HOLIDAY AT LAKE TAUPO

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 24 (Supplement)

HOLIDAY AT LAKE TAUPO

liiiiliiliijiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lIOH in historical interest, equally rich in scenic beauty and far-famed as a paradise for anglers, Lake Taupo, or, as it was known to the Maoris, the Sea of Taupo, a gem of blue and silver, set in the midst of the North Island, is truly one of the most attractive resorts in the whole of New Zealand. Taupo is famous not only in New Zealand, but also abroad, its praises having been voiced by countless visitors, many of whom repeatedly return to the Dominion in order to spend some time in the vicinity of a lake and a district that offers so many attractions, and that so closely approaches the outdoor Utopia that everyone strives to find. The climate is clear and buoyant, and is noted for its recuperative properties. In fact, there is everything about Lake Taupo to recommend it as the ideal spot in which to spend a perfect holiday. Its central position places it within easy access of all the main centres, and it is but 55 miles from the world-renown-ed Rotorua. The history of Lake Taupo is lost in the dim ages of the past, and many legends attach to its discovery. One of the best known is that which tells of the flight of Taranaki, or Mt. Egmont. Many ages ago Taranaki stood on the space now occupied by Lake Taupo. Between Taranaki and Tongariro stood Pihanga, a small mountain. Between Tongariro and Taranaki there arose a contest for the love of Pihanga, which finally resulted in the two joining in fierce combat. Taranaki was forced to flee, and Pihanga became the wife of Tongariro. The legend goes on to say that Lake Taupo now occupies the depression where Taranaki once stood, and that the Island of Motutaiko is one of the rocas hurled by Tongariro during the combat, and the gorge of the Wanganui River the track made by the flying giant in his retreat to the sea coast, where he now stands. Pihanga still iiiiii.hu in IH Mil 111 111 Hf Hl 11111111111111 lllllltlf 111111111111111111(1

lllllil llllilllllllllllHtlllllllltlllllllltlllltlllltltllllllllltltllllllillltUllll stands just south of Tokaanu, watched y over by her mighty husband, Tongariro. e The beauties of Taupo could be rea lated without cessation, and those who f remain in the district for any time 1 will find countless places of interest f to visit and will never be at a loss > for something to do. In fact, most } people find so 1 much to do and to see t that their holiday passes all too , quickly. : What strikes the visitor more than ■ anything else during a trip to Taupo i is the vast amount of accommodation ’ for motor campers. All along the edge > of the lake one comes upon little ' colonies of campers, all of whom have t pitched their temporary homes for the ; period of their holiday. The-sites are • ideally situated, and from mom till , night during the holiday season are > hives of activity. Many of the campers i rig up nets for makeshift tennis courts, > and though the finished product may ' not be up to championship standard ; the result, so far as the players are • concerned, is all that can be desired. Also, with the lake at one’s own back ; door, it is only natural that bathing should take up a great deal of the > holidaymaker’s time. : The close proximity of Taupo village, with its stores, post office, petrol stations, and even its picture show, > ensure that campers need never go short of supplies. The village is situated on the northern extremity of the lake, from which flows the celebrated i Waikato River. The view from here . is unexcelled. Standing on the shore, one looks across the 25-mile stretch of water to the southern side, behind which stand the majestic Ruapehu and Tongariro, the sacred mountain, around which are built so many of the glorious legends of the Maori race. With but little effort, one can imagine what the lake must have looked like in the days before the coming of the white man, when the warriors of the famous Ngati-Tuwliaretoa tribe held sway in the district; the days when liuiiiiilliii tin nil Hl I tn 111 l t 111 Itllllilt 11111111111111 tiiiiinittiittitiiii

itiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiitittiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii l the shores were peopled with dusky • folk and when the air was rent with the war-cries of the warriors and made • melodious with the soft chanting of > Maori maidens singing thir love songs > and crooning their rhythmic tunes to ; which they did their poi dances. All i that is gone now. The motor-launch : has taken the place of the war-canoe, i motor-cars dash along the roads, and i modern bungalows and fishing huts have, with a few exceptions, replaced the Maori huts. Nevertheless, the • charm and beauty of Taupo have remained unchanged, and the grandeur of its scenery is still unrivalled. For the holiday-maker with a motorcar, there are numerous places of interest within easy reach of Taupo. For instance, there is the wonderful Wairakei Valley and its world-famous thermal wonders, but six miles from Taupo village. Chateau Tongariro is 75 miles away, and a 55-mile journey over perfect roads brings one to Rotorua. There are countless attractive drives around the edge of the lake, and picnic spots abound in plenty. Another popular trip is that to the celebrated Tokaanu, the Mecca of fishermen from all parts of the globe. The wonderful rainbow trout yields of the Tongariro River (the largest tributary of Lake Taupo) are indicated in a tally recorded by rangers of the Department of Internal Affairs from Ist January to 31st May, 1929. They kept in touch with anglers on the river, and weighed the catches. The aggregate was 5,276 fish, of a total weight of 34,867 lb., an average of 6 lb. 10 oz. The largest rainbow scaled 15 lb. Altogether, then, Taupo offers every possible type of attraction to the hotl-day-maker, abundant proof of this being given when one considers the number of people who return year after year, and who will travel long distances, even from far-off lands, to visit the shores of this inland sea, the holi-day-maker’s joy and the angler's paradise.