A.A.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 65, 18 March 1930, Page 17

A.A.A.

ROTORUA TO LAKE WAIKAREMOANA. NEW ROAD COMPLETED. AAA. OFFICIAL INSPECTION. ' FIRST CAR THROUGH. The Auckland- Automobile Association added further laurels to its record of pioneering in the interests of the motorists recently when the touring manager drove the first motor car over the new road from Rotorua to Lake Waikaremoana. The main route through the Urewera Country branches off from the RotoruaTaupo main highway, 18 miles south of Rotorua, and after rising to an altitude of over ISOOft, crosses hte Kaingaroa Plains and runs between the Government forest plantations. There is then a long decline on easy grades to the valley through which the Rangitaiki River passes on its way to the sea. The settlement of Murupara is passed and the river crossed, and the road then runs straight out across the valley for the hills. The scenery is very beautiful, although ai amount of bush has been cleared during the past few years, which to Bome extent has spoiled the beauties of the preliminary stages of the journey. In each little valley there is a native settlement, and after a time a long five-mile ascent brings the car to the road over Mount Tarapounamu. A long descent is made on the other side and the road then winds through dense native bush, which in places overhangs the road, and finally comes out into the open at Ruatahuna. Between Ruatahuna and Te Whaiti the scenery is exceptionally fine.

The roading conditions through to Ruatahuna are on the whole quite fair, and except for the narrowness of the road, present quite reasonable travelling. There are, of course, many sharp corners where there is just room for the car, with a drop of several hundred feet into the valley below, but with reasonable care there 73 no danger. Beyond Ruatahuna the country has been cleared, and there are a number of native settlements through to Te Wai-iti, a distance of seven miles. This section of the road is very narrow, and inclined to be rather rough, and no doubt will need to receive attention before the road is opened for general traffic. From Te Wai-iti then; commences a long winding ascent on easy grades on to the Papatotara Saddle. From this saddle a track branches off to the . settlement of Maungapohatu which, aintil recently, was the headquarters'of the prophet Rua. Running ovfcr the.'saddle, the road in places is cut. out of almost solid rock, and runs for many miles amongst a jumbled mass of mountains and valleys clothed with various shades of native foliage, and hundreds of feet below waters of the stream glisten in the bright sunlight.

Inches to Spare. Naturally, with the formation so new, there are minor, slips where further work will be necessary to provide the specified width* In these places there is often only a few inches to spare, ana the car winds round the mountains on a narrow ledge. " The Huiarau Eange is crossed at an altitude of 3000 ft, ana there is then a long winding descent to Orangitutaetutu Valley. Metal conditions are now encountered, and a small ford is crossed. The road is still in the heart of the native bush, and. the only sign of civilisation is odd small encampments of road workmen. The Hopuruahine Stream is now followed, and after crossing a bridge. the road enters the Hopuruahine Gorge. Out of a solid mass of rock the motor road has been hewn. For the next few miles there is a most remarkable piece of road making. The cliffs rise sheer from the deep waters of the lake for between 600 ft and 700 ft, and about two-thirds of the way up this cliff a roadway is being constructed. Foot by foot the solid rock is being blasted to provide access for motor traffic. From this bluff the "Outlet," which is the point where the road from Wairoa and Hawke's Bay joins the lake, can be seen quite plainly. The road' then continues round the shores of the lake through most delightful bush, with many pretty glimpses of the lake. At the Mokau inlet a bridge is being constructed over the river just above the falls, and an access road has been formed to the camping ground, which has been set aside at the instigation of the A.A.A. The Lake House is only a few miles away, where the- metal road from Hawke's Bay at present ends. Beware! To allow through traffic the completion of a culvert between Hopuruahine and Mokau, and the bridge over the Mokau River will be necessary. It is anticipated that this work should be near , enough towards completion by Easter to permit cars to make the through journey. The Auckland Automobile Association, however, advises that as the rainfall is particularly liekvy in this part of the country, and as there are many new fillings and much soft formation, the route should not be undertaken this season by any but the most experienced motorists, carrying- full equipment to combat these severe conditions. Mr. Champtaloup describes the scenery as some of the most delightful and varied that he has inspected in the North Island, and predicts that when minor improvements have been carried out, and the road surface consolidated, the route will prove a most popular one, with overseas visitors as well as residents of the Dominion.