Mystery Hike to Lake Blackwater
Happy Hours Among
The Foothills Of
The Southern Alps.

(Photo., V. C. Browne)
The special trains standing at Craigieburn Station.

The Mystery Hikes arranged by the Railways Department at Christchurch have, during the present year, reached the high-water mark of popularity. Commencing with approximately 300 excursionists on the occasion of the first outing of the season, the bookings reached a record figure on 29th August last, when two trains, consisting of a total of twenty-two carriages and employing three engines, were required to convey the 780 enthusiastic hikers to Lake Black-water.

The actual tramp covered about ten miles of fairly easy undulating territory in the heart of the “back country” of Canterbury.

Lake Blackwater lies in the rugged mountainous region between Springfield and Arthur's Pass, and the train journey to Craigieburn, the nearest railway station to Lake Blackwater, is one of interest and varied scenic attraction — especially that portion through the Waimakariri Gorge with its sixteen tunnels and famous viaducts.

At Avoca Station, the destination of the trains, two long whistles from the leading engine, were sounded, and the tramp commenced. The tramp to the lake lies over undulating country, with snow-covered mountain peaks and native bush on all sides, and the lake, situated at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, was reached without undue fatigue by the trampers.

On all of these excursions ample provision is made for the trampers to partake of refreshments, and hot tea

(Photo., V. C. Browne)
Trampers in the tussock country between Avoca and Lake Blackwater, South Island, New Zealand.

is usually provided by the Railways Department, free of charge. This is supplied in full measure to one and all during the luncheon interval.

An interesting period of sight-seeing was spent at Lake Blackwater on this occasion, and after lunch the trampers set off to visit the Waimakariri Gorge on their way to Craigieburn where the trains were waiting for the return journey. Emerging from the valley on the way to the station, was seen one of the finest spectacles of the day—the magnificent panorama of rugged snow-covered mountains which have made this region famous the world over—a sight which deeply impressed every member of the large party.

A further halt was made for refreshments at Craigieburn (provision again being made by the Railways Department for the supply of hot tea), after which the trampers boarded the trains for the run home to the City of the Plains.