OVER THE KAIMAIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 14 (Supplement)

OVER THE KAIMAIS.

SCENIC VIEWS UNSURPASSED

NATURE IN ALL HER G_OH.IT,

MAGNIFICENT PANORAMAS

Scenic views of unsurpassed beauty are to be had from the highest point on the road from Hamilton through Matamata to Tauranga, which winds its way up the Kaimai hills and mountains, separating east from west. The distance from Hamilton to Matamata is 40 miles, whilst from the latter place to Tauranga is 30. This latter part of the journey takes almost two and a-half hours. The run from the Matamata railway station to the top would occupy in the vicinity of an hour and twenty minutes.i The road is in fair condition and metalled most of the way. It is a fairly stiff climb, and at times the way is bumpy. . But all these little discomforts disappear, and the traveller has no thought for anything else but the views. Truly they are most wonderful. Pen can hardly describe them; they have to be seen to be realised. The expanse of rich fertile country is so great and the view from the top so comprehensive that it put? one in mind of being up in an aeroplane at a high altitude. Pvivers and large streams fade into insignificance. They look like threads of silver in the sunlight. Farms which are known to consist of hundreds of acres appear to be paddocks. It is not so much the height of the Kaimais, but their startltnochanges in- outline and contour which make them so remarkable. And above all. the place is so very easy of access from Auckland now that the Rangiriris have been put iv order. The Journey by Motor. Making an early start on the 40-mile road journey from Hamilton to Matamata, the traveller crosses the Hamilton traffic bridge, which spans the swiftly flowing Waikato River. Everywhere the eye rests pretty little views and scenes spring up suddenly here and there, and the journey is made along a most excellent road towards the Waikato town of Cambridge. The run through to this quaint old place is all too short, and once again the Waikato River comes into view for a moment. Turning to the left the road winds in.and out, and up and down along towards the banks of the greatest river in New Zealand Progressive old homesteads and farms peep out at the occupants of the car between giant trees and hedges Then the banks of the rushing river are a«»-ain reached, and for miles the road winds its w_y in and out amongst most scenery. On occasions, far below, °the Waikato River is to be seen hurling itself onward to the Tasman Sea. Mountains raise themselves up in the sunlight on either hand till presently, away°i n the distance, in the bed of the river, Hora Hora electric power station and houses are to be seen. In the further background the buildings at Arapuni come into view. From this point onwards the road passes through a most fertile valley, bounded on each side by hills anri solid walls of rock. Although a battls royal with the forces of Nature must have been responsible for the great upheaval, the result is most interesting to look upon. More farms and settlements dot the landscape. Very soon the main road through Tirau. to Rotorua and Wairakei is left behind on the right, and a direct line is made for Matamata. It is here, again, where the wealth of the South Auckland province is so amply demonstrated. The traveller does not need to be told. It can be seen. 'Matamata 13 reached, and a stop made for refreshments before the journey is continued through beautiful country leading -jp to the enchanting spots on the Kaimai Range of blue to dark purple and green hills in the background. Seeing Nature's Loveliness. Although many of the agricultural and other scenes have been enjoyed so fir, that which has to come surpasses

th! „„ *? avin g Matamata behind, One ™ rSa . tlo ? and talk B °° n «»*e 3 One wants to be left alone with their assisted bv g \l% ? aW ' 3 Wiwtk assisted by that of men, i s becoming more manifest. It is all so very lovcTv very fceautifu, P assing a _™J £ ment, where Maori children are t be seen with smiling, happy faces civflka tion is soon left behind. The looked for journey up the Kaimai Has at last Jen IT 1 ", Tl J° ? ndin " road >«i the cleared and cultivated foothills to fall silently behind.

And then the welcoming note of the koko or tui, or the .koko. mako (bellhird), is to be heard breaking the silenc* of the bush. And what gloricms native bush it is, too! As the ascent is made a faint wind causes the pretty trees to rustle their song of thanksgiving. \ hushed kind of stillness prevails" only the drone of the car engine, the' son"of the birds, and the whistling of the trees break the silence. In the grandeur

of the scenes one even forgets the car in which the journey is being made, or the horse on which the ride to the top is being taken. Up and up, and still up, the road winds its tortuous way amidst verdant green bush, the like of which is seldom, if ever, excelled in any part of New Zealand. It can be compared only to 1 that round about the Otira and Buller Gorges, on West Coast of the South Island, or in the heart ot the King Country, before the hand of man cut and slashed or burned the beautiful bush with fire. No better sight can be seen in the North Island, even with the lovely trip from Rotorua to Whakatane, through Itoiigi's Track, given in.

Presently round a sharp, rocky corner a most magnificent view of the greater portion of the South Auckland province is given to the delighted traveller. Far, far down below, the great overspreading pongas, mamakus (tree ferns), and great woodland trees look like small saplings ready for transplanting. A river shoots out away across-the plain in the blue, hazy distance. It is a silver thread, and is gone again in a moment, Huge faces of rock reach up to the aky on one side, while a sheer drop of hundreds of feet, with thick bush of variegated greens, is on the other. At the Journey's End.

Beautiful and all as it has been, the top is where -a person "catches one's breath." It is here where no pen can describe the beauties of the scene which is laid before the eyes "in magnificent panorama. For fully 80 to 100 miles in either direction—north and south — nothing but farms, settlements, and townships can be seen. It is a most wonderful sight. Each side of the vast valley, 30 to 40 miles .across or apart, hills and mounts bound it—hills whose lovely colours are always changing in the sunlight.

Right at the top there is a flat surface for* at least a mile, and the road winds its way through lovely virgin natural bush, with its mantle of green in all shades. Little springs of sparkling water jump out on the roadside from amongst green shr.ubs and ferns. There are excellent places for picnics. One can partake of meals 'neath the shade of New Zealand's natural bush.

Off the road a little way there is a clearing, at the top of which is a high peak of rock. An endeavour, has been made to try to give some idea of the view from the top of the Ka'imai Road. But words fail completely, when the-top of that rock, is mounted. The first jcomprehensiye y i ew was g rea t-grand— £" v n s ;i Theß - e r' d takea -»»n as far ~ T TC - AWay OUt t0 tlle east, as far as the eye cah see, is the roll inrestless Pacific Ocean, bluev-greenwhe« t meets the sky. i„ the foreground" , J-iie -uount, keeping guard

at the entrance. Away to the right is Matakana Island and "the Te Puke district, while on the left is the Katikati arm of Tauranga Harbour. The whole view makes a most wonderful sight, and one never to be forgotten by those whose privilege and- pleasure it has been, or will be, to see it.

The time for either moving on to Taurangc 21 miles away, or making tho return journey to Matamata and Hamilton, comes all too quickly. And it is with-a spirit of sadness at leavin"- all such magnificent beauty behind that the downward trip on cither side 13 commenced.