MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 17

MOTORING

MOTORING

(All Rights Reserved.)

WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

ROADS OF THE DOMINION. THEIR ATTRACTIONS FOR MOTOR CAMPERS. (By TRIP.) These articles, which will be continued throughout the summer months, will deal with all aspects of camping and niotoving. As a special service to readers, queries on any matters relating to motor camping, will be answered. Such queries should be addressed to the Hotor Editor, Auckland "Star," and a stamped addressed envelope enclosed for reply. Every possible assistance will be given and queries will be answered in rotation. It is difficult for the average motorist to keep track of the very extensive improvements which are effected to our principal roads each year. Such rapid progress has been made, each year during the past fiv« summer seasons that the roading information given one year would be quite inaccurate in a number of important particulars the following year. All the principal tourist routes are now either, metalled or are at present being improved, and the few small stretches which linked road to road throughout the two islands, and which sometimes held up the traveller, are mostly metalled.

To the motor camper, this means greater freedom of movement than ever before; the round trip, formerly impossible because of some annoying unmetalled gap of a few miles, can now be carried out in comfort and security. The spade work has been done, .and the improvements of the future will consist in the formation of better surfaces through bitumonising or concreting. Not Yet Perfect. Do not for one moment imagine that I think our roads are yet perfect—or nearing that blissful state. The motorist who bumps over some of the stretches in the far north, damages his springs on some of the Iving Country roads, or drives through the pot holes on some of the Otago roads, will agree with me that much yet remains to be done. With the general improvements that are being carried out 011 the roads in the far north, and those in the centre of the North Island, together with the attention now being paid to surfacing in the South Island, it may truly be said that a happier and less bumpy day is dawning for the motorist.

There are far fewer unmetalled roads in the South Island than in the North, and there the problem is largely one of reconstruction and improvement. Many South Island motorists maintain that this work would bo more effectively carried out if there were a special high-

ways board to deal specifically with that island, but this is not the place to discuss that question. Essential Links Completed. During the last winter the metalling of two very important links in the North Island ha" been completed, and metalling operations elsewhere on tourist routes will make , the lot of the motor camper easier this summer. One of the most annoying stretches of road in the whole of the North Island was that between Gisborne and Jlotu, where a few miles of unmetalled road led to endless trouble during a sudden wet spell. Fortunately there was an alternative route by rail, and the car owner could put his car aboard the train, and thus completes his round trip. The real difficulty arose when the weather was merely unsettled and when it was uncertain whether or not the road could be negotiated. The metalling of this gap has now been completed as far as the base course is concerned, and although the surface is rough at the moment, it will be gradually improved during the summer as metalling operations "progress - still further. The unmetalled gap on the road between Wanganui and Raetihi has, also been bridged this winter, and motor campers from the Taranaki district will have an easy route through to Tokaanu, Taupo and Rotorua, instead of having to wander half way round the island because the weather is bad. Many, motor campers got into difficulty on this road about Christmas time last year when the bad weather was experienced, and one or two cars were damaged there then. The road around Waiouru also has been receiving attention this winter,-and there are now two metalled roads into the National Park. In the South Island. ' The biggest offensive to be launched in the South Island this summer will be on roads which were da-maged by the big earthquake, and on which only urgent and necessary work has so far been carried out. Between Murchison and Lyell, on what was formerly one of the most beautiful stretches on the whole of the West Coast, the road has been damaged very badly indeed, and it will take many months of work before it is fit for use. The alternative route runs out through Maruia, and although

it is narrow in places, and tlie surface fairly rough, it can be negotiated at all times. Minor improvements have already been carried out on this road, metalled passing places having been made at a number of points. Others will be made in the near future, so that by the time it is called on to carry heavy summer traffic, the most dangerous points will have received attention. Without a doubt the West Coast will be one of the most popular places in New Zealand for motor campers this summer, and many North Island cars will, be making across there. The writer hopes to make the trip across there in a few weeks' time, after which he will be able to give essential information. Further south the roads have not suffered to any extent, and there will be no difficulty in getting through to Franz Josef.

Most of the tourist routes in the South Island are-already in good condition. In some eases, such as the Mount Oook-Queenstown route, the roads are very hilly, often narrow, and sometimes dangerous, but the surface is metalled, and motorists can get through in all weathers. For years yet the West Coast-East Coast road will be a difficulty, and most motorists will prefer to rail their cars between Otira and Springfield. Apart from the many river crossings, which gave trouble at times, the surface of the Arthur's Pass Road is far from good, and a car has to be in good fettle to negotiate it safely. Your Own Country First. Good roads and the provision of special facilities for motor campers at many points throughout both islands, make the lot of the motorist a very easy one. A motor camping holiday is pleasant and inexpensive, and makes it possible to see the whole of New Zealand in a reasonable time. Our own country probably has more attractions to offer with small compass than any other place in the world—certainly very many more than our nearest neighbour, Australia —and he is a wise man who sees everything possible here before travelling overseas.

We have already seen how different standards of comfort are possible with different tyes of cars and different classcs of camping gear. In following articles we will traverse many roads together, and in this way we will have at our finger tips all the many details 1 which add to the pleasures and com- j forts of a holiday spent with car and • tent. There is such diversity to be had ! with motor camping that everyone will I find something to his or her liking in a ■ holiday like this. The fisherman will jj know the various points along the road j! where it is worth while trying for the j elusive trout, the swimming enthusiast | will try out the respective merits of ! various beaches and rivers, the lover of | mountaineering will visit the National Park, Mount Cook or Franz Josef, while the more easily satisfied country lover will wander here and there, dallying by the wayside as fancy dictates. Next Week. —Rotorua reached from many points.