WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 286, 3 December 1929, Page 18

WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

CENTRE OF NORTH ISLAND,

r ROADS LEADING TO NATIONAL PARK. (By TRIP.) Tliese articles, which will be continued throughout ■ the summer months, give timely information on motoring and camping. Iteaders who want further details or advice on roads not dealt with so far may obtain it by writing to the Motor Editor, 'Auckland ♦Star," and enclosing a stamped I addressed envelope for reply. The roads in the centre of the North Island are a closed book to the great majority of New Zealand motorists, who know vaguely that there are many unmetalled patches, and that periodically cars are stuck up on these. Even the National Park, which is one of the greatest holiday grounds in the Dominion—and destined probably to become one of the best in the Southern Hemi.sphere—has attracted only a modest number, and .it has needed the building of a palatial hotel to focus attention on this mountain wonderland. •The roads in the centre of the island are very far from perfect; there are still unmetalled patches in certain areas, but they are being steadily improved, and there are several all-metalled outlets to the Tongariro Park. Here, in the heart of the island, are hundreds of thousands [ of acres of bush-clad mountains, beautiful lakes, rushing rivers with forest-clad banks, and snow-capped peaks. Those with aexploratory bent can camp anywhere along the roads that form the subject of this article, and from their ■base make excursions afield, either afoot or in the car. The National Park. From the number of inquiries I have already received about access to, and accommodation at the Tongariro

National Park, it is quite clear that this will rival our other scenic resorts in popularity this summer. The only wonder is that it has not clone so before, for although many have holidayed there, it has not' attracted the numbers that its manifold attractions deserve. One of the questions which several readers have asked is whether they will be allowed to camp now that the hotel has been erected. Actually they will be provided with a much better service than has previously been available. Bunks have been fitted in some of the old huts, and these can be hired, if desired. Alternatively motorists will be allowed to camp "in certain parts of the grounds, for nominal fees, and [ they can then make exactly the same trips as anyone else. An additional advantage is that a cafeteria in the hotel itself will provide food, if desired. It would be wise for motorists who intend visiting the Park, to get in touch with the agent of the company responsible, to make sure that hut accommodation will be available if wanted. While on this point, it seems only fair to say that the Mount Cook Motor Company, lias treated motor campers very fairly indeed at Mount Cook, and there is every reason to believe that they will be just as well treated at Tongariro. Those in charge have a sound knowledge of the tourist business, and they know that the encouragement of motor camping does not mean ft diminution in the number of guests visiting the hotel. Camping Elsewhere. The centre of the island includes the whole of the Raetihi-Waimarino-Toka-mu-Taupo area in which there are hun:lreds of suitable camping places, quite ipart from the park itself. There are four main routes into the area, but some )f the roads are very bad, and suitable rnly for good weather driving. These •oads are the Napier-Taihape, secondly, ,he_ Palmerston North-Bulls-Taihape-Vaimarino, thirdly the road leading down rom Te Kuiti to Waimarino, and ourthly, the road leading up from Vanganui to Ejietihi. I will deal with ach of these briefly, endeavouring to void anything savouring of the guideiook, and if any points are not clear, eaders can ask for further information, ictual details about turn-offs, and how o follow particular roads, can be btained from any guide-book, and one liould certainly be carried when touring field. It is true that most roads are ow well'marked, and that reference is jldom made to the book, but sometimes , will prove invaluable, and save much asted time-. A Napier motorist who wished to take ' le best possible road to the National ark, would travel via Taupo and okaanu, but in the good weather the apier-Taihape road offers an alterative that is especially interesting to ivone keen on fishing and shooting. It isses through rugged country for the •eater part of the 100 miles traversed, imbs over the divide at a height of

over 3000 feet, and throughout its entire distance provides places suitable for motor camping. This road runs out through sheep farming country, and passes through no towns en route. Being steep, it makes heavy demands on the car, which should be in good fettle before starting. Portions of this road are not metalled, and there are some unbridged creeks that could easily give trouble after wet weather. Moreover, there is very little traffic over it, so that the chances of getting assistance within a short time are remote. Putting those disadvantages aside, however, it is a great road for the genuine camp life lover for it gets more off the beaten track that most of the roads in the Island. Motorists from the South would make up through Palmerston North and out through Foxton to Bulls, then taking the road which leads out through Taihape and on to Waimarino, whence easy access is obtained to the Park. This road leads up through Marton, Hunterville and Mangaweka, to Taihape, and once past there the motorist emerges on the plateau, and gets wonderful glimpses of Ruapehu. The road between Waiouru and Raetihi, though only 20 miles long, used to be a nightmare to motorists after the least shower of rain, but a good deal of work has been put into it this winter, and it should be an all-weather route from now onwards, although it is probable that for some months at any rate, the surface will be fairly rough. Waiouru is in the high country, and if camping is done in this area, it is essential that plenty of bed-

ding be carried, for only those who have camped about' here will credit the intensity of the cold at nights. From Raetihi to Waimarino is 24 miles, and throughout you are in the heart of the mountain country, and get wonderful views as you proceed. The road from Waimarino on to Taupo has been greatly improved, some of the work having been carried out by prison labour, there being several camps in this area. A very good plan for motor campers coming from the South would be to traverse the route outlined above on the outward journey, and then make back through Tokaanu and Taupo to Napier.

Coming south from Auckland and the north, access is gained to this area through Te Kuiti —a town whose name is synonymous in most motorists' minds with bad roads. Its bad name will gradually depart, however, for each year sees further improvements made in this area, and this road, which used to be one of the worst in New Zealand, is now in fair order, though travelling would be very heavy after rain. An alternative 411 metalled route which, of course, is preferable in bad weather, would be out through Rotorua, Tapuo and Tokaanu. The road from Te Kuiti runs out through sawmilling country—

typical of the King Country l, ni » generally—to Taumarunui, a fair]important sawmilling centre at the heart of the navigable portion of the Wari ganui River. In continues on throu&fc Manunui and Raurimu—the latter the* famed for the spiral in the Main Trunk railway—climbing steadily all the wav until Waimarino is reached. * The roads mentioned in this artiel? mostly provide easy driving in the sum mer only; almost without exception thev are steep, climbing up over the mountain ranges which separate east and west coast, and only experienced driv Pr = should tackle tliem.