Recently the Bruce Trustees donated £IOOO towards the c.ost of constructing access roads and necessary tracks, and in recognition tHo new road leading to the proposed now hostel will be named “Bruce Road/'