WITH TENT AND MOTOR

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1930, Page 16

WITH TENT AND MOTOR

(All Rights Reserved.)

ON THE COROIMDEL

PENINSULA,

GREAT CAMPING .OPPORTUNITIES. (By TRIP.) « During the last three summers motor camping has grown steadily more popular, and places formerly considered off the boaten track are now regularly visited by hundreds. This is true of the Coroinandel peninsula, which now attracts hundred:? of motorists, especially from the Auckland district, and which provides,one of the most unique motor camping holidays to.be had in New Zealand. Indented for the whole of its length with.beautiful bays, studded with beaches and crowned' with thousands upon thousands of: acr'es of virgin bush, it makes an ideal holiday for the town wprker seeking relaxation. There is no place which could give a more enjoyable holiday at this time of the year than Coromandel, and those who have seen the major tourist attractions of the North Island should • certainly consider a visit there. With Easter falling late this year, northern localities will be particularly favoured, and with good weather Coromandel will make as good a place for holidaying as it is possible to have. The best holiday on Coromandel Peninsula is one where there is sufficient time to wander, afield over all the roads that cross the peninsula, but'if time is short a run to -the township of Coromandel, and then across the divide: to Mercury Bay will .give you a very fair idea of the beauties of the peninsula.

The only road along the penineula leads out from Thames, and this, of .course, can be reached by many, roads, according to the direction from which you come. The shortest route from the north is out through Pokeno, this road putting Thames within 80 miles of Auckland by road. This road is, of course, an all-weather one! From, the . south there are several good roads' in to Thames, and- the one used .will depend mainly on the places visited earlier on the trip. The shortest route froni the Gisborne area is Up through Whakatane, Tauranga and Waihi, but this still embodies small sections of bad road which become impassable in the worst weather. , These sections are expected to be dealt ■with during the coming winter,, so.that these remarks will ho , longer apply next season. Jlf in the/.Rotorua district, the safest way up to Thames is through Tirau, Matamata and Te Aroha. From Hamilton the shortest run is through Morrinsviile and Te Aroha, and if the West Coast has been visited the run can be made across to Arapuni, and then.the road out through Putaruru and Tirau taken. .The. use of this, latter road gives opportunity of visiting Kotorua, and then, especially if the weather ie gobdj the run can be made .to. Tauranga, and 'thence up the coast.

On the Peninsula. v are a. number, of . specially appointed nlcitor camps on the Goromandel Peninsula, but except for the one at Thames the majority have not as many facilities as usual, for the 6imple reason that they are not attached to towns ■with water supplies. Generally speaking it is easy to find camping sites-wherever you go down the peninsula, and provided you get the permission of owners, you •will camp.in places even, more; pleasant than those where the motor camps are. There are a good many misconceptions about the roads,here, and queries.l have had show, that some motorists' imagine, that they are clay roads right, from Thames. Actually the , road right, to Coromandel is metalled, and so ie that across to Mercury Bay. ' Most of the other roads, are- partly metalled, -but are inclined to give trouble after fain v There are moderately steep hills on the way to Coromandel, but '.elsewhere on the penineula and on runs such as to Mercury Bay you get some really steep'pinches—r nothing unduly, difficult to the 1 ' average car, though. . In some ways, Coromandel is like North Auckland, for here> too,: you get that wonderful combination of virgin forest and bays and beaches. It is not a recognised tourist centre in .any sense of the word, and because of that is particularly suited for motor camping. Probably the best' way to tackle a holiday on the peninsula is to go to Coromandel first, arid then make on along"the coast to Big Bay, and up to the granite quarries near Waitoitoi. All along this coast there are exceptionally fine bays, and when you rise up at various points along the road you get magnificent panoramas. From Big Bay a road runs over to the other side of' the peninsula, coming out at Waikawau Bay, a popular; beach resort for campers. From here another, and rougher road goes across to Port Charles, but if conditions were such that the car could not be Jt, would be an easy walk as the distance, is only about seven,miles.;. -'". ■ y. \ To go across to Mercury Bay—and'this is the finest run. .pjf. all "along this very beautiful peninsula—-you haveto make back to Coromandel. The;fdad ; winds up over steep hills ..covered with--virgin' forest, coming out at the coast .. ; near Whitianga. All along ~ the coast near Mercury Bay there are desirable camping spots, and a moderately good road runs across the promontory to the Matararigi beach. Another road which would be worth while exploring (I have not myself been over it) is that running down to Coroglen ar.d thence to ; Tairua Harbour. This road runs right on down the East Coast of the peninsula and'eventually comes out at Waihi. It is sup.posed to be a fair second-class road, but would of course only be/suitable for fine weather travelling. The run down there would, however, make a very fine finish to a peninsula holiday. ■ ; .