Itinerary - The Royal Visit, 1953-54
From Auckland to Rotorua
Film clip: the arrival of the Gothic
Sound clip: the Queen's progress up Queen Street
Film clip: Queen Street and Auckland hospital visit
The Queen delivers her Christmas message
Film clip: Guide Rangi and geysers
From Gisborne to Wellington
Sir James Wattie explains the production line at his canneries in Hastings
Film clip: the Queen in Marton
Film clip: Palmerston North and Feilding
The Queen enters Parliament Buildings
Sound clip: the Queen opens parliament buildings
Film clip: the arrival in Masterton
The Royals are welcomed in Upper Hutt
From Blenheim to Christchurch
Sound clip: making friends in Nelson
A huge crown at Nelson Cathedral dwarfs the Royal Couple
Film clip: on the West Coast
Sound clip: the Queen's welcome in Christchurch
Film clip: arriving in Christchurch
Ashburton-Bluff and beyond
12,000 children greet the Queen at Forbury Park
A huge crowd in the main street of Invercargill
Film clip: the Invercargill A & P Show
Film clip: leaving Bluff
The royal visitors' last sojourn in New Zealand waters was spent in the Milford Sound
Auckland to Milford Sound (23 Dec 1953- 31 Jan 1954)
AUCKLAND, 1953
Wednesday, December 23
A.M. S.S. Gothic berthed Auckland
Government address of welcome. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness set foot in New Zealand and were officially welcomed, Auckland Civic Reception, Town Hall.
P.M. Presentation of official tour and press parties. Garden party, Government House.
Thursday, December 24
A.M. Auckland Hospital, Youth gathering, Auckland Domain.
'I was eighteen and a member of a marching team, one of the many at the Domain in Auckland, assembled in blocks with lots of other young peoples organisations, in the centre field waiting for our queen to arrive. While we were waiting, my Scots friend, also about eighteen, sat and explained to me why she as a Scot would not, could not, feel excited about Elizabeth as she was not, in reality, HER Queen let alone Queen Elizabeth II as true Scots had never even recognised the first Elizabeth ....etc. etc. Finally, Elizabeth arrived and I, looking at her with curiosity, saw her look back at us as Philip said ..and you could see what he was saying ..., "Who are they?" and her reply that we were, "marching teams." Unheard of in Britain and at that time unique to NZ. I can only think that that conversation between them had the effect of unleashing some sort of latent emotion because my Scots chum emitted what can only be described as a throaty roar of patriotism, wonderful in its intensity and then charged like a wounded bull out of our designated area, trying to barge like an All Black through another block of people in front to get even closer.'
Caroline Woon
P.M. Presentation of Colour, Devonport Naval Base. Garden reception, Government House.
Friday, December 25
A.M. Divine Service, St. Mary's Cathedral.
P.M. Her Majesty's Christmas Broadcast.
Saturday, December 26
A.M.-P.M. Auckland Racing Club, Ellerslie.
P.M. Royal Cinema Performance, St. James Theatre.
Sunday, December 27
A.M. Divine Service, St. Mary's Cathedral.
Monday, December 28
A.M. Presentation of Colour, R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Whenuapai. By plane to Kaikohe - public welcome.
P.M. By car to Waitangi - ceremony, Whangarei - civic reception.
'I remember the Queens visit to Whangarei, Northland. I was about 6 years of age then and the Royal Party was staying at the Grand Hotel. In the evening our family walked - about 20 minutes or so - to the Hotel and with many others chanted, "We want the Queen, we want the Queen" This had no response, (they were most probably having dinner) so the chant changed to "We want the Duke, we want the Duke". This seemed to work as they soon appeared on the balcony to the loud cheers of the crowd. I was sitting on my father's shoulders so had a great view. I remember they looked very happy, and there was a wonderful feeling in the crowd.'
Margaret Lomas
Tuesday, December 29
A.M. By car Whangarei to Warkworth - public welcome.
P.M. By car to Puhoi Beach - picnic, and Auckland. Investiture, Town Hall.
Wednesday, December 30
A.M. By car to Pukekohe - public welcome.
P.M. By car to Alton Lodge, Te Kauwhata - lunch, Huntly - public welcome, Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia - visit pa, and Hamilton - civic dinner and youth fiesta.
Thursday, December 31
A.M. Hamilton - civic reception and agricultural display, Claudelands Show Grounds.
P.M. By car to Te Kuiti - public welcome.
A.M.-P.M. H.R.H by air to Wellington - funeral of victims, Tangiwai railway accident. Return to Waitomo Caves.
P.M. By car to Waitomo Caves - visit Aranui Cave and Waitomo Glow-worm Cave.
1954
Friday, January 1
A.M. By car Waitomo Caves to Te Awamutu - public welcome, and Cambridge - public welcome and civic luncheon.
P.M. By car to Karapiro Hydro-electric Station - inspection Tirau - public welcome, and "Moose Lodge", Lake Rotoiti.
Saturday, January 2
A.M. Rotorua - civic reception, Motutara Golf Course, and civic luncheon.
P.M. Maori reception, Arawa Park, Rotorua.
Sunday, January 3
A.M. Divine Service, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Rotorua.
P.M. Whakarewarewa model village and thermal activity.
Monday, January 4 - Tuesday, January 5
At "Moose Lodge", Lake Rotoiti - no official engagements.
Wednesday, January 6
A.M. By car "Moose Lodge" to Rotorua and plane to Gisborne - civic reception.
P.M. By air to Napier - civic reception. H.R.H. to Hawke's Bay Ex-naval Officers.
Gisborne-Wellington (6 -16 January 1954)
Wednesday, January 6
A.M. By car "Moose Lodge" to Rotorua and plane to Gisborne - civic reception.
P.M. By air to Napier - civic reception. H.R.H. to Hawke's Bay Ex-naval Officers.
Thursday, January 7
A.M. By car Napier to Hastings - public welcome, and J. Wattie Canneries Ltd.
P.M. By train to Waipawa - public welcome, Waipukurau - public welcome, Dannevirke - public welcome, Woodville - public welcome, and Palmerston North - civic reception and civic dinner.
Friday, January 8
A.M.-P.M. By train to Palmerston North to Feilding - public welcome, Marton Junction - public welcome, Wanganui - civic reception, Patea - public welcome, Hawera - ceremonial drive, Stratford - public welcome, and New Plymouth.
Judith Foy
Saturday, January 9
A.M. By car to Bell Block Dairy Factory. New Plymouth - civic reception, Pukekura Park.
P.M. By plane to Paraparaumu airport, and by car to Wellington - brief civic welcome.
WELLINGTON
Sunday, January 10
A.M. Divine Service, Cathedral Church of St. Paul.
Monday, January 11
A.M. Wellington civic reception, Town Hall. Lay wreath, Wellington War Memorial.
P.M. State luncheon, Parliament House. By car via Petone assembly factory, Ford Motor Company, Lower Hutt - inspection St. James' s Church. Reception of heads of diplomatic missions, Government House.
Tuesday, January 12
A.M. Children's gathering, Athletic Park.
P.M. Opening of Special Session of Parliament. Reception for Members of Parliament and wives, Parliament House. Investiture, Wellington Town Hall.
Wednesday, January 13
A.M. Laying foundation stone of Anglican Cathedral. Meeting of Privy Council and Executive Council.
P.M. H.R.H. address and luncheon with scientific organisations. Presentation of address in reply. Garden party.
Thursday, January 14
A.M.-P.M. Wellington Racing club, Trentham.
Friday, January 15
A.M. By train Wellington to Masterton.
'I remember when the Queen and Duke visited Masterton on January 15th, 1954, and drove through the grounds of Wairarapa College. I was a pupil at Wairarapa College at the time, and although it was the school holidays and summer, we were asked to don our winter uniforms, which were obviously considered tidier than our summer uniforms...'
Helen Turner
P.M. Masterton - civic reception. By car to Wellington via Carterton, Greytown, Featherston and Upper Hutt.
Blenheim-Christchurch (16-22 Jan 1954)
Saturday, January 16
A.M. By car to Wellington to Paraparaumu airport. By plane R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Woodbourne and car to Blenheim - public welcome.
Sunday, January 17
A.M. Divine Service, Nelson Cathedral.
' I was 11years old and the Queen and Duke were driving down High Street in Greymouth. The crowds were very thick and I wiggled to the front just as their car was passing, the Queen smiled at me and I was hooked. An instant avid royalist. I then ran alongside the car for about half a mile at which time the Duke of Edinburgh looked across and said, "If you run much further, you will burst". Well I was just totally blown away. That evening practically the entire population was gathered outside Revington's Hotel where the Royal couple were staying, calling "We want the Queen". Then as soon as everything went quiet this little eleven year old stood and yelled at the top of her voice. "I want the Duke". The Royal Couple came out onto the balcony and waved and the crowd went wild, especially me - I was totally convinced the Duke only came out because I called for him to do so.'
Pat Jamieson
P.M. By plane, Nelson to Westport - public welcome and Hokitika. By car to Greymouth.
'In preparation for the Royal Visit only the left-side of the 25-mile roadway was re-sealed between Hokitika and Greymouth; for some years later known locally as "Lizzie's side".'
Bev Huston
Monday, January 18
A.M. Civic reception, Greymouth. By train via Otira for Darfield - public welcome, and Christchurch.
CHRISTCHURCH
Tuesday, January 19
A.M. Civic reception, Cathedral Square, Christchurch. Christchurch Hospital.
P.M. Ceremonial drive. Disabled Servicemen's Training Centre - Evensong, Christchurch Cathedral. Civic dinner.
Wednesday, January 20
A.M. Factory of Lane Walker Rudkin, Ltd.
P.M. H.R.H. address and luncheon with Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Investiture, Civic Theatre. Civic garden party.
Thursday, January 21
A.M.-P.M. New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, Addington.
Friday, January 22
A.M. By car to military camp,Burnham and Ashburton.
P.M. Public welcome, Ashburton. By car to Longbeach.
Ashburton-Bluff and beyond (22-31 Jan 1954)
Saturday, January 23
H.R.H. visited Winchmore Irrigation Research Station.
Saturday, January 23
A.M. Divine Service, Longbeach.
Monday, January 25
A.M. By car Longbeach to Timaru - civic reception.
'As a six year old I remember journeying from Pleasant Point to Timaru with the rest of her family, in my father's old square Erskine car, and joining the crowd near the Viaduct at the top of Caroline Bay, the route the Queen would be taking on her way to the official function. The town was beautifully decorated for the event and there were very large crowds of excited people all waving flags.'
Daphne-Anne Freeke (nee Hoare)
DUNEDIN
Tuesday, January 26
A.M. Civic reception, Dunedin Town Hall.
P.M. Sports meeting, Carisbrook. Royal concert, Town Hall.
Wednesday, January 27
A.M. Ross and Glendinning's Roslyn Woollen Mills.
P.M. Her Majesty to Truby King-Harris (Karitane) Hospital. H.R.H. with leading sportsmen. Reception, Art Gallery.
Thursday, January 28
A.M. By car Dunedin to Milton - public welcome, Balclutha - public welcome, Gore - public welcome, and Invercargill.
Friday, January 29
A.M. Civic reception, Invercargill.
P.M. Royal Agricultural Show and Caledonian Sports Meeting. Her Majesty's farewell broadcast.
Saturday, January 30
A.M. By car Invercargill to Bluff, Official farewells and embarkation. Leave New Zealand in S.S. Gothic.
Sunday, January 31
Unscheduled visit by S.S. Gothic to Milford Sound.
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