WITH TENT AND CAR

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1930, Page 26

WITH TENT AND CAR

SOME COUNTRY TOWNS

THE NORTH ISLAND

There are so many country towns scattered throughout the North Island varying in size from that with 1000 inhabitants to- towns of 12,000 and upwards, that it is obviously impossible to do them full justice in a short article. Some have nothing in particular to entice motor-campers; others, with no special attractions, make such excellent provision for motor camping that a short stay can be very pleasant; others still are centres of tourist districts, and as such, make excellent headquarters for those "seeing tho sights." The things that appeal most to "Trip" ; about these places may not similarly interest all readers, so he will content himself with giving merely a few points about various places, information about the camping accommodation provided, and leave the rest for. the motorcamper to discover for himself. No attempt at classification is being made, it being assumed that the motor-camper, will decide routes for himself, and will be interested mainly in places • along that route. .; The bad road access to North Auckland at present militates against enjoyment of motor-camping expeditions there unless the car be railed from ■Helensville to Maungaturoto. Whangarei is the biggest of tho North Auckland towns, has a delightful harbour, a good camping ground, and makes a fine headquarters to see such places as Kamo springs. At Helensville the camping ground is in the Domain, close to the hot springs. Dargaville ia the centre of a prosperous farming district, and the road to the renowned, kauri forest leads off from here. Camping accommodation is at Bayly's Coast, a few miles out of the town. Further north are Kaitaia and Kaikohe, but neither are of special interest to motorists, who will usually prefer to camp at places along the very beautiful coast. Eussell cannot ,be reached directly by road; it may, be, however, in the near future. Hamilton is a pretty town in which there is excellent camping accommodation by the river, and close to the centre of the town itself. During the camping season tradesmen call daily. There is a beautiful lake in the Hamilton Domain, and a wonderful panorama of the fertile district of which Hamilton is the centre can be obtained from the water tower. Cambridge is much smaller, but is a charming little town, quietly beautiful, with a splendid camp site in the domain. Te Aroha, famed for its mineral springs, is but a small township. It.has a camp site within the borough. Thames has lost much of its glory of the gold days, and sticks' in the memory principally as a.place with hotels every few feet—and dozens more long since closed down. The camp, site is at the beach. Thames is the' starting point for the C&romandel Peninsula, and at both Coromandel and Mercury Bay there are plenty of good camping sites. Waihi, Tauranga, Whakatane, and Opotiki all provide camps within the borough, and at. Rotorua there is what is probably the best-equipped camping ground in the Dominion. There is a camping ground at. Te Kuiti, which can be made the starting point for the Waitomo Caves, but most motorists prefer camping at the caves themselves, just beyond the Government hostel. TAEANAKI AND WELLINGTON. Small towns abound throughout both the Wellington, and Taranaki districts, and the great majority provide camping accommodation, with facilities such as gas and hot water. New Plymouth,

probably the most beautiful of all the provincial towns, is noted especially, for Pukekura Park, in which some of the finest tree ferns in the country may be seen. There are two good motor camps here, one at the beach and the other at the Domain. The beach one is popular with summer visitors, more especially as a cook-house solves the wet weather cooking difficulty. Many fine runs can be had from New Plymouth. Opunake, a small coastal township, has camp sites at the domain and on the beach. It is a very popular place for New Plymouth motorists. Hawera has very fine accommodation in King Edward Park, where thcro is a large children's playground, 'tennis courts, etc., all of which may be used by the campers. This camp can be made the headquarters for visite to Dawson's Falls, if you. don't want to camp on the mountain. Both Stratford and Eltham, on the other side of the mountain, have provision for campers, as have also a number of the other townships in the district. .. ' '

One of the handiest camping grounds of all is at Wanganui, about a mile and a half past Aramoho, and it is hardly necessary to say that. many splendid excursions can be made from this townCook 's Gardens and the art gallery are two things which should on no account be missed. Wanganui is a very beautiful town in which a very pleasant holiday could easily be ' spent. Both Taihape and Raetihi, on the inland roads, make provision for motor-campers. • Palmerston North, which is the biggest inland town in the North Island, is famed for its fine square, round which the business centre is grouped. The camping ground, near the river, is very well situated adjoining the gardens. There are motor camps, too, at Feilding, Woodville, and Dannevirke, but in most cases these towns will be used merely as stopping places en route. Much the same' applies to the small towns in' the Wairarapa, for there is good provision at Eketahuna, Masterton, Greytown, and Featherston, the last-named camp being just at the foot of the Rimutakas. Similarly, on the road between Wellington and Palmerston, Otaki, Levin, and Foxton all have motor camps ready to receive the £ourist. HAWKES BAY AND POVERTY BAY. The best motor-camp in Hawkes Bay is at Hastings, and the town itself is a pleasant one, from which good runs to beaches, and places such as Havelock North, can be made. Further south, both Waipukurau and Waipawa make good provision for campers, but here again there is nothing in particular to warrant a stay, and the camps are used mainly by over-night campers. Napier is, of course, the biggest town in Hawkes Bay,- and as it has a good beach, on which plenty of provision has been made for children, it is deservedly popular during the summer months. One absolutely unique trip towards the end of the year is to the gannet rookery at Cape Kidnappers. It is maintained that this is the only place in the world where gannets nest on the mainland, and those who have seen the pictures, will realise the interest attaching to a visit there. Many beautiful runs can be made out from Napier, where the camping ground is at the south end of the town, by the Tutaekuri River.

Gisborne is the only town of import■tance north of Napier, and so far it has not made very much provision for motor-campers, although plans are out for very fine accommodation. It is the centre of a very rich pastoral district, and from it can be made journeys up the East Coast. Before long it will be possible to go right through to Opotoki along the costal route, construction work now being in progress. It is fortunate in possessing two very fine beaches, one right by the town itself, and the other, Wainui, some five miles out. No special provision is made north of'Gisborne at the various small towns, but this is hardly necessary as there are plenty of sites adjacent to the roads. At Wairoa, half-way between Napier and Gisborne, there is a good "camping ground by the' river, arid" if necessary this can be niado use of for the night en route either to Gisborne or Lake Waikaremoana.

"Trip" is prepared to give further information about any place; what roads are like in the vicinity. Address care P.O. Box 1178, Wellington, enclosing stamped, addressed envelope.

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