RECORD TOURIST SEASON EXPECTED IN AUCKLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 11

RECORD TOURIST SEASON EXPECTED IN AUCKLAND.

(Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, November 22. . A large exodus from Auckland to popular holiday resorts during the Christmas season is indicated by bookings already made at the local tourist bureau. The holiday rush has begun in real earnest and a very busy season is anticipated. Accommodation at Rotorua for Christmas is already well booked and heavy bookings have been made for Wairakei, Taupo. Waitomo Caves and the trip down the Wanganui River, which is becoming more popular ever) r year. A large number of Auckland people have expressed their intention of spending their holidays in the south, and the bureau has received numerous inquiries in regard to Mount Cook and the Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown and the Milford Track. Judging by inquiries the Milford Track should be especially popular.

Russell with its deep-sea fishing will also attract a large number of people, in January and February. Manv overseas sportsmen who were here last year expressed their intention of coming back with friends, and a record number of visitors is anticipated. A feature of the season so far has been the extended tours arranged for overseas tourists who have already arrived In past seasons the tourist department has found that the majority of overseas visitors made a flying visit, spending one day here and another there. The Auckland bureau has booked several lengthy tours which are more beneficial to tourist traffic, because short tours bring about difficulties in the matter of accommodation in rush seasons.

A development in tourist traffic is the decision of the Railway Department, in conjunction with the Tourist Department, to run a one-day excursion to Waitomo Caves next Sunday. This is the first trip of its kind, and if it is a success others will follow.

“ I think we can look forward to a record season, ” said Mr Clarke, manager of the Auckland Tourist Bureau. “ In addition to large numbers of New Zealand people who will travel everything points to an unusually large influx of tourists from Overseas, ’’