December 1, 1913. 



REVIEW OF REVIEWS. 



io.?7 



travel and Enquiry 



DEPARTMENT. 



Many of us are alread}- lading- plans 

 for a trip home, but after all few can 

 afford either the time or the mone\- for 

 such an extended iourney. 



Fortunately, /Xustralians do not need 

 to go to the other side of the world to 

 find entire change of scene and associa- 

 tion. New Zealand is not only a scenic 

 wonderland, it is an eminently acces- 

 sible wonderland. That its si)lendid 

 sounds, lakes and mountains are so 

 easily reached is due to the care with 

 which a far-sighted Government has pre^ 

 pared for the tourist. Nowhere else in 

 Australasia can the \isitor so readih* 

 obtain information, so comfortabl\- get 

 about. 



The New Zealand Government spends 

 a large sum of mone)' annually m the 

 maintenance of its Tourist Resorts, and 

 on up-to-date tourist offices, both inside 

 an., outside the Dominion. This is done 

 for the express purpose of helping 

 visitors and iinjiarting authoritative in- 

 formation concerning the man\' remark- 

 able attractions the countr}- affords. 

 There is no doubt that this policy pays 

 handsomely. It is estimated that the 

 tourist traffic is worth considerably over 

 half a million e\er}' )ear. 



We have come to regard New Zealand 

 as a considerable distance from Aus- 

 tralia, and the journey a costly one. 

 Those who still think so should com- 

 municate with the New Zealand Govern- 

 ment offices, either in .S}^dney or Mel- 

 bourne. They will find them staffed 

 with obliging officers, who are ever 

 ready to facilitate matters for the 

 intending visitor to Maorilaiid. With 

 their assistance and co-operation, .the 

 traveller is relievecd of the fiiany little 

 inconveniences attendant ii]Jon arrang- 

 ing a tour through a new countr)'. 



Without charge, " day to day " itiner- 

 aries, to suit the individual wish of any 



tra\eller, are carefully drawn up show- 

 ing at a glance the cost, the time occu- 

 lted and the sights to be seen. When 

 the route is finally decided upon tickets 

 covering steamer, rail, motor, coach and 

 lake steamers are issued for the journey. 

 This is an obvious convenience and saves 

 exchange, time and worry when 

 " doing " the country. 



A hearty co-operation exists among 

 the man)' Tourist Bureaux, who vie with 

 each other in making the \isitor's lot a 

 happ)- one. 



New Zealand from a scenic stand- 

 point can well look after itself. It is 

 the small courtesies to the stranger that 

 count, and this is what the N.Z. Govern- 

 ment and its officers are endeavouring 

 to do in popularising their beautiful 

 country. 



Tasmania has one great advantage 

 over New Zealand — its nearness to the 

 Australian mainland. Only one night 

 need be spent at sea to reach it — a con- 

 sideration which will weig'h with many. 

 Scenically it cannot compare with the 

 Dominion, with its snow-capped peaks, 

 its geysers, its Maoris, and its sounds, 

 but as a holiday resort for the over- 

 worked business man it is ideal. Its 

 summer climate is delightful, reminis- 

 cent indeed of the old country in one of 

 its happiest moods. The streams and 

 lakes are well stocked with trout, and 

 the little island is indeed a perfect |)ara- 

 dise for the angler. Tasmania has 

 many parts of historical interest the 

 younger States lack. Being so close to 

 Australia, the cost of getting there is 

 slight. As in New Zealand, the Govern- 

 ment and private enterprise do all ])OS- 

 sible to assist visitors in mapping out 

 tours and jilanning trips. There are 

 special tourist offices in Hobart and 

 Launceston, and a new departure has 

 recently been made, when an office was 

 opened in Melbourne. 



