WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 6

WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

A NORTH ISLAND EASTER. \ INTERESTING TOURS OUTLINED. CAMPING SEASON ENDING. ISI'EI I VI.LV WRITTEN' rOII THE PRKSR.) [liy Trip.] (All Hights Reserved.') Ass a further service to readers "Trip" is prepared <o answer queries on any mutters relating to motor carapiug, and to assist in the planning of itineraries. All queries should bo addressed to "Trip," oare The Press Office, and a stamped addressed envelope enclosed for a reply. Queries regarding Easter trips should be forwnrded at once.

The advent ul Kaster practically | brings to a close tho motor camping season in New Zealand, for the broken weather experienced—or likely to lie experienced—thereafter makes its pleasures somewhat, doubtful. In the North Island tho weather at this time of tho year is usually fairly settled, and lair Easter weather can be relied upon, so that it offers particular advantages from the viewpoint of the motor camper. There are doubtless many South Island motorists who will bo visiting tho north this Eneter, so that fionio brief points regarding road conditions and interesting round trips will not l)C amiss. Tho standard of the roads throughout the North Island is high, and with the exception ot' backbloeks roads and some &till nnmotalled roads in the far north, tho great majority are in fair metalled condition, while the main highways running along each coast arc bitumiuised for a considerable part ot their distance. Some Varied Roads.. A* a general rule the motorist who goes north, and who pays the heavy lreight cost of transporting his car Jrom island to island wants to tee as much as possiblo for his money, ami will tour the whole island, taking three weeks or a month in doing so, and visiting Rotorua, Wajrakei, Chateau Tongariro, and probably Waitomo Cavos and Mt. Egmont. For one reason or another, though, there are always some motorists - who wish to make unusual journeys covering some of the lesser known scenic attractions, so these will be touched upon briefly. With any journey, when there arc two routes, the obvious thing to do is to go north one way and return the other, and this is easily'done in the North Island by taking tho road through the Wairarapa when making north to Napier. A moderate day's run will take you through as far as Hastings, where there is excellent camping accommodation. From close to Hastings there runs across to tho centre of tlie island a road which, though rough and steep in places, takes you through some of the real backblocks country, and gives j'ou expansive panoramas of wild country, in which wonderful Aching and shooting may bo had. From Taihape you can make up through Waiouru on a fairly rough road to Taupo, and go thenco to Rotorua. It is an unusual route, is much rougher than the others, and some of the river crossings would give trouble after rain, and for that roason will be shunned by the majority who prefer playing safe. The Wonderful Urewera. Enquiries regarding the Urewera road have been fairly numerous throughout the summer, and it is clour that of those who come north the majority desire at least to travel over this road. Without a doubt it has few jivals in New Zealand for scenory, but it has the disadvantage of being narrow and steep, and therefore is not suitable for the inexperienced driver, who will be far better to stick to the main routos, particularly at holiday time, when there are a good many cars on the road. The easiest route through to liotorua and Taupo, and even on this there are some pretty steep hills, is from Napier to Taupo, where there is a good camping ground. Opportunity nhould then be taken to visit Wairakei, which is only a few miles from Taupo; in fact, tjiis should be done while camping at Taupo, where the ground is much better equipped than is that at Wairakei. Taupo to Rotorua is on easy run over a pumiee road that docs not cut up badly except after exceptionally heavy rain, and which is practically certain to give no trouble. Roads from Rotorua. lioads radiate out in many directions from Eotorua, and it is possible to go east to Gisbornc, north to Tauranga and the Coromandel. Peninsula, or west to Hamilton, from which easy access is had to Auckland and the far north, or to the West Coast road southwards. The Coromandel Peninsula is deservedly popular as a holiday ground, and for those who want beaches and bushclad hills, a run to Mercury Bay, and a camp there, will bo ideal. Fishing abounds in all the rivers in the area around Rotorua and Taupo, which is a special fishing area; and of all the Norht Island this is the most popular for that sport. Eotorua'a many attractions, are duly paraded in gui<|e books, etc., so need not be dealt with here, other than to say that the thermal attractions are boosted to such an extent that they overshadow somewhat the lake beauties of tho district, which are well worth close attention. Waitomo and Taranaki. By far the most popular route southwards is the coast road running close to the Waitomo Caves at, Hangatlki, and thence via New Plymouth, but for those who have done this journey, the King Country roads now offer alternative routes without the disadvantages, formerly possessed, of being so rough as to damage the car. They are still among tho roughest surfaced roads m the North Island, but are now passable in most weathors, Going by the King Country you can make from Te Kuiti to the Chateau Tongariro, and .also out to the head of the Wanganui river if you wish to do so. The other route, which is largely bitumiuised, takes you through the* heart of Taranaki, and puts you within easy distance of Mt. Egmont on both northern and southern sides;, the latter, with Dawson's Falls, is the more popular. The return route running through Wanganui and Palmerston North, is i n splendid order, and over the whole route there are well equipped camping grounds, in fact tho whole of the Island is bettor equipped in this respect than is the South Island. These few suggestions may assist in taking you somewhat off the beaten track where desired, and giving you a broader outline of the attractions of the North Island from the motor-camper's viewpoint.