WITH TENT AND MOTOR

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 5

WITH TENT AND MOTOR

NORTH ISLAND COUNTRY TOWNS WHAT THERE IS TO SEE IH THEM [By Trip.] [A,m. Rights Reserved.] Motorists who want further information about roads or motor camping may write to “Trip,” P.O. Box 1,178, Wellington, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for reply- . There are so many country towns scattered throughout the North Island, varying in size from that with 1,000 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, mako such excellent provision* for motor camping that a short stay can be very pleasant; others still are centres ,of tourist districts, and as sucli make excellent headquarters for those " seeing the sights.*’ The things that appeal most to “ Trip ” about these places may not similarly interest all readers, so he will content himself with giving a very few points about various places, information about the camping accommodation provided, and leave the rest to the motor camper 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 only in places along that route. AUCKLAND DISTRICT. The bad road access to North Auckland at present militates against enjoyment of motor camping expeditions there, unless the car be railed from Helensvillo to Maungaturoto. Whangarei is the biggest of the North Auck land country towns, has a delightful harbour, a good camping ground, and makes a fine headquarters to sec such places as Kamo Springs. At Helensvflle the camping ground is in the domain, close to the hot ,springs. Dargayille is The centre of a prosperous farm ing district; and the road to , the renowned kauri forest leads off from here, (lamping accommodation is at Bayley’s Coast, a few miles out of the town; Further north there are Kaitaia and Kaikohe, but/' neither is of special interest to motorists, who will usually prefer to camp at places along the very beautiful coast. Russell, of course, cannot as yet be reached directly by road, although that is a -possibility of 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 there dailv. v There is-a very beautiful lake in the Hamilton domain, and a wonderful panorama of the fertile district of which it 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. To Arolia, famed for its mineral springs, is but a small township. It lias a camp site in the borough. Thames has lost most of its glory of tho gold days, and sticks in the memory principally as a place ,with aiu, hotel every few feet, and dozens more long since closed down. The canip site is at the beach. Thames is the starting point for tho Coromandel Peninsula, and at both Coromandel and Mercury Day there are plenty of good camping sites. Waihi, Tauranga. \Vhakataiie, and Opotiki all provide camps within the borough, and at Rotorua there is what is probably the bestequipped camping ground in tho clomin ion. There is a camping ground at Te Kuiti, which can be made the starting point for tho. Waitomo Caves, but most motorists prefer camping at tho caves themselves, just beyond the Government 1 hostel. , ,

TARANAKI AND WELLINGTON. Small towns abound throughout both the Taranaki and the Wellington dis tricts and the great majority provide camping- accommodation, with facilities such as gas and hot water./ New Plymouth, probably the most "beautiful ol all our provincial towns, is noted especially lor Rukekura 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 beaclr and the other at the domain. The beach one is especially popular with summer visitors, more especially so : as a cookhouse solves the wet weather cooking difficulty. Many -fine runs can bo had from New - Plymouth. Opunake; a small coastal township, has camp sites on 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 there is a large children’s playground, tennis courts, etc., all of which may bo used by the campers. This camp can be made the headquarters for visits to Dawson’s Falls if you don’t'want to camp on the mountain. Both Stratford and Elthnm, 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 fine excursions can be made from this town. Cookjs 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 bo spent. Both Taihhpe and Raetihi, on the inland roads, mako provision for motor campers. Palmerston North, which is the biggest inland town in the North Island, is famed especially for yts 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 Dannevirkc, but in most cases these towns will be used merely as stopping places eu route. Much the sprae applies to the small towns in the Wairarapa, for there is good provision at I‘jketahuna, Masterton, Greytown, and Featherston, the last-named camp being just at the fool of the Bimutakas. Similarly, on the road between Wellington and Palmerston, Otaki, Levin, and Foxton all have rnotoi camps ready to receive the tourist. HAWKE’S BAY AND POVERTY BAY.

The best motor camp in Hawke’s 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 botn Waipulturau 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 oyer-night campers. .Napier is, of Course, the

biggest town in Hawke’s 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 Kidnapper!*., It is maintained that this is the only place in the world where the gannets nest on the mainland, and those who have seen (pictures will realise the interest attaching to a visit there. Many beautiful runs can bo made out from Napier, where the camping ground is at the south end of the. town, by the Tutackuri River. Gisborne is the only town of import ance north of Napier, and , so far it has not made very much provision for motor campers, although plans are ouv for very lino accommodation. It is tho centre of a very rich pastoral district, and from it can bo made journeys up tho East Coast. Before long it will bo possible to go right through to Opotiki along tho coastal route, construction work now being in progress. It is fortunate in possessing two veryfine beaches—one right by the town itself and the other, Waimii, some five miles out. No special provision is made north of Gisborne at tho various small towns, but this is hardly necessary, as there are plenty of sites adjacent to the roads. At Wairoa, halfway between Napier and Gisborne, there is a good camping ground by the river, and, if necessary, this can bo made use of for the night en route either to Gisborne or Lake Waikaremoanai The writer has a fairly good knowledge of most North Island towns and townships, and will be quite prepared to give readers further information about any places they want to visit, and what roads aro like in the vicinity.