TOURISTS IN ORONSAY

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1934, Page 4

TOURISTS IN ORONSAY

VISIT PAID TO TARANAKI PARTY OF SIX PASSES THROUGH. VISIT TO NORTH EGMONT HOUSE. SATISFIED WITH ATTRACTIONS. A party of six tourists from the holiday lines Oronsay, at present cn route from Auckland to Wellington, stayed at New Plymouth last night in the course of a brief visit to Taranaki. They expressed themselves last night as well pleased with the attractions of the trip from Hamilton to New Plymouth. There are 850 passengers on the Oronsay, most of them Australian holidaymakers. The liner arrived at Auckland on Wednesday and the party for Tara- . naki stayed at Hamilton that night, coming to New Plymouth yesterday after spending an enthralled hour or two at Waitomo Caves. They will be shown Pukekura Park this morning and will then go on to North Egmont hostel for lunch, then entraining for Wanganui and Wellington to join the liner. Those in the party are Mr. and Mrs. Storey (Lismore, New South Wales), Misses A. and F. Russell (South Brisbane), Mr.' C. Olsson (Sydney) and Captain P. Clemens (Plymouth, England). The party is being conducted by Mr. C. A. Humphrey, an officer of the Government Tourist Bureau. The majority of the liner’s party had gone to Rotorua or Chateau Tongariro, said Mr. Humphrey to a News reporter, both those resorts being particularly’ popular just now because of the visit of the Duke of Gloucester. Others had arranged private car trips and the rest of those who did not stay on the vessel from Auckland to Wellington were given day trips. The party to visit Taranaki had been specially arranged, Kid Mr. Humphrey, and the members had been delighted with the beauties of the Waitomo glowworm caves and the scenery of the Awakino Valley and Mt. Messenger. “The wishes of the tourists are the first consideration on a trip of this nature,” continued Mr. Humphrey, “and we find that the North Island tourist will always talk of Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, tree ferns and Maoris. Those are the attractions of New Zealand for the tourist and the attractions we have to develop. “Three-quarters of American touristsare not satisfied unless we cad show them something big—a huge geyser, or a mountain of which they cannot see the top. There is also a demand for superior hotel accommodation; many people desire the best in comfort and a private bathroom.” This was the only party undertaking an organised overland tour from the Oronsay, said Mr. Humphrey,-but there would be another Peninsula and Orient liner coming to New Zealand later to show what the British vessels were capable of, and efforts were being made to bring a proportion of the passengers on such ships to Mt Egmont The main difficulty was that most tourists came to New Zealand wanting to see certain things, chiefly the wonders of Rotorua and the palatial comfort of the Chateau. From there it was difficult to reach Taranaki in the time available. Most tourists went from Rotorua to Wellington via Napier, and from the Chateau direct to Wellington by rail. Trips through Taranaki were easiest arranged from Wellington. ■ Mr. Humphrey pointed out that Taranaki was included in itineraries whenever possible, and in keeping with tourists’ expressed preferences. He stressed the' need for developing the attractions which made most, appeal