GREAT SCENIC ROUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1930, Page 17

GREAT SCENIC ROUTE.

THE RUN TO NATIONAL PARK. CONDITION OF CAMPS. (By LOCHIEL.) The run to National Park by way of Eotorua and Taupo is going to be one of the great tourist routes of the future, and will also become one of the most popular holiday excursions of Auckland motorists. The driving 'presents no difficulty to tiie average driver in any weather, provided his car" is in good order, but on some parts of the route a little care is. necessary • arid a Reduced speed advisable. Leaving Auckland by the Great South Road, probably the most dangerous portion of the whole 280 mile run to the National Park is encountered after the concrete is left at Papakura. The condition of the tenmile stretch between Papakura and Bombay is not only disgraceful; it is positively dangerous because of the amount of traffic on it. The stretch between Ngaruawahia and Hamilton also becomes dangerous when there is much

traffic on it, because of the dust raised, but it must be admitted that the surface of the road has been greatly improved, excepting that portion within • the boundary of the Ngaruawahia township. The motorist who travels much, however, always, has the lively satisfaction of observing some improvement each time he travels over a main route. . ■ . '.;■■ Itoads. Greatly, Improved.. Great': improvement has been-- made between Hamilton and Cambridge, and further on there are signs that before very long there will be a wonderfully good road between Hamilton and Rotorua, that is, if the road is properly maintained. The work proceeding on the road between Cambridge and Tirau has already eased travelling conditions in some of the worst places, and deviations are being made in others which will make driving safer. It was noticeable, however,, that the road surface is being allowed to deteriorate, long stretches of wavy-surfaced road being experienced, as-well as many parts where the l surface was coming off in patches. The work being done on this 20 miles of highway should result in a very great improvement to travelling conditions, but the traffic is so great that a permanent surface seems to be the only solution of the good road problem. Effect of Fast Traffic. From Tirau to Rotorua the surface generally is good, but here again fast traffic.is rolling - up the road into waves. It is a sheer delight to tra.vel over the 35 miles between these two places, there is such a variety of farming, bush, river, and lake scenery. There are two lovely camping or picnicking spots by fast running streams.before the climb to Mainaku commences, and , in the bush itself there are many delightful places in which to while away an odd half hour. Continuing the journey from Rotorua one. goes south through the Whakarewarewa Gorge, and for a few miles passes the, cuttings, fillings, and embankments of the abandoned railway on the one hand and the State forests on the other. The road to Taupo has been greatly improved by widening, and there is generally good visibility on most of the corners, although there are places where care must be taken. Most of the way the surface is good, but there are a few bumpy parts. Places of Interest. As this road runs past such places as Whakarewarewa, Rainbow Mountain, .Waiotapu, Reparoa, Aratiatia Rapids, Wairakei, and Huka Fall?, one can readily understand that a fair amount of time should be allowed for the run of 56 miles. The travellers should so time their running as to be at Wairakei at 2.30 p.m., at which hour the afternoon visit is.paid to Geyser Valley, one of the greatest sights in the whole of the thermal wonderland. When at Taupo a vi?it should be made to the Spa, .where the fine geyser, " The Crow's Nest" is playing regularly each day. Another interesting sight is the source of the Waikato River. The water from the lake flows strong and deep through a narrow channel at the north-west corner, and thus commences the mighty Waikato. Further road improvement is to be seen as. the tour south is continued. To those who have' not been this way for a couple of years, the road is now almost unrecognisable. At this, time of the year the fishing camps on the eastern side of Lake Taupo are of much interest. An Earthquake Rift. Another most interesting feature of this part is the road along the bottom of an old earthquake rift. After.running along the lake side for about eight miles, the Waitahanui River is crossed, and shortly after the earthquake gorge ie entered. On a winding, twisting road whieh has been made from a boulderstrewn track, a climb of-about 500 feet is made in three miles, but by so easy

a ;-.grade 'that It is-not. noticed. From this point the old road dropped steeply ,do\vn the dreaded Hatape Hill, but this horror .has been superseded by a deviation which can be done on top gear but is,, nevertheless, a trifle narrow. Prom here, the road runs round the cliffs and in fine weather the views are divine.■•■•■ .White pumice streVh beaches enhance the view of still blue water in which trees 1 are faithfully mirrored. The fast-running Tongariro, said to be the finest troutrfishing- river in the world, is crossed and. a run can be made to the pretty township of Tokaanu, which lies on the southern shores of Lake Taupo, and is four miles off the direct route. Continuing on past the Tokaanu turnoff, th|; driver 1 should beware of traffic on the narrow roads. The danger comes not from the service car drivers, but rather !from those w.ho always. seem to be' in a hurry. About here there is a good deal .of driving through narrow roads with "blind corners and as much of the' load is level there is temptation to hurry on. The rise from 1250 feet at the Tokaanu turn-off to 3100 feet at Chateau Tongariro is hardly noticed,-eo easy are the grades and so. even is the road surface. Over the graded parts of the pumice road the car feels as if. it is travelling on velvet. In fine weather the mountain scenery is magnificent, particularly from, that part of the road where the three mountains, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Kuapehu come into view as a continuous panorama.

Conduct of Camps. And so much for a description of the road arid, the places of interest en route. Personally, I always camp' on tour and on several occasions I was forcibly reminded of the lines "Where every prospect pleases, and only man is vile." There is room for great improvement as far as the , cleanliness of ?ome-of the. camp conveniences are concerned arid it' is a matter which should be talcen; up: by the Health Department. One recognises that the motor-camping business is new and has attained sudden popularity, but even so" the public ' health must not be allowed to suffer. Matter for Health Department. Take Taupo, for instance. Here there is divided control. The Department of Internal Affairs has fenced off a.camping site on the triangle of which the northern shore of the lake arid the river form two sides. There is little in the way of conveniences, but they were reasonably clean and an officer of the Department stated that before next season much would be done to provide facilities for camping on this site. The other camp at Taupo is beautifully situated in the Town Board's domain, but the ground was littered and dirty and,the conveniences filthy and a menace to health. At Wairakei camp the conveniences and grounds were not as clean as they might be, but at Rotorua great improvements had been effected to an already well-equipped camp. In the sanitary conveniences an effective preventive against the fly nuisance has been installed and another much-appre-ciated convenience was the recent installation of an electric water heater for making tea or cooking purposes. This camp was found to be well run and clean, there being evidence of strict management. Parted With Our Heritage. I was greatly disappointed to find that not only were there no conveniences at the National Park camp, but that camping is actually, discouraged. To those of us who knew this place in the old days of the huts it seems as if someone had parted with our heritage, ■that our birthright had been Bold. This is a matter that should be inquired into by the A.A.A. It was noticed that prison labour was being freely used in the neighbourhood. Could not some of thie be utilised to form a camping ground at what is going to be a popular rendezvous for motorists ? AH that is required is the clearing and levelling of a space by the roadside near a. stream, and the provision of the,usual conveniences. The fact that there are no' camping facilities at the old resting place for climbers need not deter the motorist who wishes to enjoy, the health-giving air of these high altitudes. There are plenty of camping sites, but after all, even on a motor camping tour, one does not want to be lonelyj one enjoys a community of kindred souls.