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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 9 (April 1, 1933)

Holiday Geography

Holiday Geography.

Dear Trainlanders,—

We all like jumping on the train whenever we can and rushing away to meet the joys and new experiences awaiting us on the travel tracks, don't we?

But, how would you like to live on the open road all the time, day and night, week in and week out?

In Picton, the other day, I met two children with their mother and father who really do live this story-book kind of life. At present they are travelling throughout New Zealand, and for nearly two years have been camping continuously in their motor caravan. A comfy caravan with luxuries such as a portable fireplace, sewing machine, and wireless.

Like many bush children, these two have correspondence school lessons. Of course they simply love geography. I think their dad's road guide must be their map, don't you? There is scarcely a place in New Zealand about which they do not know something or other.

How could they, or anyone else, forget where Picton is after dipping into the valley of trees, church spires, and twittering, sleepy birds at dusk, and then watching little ships slapping up and down on the wavelets in the harbour of red and golden sunset?

Blenheim would be easy to remember with the memory of cargo boats sailing swiftly and silently up the river a few feet from the back door, the masts towering overhead.

And Kaikoura! “That's where we gathered all those pretty coloured seaweeds.”

Can't you hear those two lucky children learning their geography? How much easier to remember places that way than just learning names on maps, trying to memorise parts they have not seen.

Maybe, you too, have been lucky, and had holiday geography? If so, write and tell the Trainlanders about it. If you haven't, well, just go on exploring your map awhile longer. Then, who knows? Perhaps Trainland's officials one day will issue more free railway passes to anywhere in New Zealand as they did last holidays. So chose where you would like to visit best of all and keep on hoping and planning.

Isn't it grand to be a Trainlander and share in the fun and delightful surprises we are always having?

Yours for more holiday geography and jolly times,