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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 5 (September 1, 1928)

Over The Great Divide

Over The Great Divide.

That walk is certainly one well worth remembering. It was taken by all types and ages of people. One old lady of eighty did the walk and enjoyed it, whilst at least half of those who “walked over” were middleaged and would, at ordinary times, think a mile a very long walk.

But there is something inspiring about the mountain scenery and invigorating about the mountain air that helps to an extraordinary extent in easing the toil of travel. The chief advantage, of course, is that there is no tedium; so splendid is each prospect that all thought of tiredness is dismissed from the mind through the joys disclosed to the eye.

So many valleys open directly on to the Pass Road that, instead of merely walking down one valley, you are able to look up a succession of them; and all the while the Otira River, in its deep-cut bed, brings the crash of falling waters to the ear and presents to view ever-varying glimpses of beautiful river-scape.

Arrived at Otira, a good meal is obtainable at the Railway Refreshment Rooms, and one has time to wander round this fine settlement, that grew as the result of railway enterprise in opening up the tunnel route to the coast.

page 15

The train leaves about 5 p.m. for the city, and we are once more borne along—tired but happy—as the train, electrically-driven, proceeds uphill, through the 5 ¼ mile tunnel, on its way to Arthur's Pass. Here a few stragglers, who had taken the “Bealey” instead of the “Otira” trip, are picked up, the steam locomotive takes charge and then a quick run down the long grade to Christchurch is made, arriving there some time before 9 o'clock.

It has been a day full of delights—of brightest sunshine amidst the mountains, whilst the city lay in gloom. No wonder so many passengers on our train had already made the trip several times, and most of them determined to go again and take more friends.

It is an outing that makes most ordinary day trips seem but hollow affairs, and its fame is spreading to other lands that have nothing of the kind to offer.