MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 251, 23 October 1928, Page 19

MOTORING

pai&uelFT,

WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

BEAUTIFUL WEST COAST RUN.

XAPITI ISLAND — DAWSON'S PALLS. — EGMOXTT. (By TRIP.) - i i (All Bights Reserved.) In this article '"Trip** gives details of some of the places worth seeing on the West Coast, between Wellington and Hawera. JteSdtrs wanting further information about this route, or other matters pertaining to motor camping, maj address queries to "Trip,** care "Star" • Office. They will be answered in this column in rotation. .

In England every field has its name, handed down from generation to generation, and every hamlet has a history tinged with the romanticism of the past. We in New Zealand lack some of the historical associations which age imparts, but if we look about us we find that there are very few roads which are not full of interest to the traveller,

cither from their scenic beauty or from their association with those wonderful days of colonisation in New Zealand.

The dullest and most prosaic of roads becomes more interesting when we that here the whites made a desperate stand against the Maoris, or there was made a wonderful gold discovery that drew the best —and the worst—from every corner of the country. It can bt> truthfully said that we cannot drive a hundred miles in New Zealand without viewing beautiful scenery, and it would be impossible to drive fifty miles without coming to places which have played an interesting part in the Dominion's early days.

A Great Trip. Of all the trips that can be made in New Zealand, there are few that offer more diversified scenery and more places of interest to visit, than the journey from Wellington to Hawera. Although in places the road itself is very beautiful, it is the numerous side-trips that will prove of most interest to the motorist-camper with time at his disposal. Any good guide book will put you right as to the roads, so we will content ourselves with running over a few of the worth-while side-trips that can be made on this route, of which the visit to Dawson's Falls and Mount Egmont stands supreme.

For a considerable distance between Wellington and Palmerston North, the road winds in and out along sea beaches, and some magnificent panoramic views can be seen. From Porirua onwards fot about six miles, the road follows the coastline, along one of the prettiest bays imaginable. Porirua itself, above which towers the mental hospital, is full of historic associations, and it was here in the early days that one of the whaling stations was established. Although to the traveller it looms up grey and forbidding, thr mental hospital is set in hundreds of acr»s of garden, and in spring with the. daffodils, primroses and violets in flower, it is a most beautiful place. The Paekakariki hill, formerly the bugbear of the motorist because of its surface and its narrowness, has long lost its terrors, having been widened and the surface improved. Once the summit i is reached it is well worth while resting for a time, for the view is one of the most striking seen along , the whole of this route. Near at hand can be seen Kapiti Island, formerly a whaling station, but now a bird sanctuary, while on a clear day both Mount Egmont and thf South Island are visible. Special permission has to be obtained to visit Kapiti, but to lovefa of birds the trip is worth while, for the island is a perfect piece of natural New Zealand, with its bush to the water's edge,- and its hundreds of native birds. Some Fine Beaches., Those whose fancy lies in the direction of swimming, boating and fishing can have their fill by diverting from the road at various places, for good beaches abound on this route. At Waikanae, some little distance beyond Paekakariki, there is a safe beach with plenty of good picnicking spot's, and a river in which good trout fishing can be secured. Around Otaki, too, there are a number of beadies, plenty of good accommodation, and some excellent camping spots. Otaki itself has been brought into prominence lately owing to the rating dispute, about which a Commission was held. Although a borough, much of the land is devoted to forming and market gardening, and the heavy borough rates make it almost impossible for the landholders to cany on, Belief is to be grran-as a result of the Commission, whose deliberations will also affect many other small towns. The Maori Church at Otaki is well worth seeing as it is om of the finest . examples of Maori earring in New Zealand.

From Otaki onwards through the Levin and Shaanon districts the motorist passes through much of the flaxgrowing area. Flaxgrowing is being extended here, although prices recently have not been good. From Shannon, a detour should, if the weather is good, be made to Manga hao hydro-electric works. though not ranking with Arapuni for spectacular grandeur, Mangahao is a typical hydro works, and some great views are seen in the journey over the 1 steep hills leading to the works.

Palmerston Nortn.

The greatest railway junction in New Zealand, and the second largest inland town, Palmerston North is & place well worth seeing. There is a well laid out camping site close to the Manawatu River, in a secluded position, and as water is laid on the camper is well cared for. Golf and tennis enthusiasts will find ample scope for their activities there, and the public gardens, close to river, are very fine. Palmerston North people are very proud, and justly so, of their civic square, through which all the trains pass. The town is really ranged round this huge square, and although this has its disadvantages, it certainly lends an air of picturesqueness to the place. It is at Palmerston North that Massey College is situated, and a visit should be made there by those who are interested in farming. The college farm is just across the river, and as everything there is carefully planned, the farmer will gain many useful ideas. The Manawatu Heads, some 30 miles out from Palmerston, is the town's beach re9ort, and with a good camping ground and a spjendid beach, it is a most desirable spot in which to while away a few days.

From Palmerston North onwards, the motorist comes on to what are without doubt the best roads in New Zealand, and practically all the way through

Taranaki he carries on over these bitu-men-surfaced highways. Taranaki prides itself that it was the first district to go in extensively for bitumen roads, but whether this was foresight, or force of circumstances—for the heavy clay and lack of metal made macadam roads impossible—is open to question. The country through which you pass is undulating pasture land, excellent fattening country, and quite interesting to see. # Wanganui. Between Palmerston North and Wanganui a number of townships are passed, but there is nothing particular to warrant stopping. Wanganui is undoubtedly a city beautiful, and If time permits, a few days..spegt there will be full of interest. The first glimpse of the farfamed river will be distinctly disappointing—l shall never forget the first time I saw it—but closer inspection, and a journey to the upper reaches will soon dispel any temporary disappointment. There are few finer residential areas than those on the . outskirts of Wanganui, where there .are several garden suburbs. The city itself contains a very fine Art Gallery, and the Wanganui College, Cook's Gardens and C'astlecliff l)each are three places well worth seeing. The camping accommodation at Wanganui is u'.irivalled. It is elose to the river, has water laid on. fireplaces and conveniences, and tents can be hired if desired. j Dawson's Falls. From Wanganui to Hawera you travel through typical Taranaki dairying country, parsing through Kai Iwi, Maxwelltown and a number of other small towns, all of which have historical associations through their prominence during the Maori War period. Close to Patea there is a fairly good beach, but the town itself is depressing. Hawera is the centre of South Tars naki, a clean, progressive little town with excellent gardens, practically the best in New Zealand for a town of its size. From the water tower on a fine day an excellent panorama of the sur rounding countryside may be seen. A small charge is made, the key bein« obtained from the lire brigade station opposite. From here the motorist will «et a very good view of Mount Egmont. which so completely dominates tEe whole of the district.

The piece de resistance of the journey will be the visit to Dawson's Falls, one of the most delightful spots in New Zealand, set amidst wonderful bush surroundings, below the snow-capped Egmont. The road from Hawera oui through Manaia and Kaponga is well marked, and the motorist comes at length to the foot of the steep hill leading to the Mountain House. The journey up through the bush with its myriad ferns is delightful and is enhanced by reason of the fact that the road is a one-way traffic road. The motorist must ring the Mountain House from the foot of the hill, when he will be told whether all is clear for him to go on. Three stopping places are included in the road, and the journey is made with the secure feeling that the road is yours. Ample Accommodation. The visitor can be accommodated in any of three ways. He can stay at the hostel, he may, . after obtaining the necessary permission, camp in the grounds, or he may hire a hut, cooking his own food. It has to be remembered that the hostel is about 3000 ft above sea level, and unless plenty of bedding is being carried, the camping motorist will be wise to hire a hut, for the night air is very keen.

A stay of at least three or four days is needed to properly appreciate the beautieß of this charming spot, for in addition to the falls themselves, there are dozens of different walks through the bush, and ascents of the mountain to be made. On a clear day the South Island can be plainly seen in the farthest distance, and needless to say, the nearer view is magnificent. The Dawson's Falls trip is one which never palls. I have been there three times and on each occasion have found new things to interest me. The visitor must be prepared to stay a day or two, for fogs are common on the mountain, and even in summer it is not uncommon for the peak of Egmont to be hidden for several days on end. .