WITH TENT AND MOTOR

Evening Star, Issue 20322, 2 November 1929, Page 5

WITH TENT AND MOTOR

HOW 10 SET TO ROTORUA . BRIEF OUTLINE OF DIFFERENT ROUTES [By True.] [All Rights Reserved.] , • These articles, which will be continued throughout ■ the summer months, Avill. deal with all aspects of camping and motoring., As a special , , seryio to readers queries on any matters relating to motor camping will be answered. Such queries should' be addressed to ‘ Trip,” care of P.O. 90s 1,178, Wellington, and a stamped addressed envelope enclosed for reply. Every possible ' assistance will be given, and queries will be answered in rotation. - One of; the very interesting features of the queries which have come to hand so far through publication of these articles is that the bulb of them have asked for information about Rotorua. Motorists in both islands have written expressing the intention of visiting Rotorua this summer, and asking how they can get there. This article supplies the information briefly; a later one will amplify certain parts of the route, and deal more specifically with the camping side. The thermal region._ of which Rotorua is the centre, is without doubt one of the wonders of the world, and is deservedly 7 popular with New Zealanders and overseas travellers alike. It has everything to offer the tourist, is ideal for motor camping, and at Christmas time especially is brimful of life and excitement. there has during recent years been a gradual slowing up of thermal activity. Geysers that, years ago, spouted forth in furious fashion, now perform more gently, with less of the spectacular. Nevertheless, the whole of this region is weird and wonderful, and almost beside the grim pools of boiling mud are beautiful bush-clad rivers, well stocked with trout. The principal fascination of the Rotorua district lies in its diversity. # The visitor is not forced to confine his activities to seeing hot springs, geysers, and miniature mud volcanoes. There are the placid green and blue lakes on which delightful excursions may be made, there are the crystal dealsprings at Hamurana, and the noted Fairy Springs to visit, and there is excellent provision also for all sorts of sports. ‘ Christmas is the high-water season of Rotorua, and the Christmas-New Year week is one of gay abandon, into which visitors from all over New Zealand enter with keenest zest. FINE MOTOR CAMP, Ideal conditions exist at the Rotorua motor camp, which is one of the best equipped in New Zealand, The thought that it will be packed out during the holiday period heed not worry you. Hundreds of cars and tents can he accommodated in the spacious grounds. The service provided you includes firewood, small benzine-tin cookers, showers and running water within a few yards of your tent no matter where you are. The charges are very moderate, the grounds are kept clean, and, being sheltered by huge pine trees, are snug during the worst of weather; if you want "it you can get extra service at a small charge There is a .store right on the ground, and you can have your meals cooked for you if you wish it. During the busy season the Auckland Automobile Association has’a service officer on the grounds to give information about how to get to various places. Some of the roads at places such ns Fairv Springs (only a few mile c from the town') are not very well, marked, and such information saves wasted time. There need be no worries then about the camping facilities. HOW TO GET THERE. Motor campers making to Rotorua: will be roughlv of three classes. There will be those who come over from the South Island and the southern portion of the North Island; others from the centre of the North Island * and others still from Auckland and the north generally. The route taken to Rotorua will depend either on the starting point, or on what the motorist wishes to see. Generally speaking, the route chosen in each of the three cases given would he: . . , (]) Wcllington-Napier-Taupo-Rotorua, (2) New Plymouth-Wanganui-Raetihi-Taupo-Rotorua; and (3) Auckland-Haniilton-Rotorua. An alternative route for southern motorists would be through Gisborne-Motu-Opotiki, but this adds close on 200 miles .to the distance, and is possible only -when time is not a limiting factor. I do not intend to do more than run over each of these three routes briefly, in the order given. ’ It is a little more than 200 miles from Wellington to Napier, and a little over 150 miles from Napier to Rotorua. Two strenuous days would see the journey safely through, but _ it could more pleasantly be divided into a four-day journey, camping the first night at" Woodviile, next at Napier, then at Taupo, and on the fourth dav goino-'on 'to Rotorua —an 'easy day. The road between Napier and Taupo contains some pretty stiff hills, and careful driving is needed, so that although it is, roughly, only 100 miles it makes a good day, especially when you are not used to driving long distances. In any case it would seem a pitv to run .straight through to Rotorua from Taupo, when a break at Wairakei can be so pleasant; actually, Wairakci can show the tourist more fierce thermal activity than Rotorua. PLENTY OF CAMPING SPOTS.

Good camping; facilities exist at many points along this route, most of the towns making some provision for the touring motorist. Around Taupo there are numerous places ideally situated for camping, and at Wairakci good camping accommodation is provided close to the hotel. The metalling of the' gap on the Wauganui-llaetiJii road this winter-ami the improvement of the. road around Waiouru liavo made access to Rotorua much easier for motor campens from Taranaki 'and the centre of the’North Island generally. It ns 153 miles from Wanganui; to Taupo by this road, a pretty " strenuous journey over mountainous country- and, rough-surfaced roads •in • places. There are plenty of camping sites all along; .this, route, so motorists, from a distance can camp over-night •- at Raetihi ’or further along the .roach The road rims close to the shores of-Lake-Taupo,. and affords sonic ■very fine glimpses of rugged mountain scenery. Coming through ’ by this rbute r thq -motorist passes close' to ,’the National’Park.' and a detour will take him iin to tliei mountains. From Auckland to Rotorua via Hamilton is roughly 150 miles, and is a fairly easy day’s journev if there is no desire to stop en route. Good camping. accommodation is available at both

Hamilton and Cambridge ’if desired. For those who intend spending some time in - the Rotorua district camping places around the lakes are available, and it would be possible to put in some pleasant weeks in this way, moving camp as fancy dictated. Generally speaking it is most satisfactory to make use of the central camp at Rotorua for a start, at’any rate, as there is easy access from there to the many places that every, motorist will want to see. SERVICE TO READERS. Several readers have written inquiring about the West Coast roads and the deviation necessary since the roads were :damaged by the earthquake. The only point ; at which it is necessary to deviate is between Murchison and In’angahua junction, where the old road through Lyell fins been damaged. The writer hopes ‘to make this trip during the next month, and full information will be. given in an article on-’ December 1-4. . Another point on which some queries have been- received relates’ to trips in both islands suitable for a Christmas break of a fortnight or thereabouts. Routes, of course, will depend on what the motorist wishes to see, but early in,-December this question will be dealt 'with, a- number of alternatives being given.