WITH TENT AND MOTOR

Evening Star, Issue 20434, 15 March 1930, Page 5

WITH TENT AND MOTOR

[By Trip.]

A CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY

OPEN-AIR SPORTING HOLIDAY

[All Rights Reserved.] Theea article*, which will be continued throughout the summer months, will deal with all aspects of camping and motoring. As a special •eryice to readers queries on any matters relating to motor camping will be answered. Such queries should be addressed to " Trip,” care of P.O. Box 1,178, Wellington, and a stamped addressed envelope enclosed • tor reply. Every possible assistance will bo given, and queries will be answered in rotation. Both islands are now so well served with metalled roads that it is becoming increasingly difficult to get so far into the backblocks by car that you can feel that you are isolated and alone. Tourist resorts and popular beaches are regularly crammed with motor campers, and _ the practice of week-end motor camping is rapidly extending, if bush and beach resorts handy to our towns are any indication/ Every fine week-end this summer has soon numerous motor campers spread out round a fifty-mile radius from Wellington, and the same is true of other , cities and towns. I find that while most people are content to journey, by the main roads to resorts of special interest, served by wellequipped motor camps, there are others who want the freedom of the open spaces, who want to venture afield with rod and gun, camp by wellstocked rivers, and altogether have a holiday in places far removed from their fellows. This article is written in an attempt to satisfy their desire, SUITED FOR ROUND TRIP. The journey of which I am writing, which embraces the central portion of the North Island, is suited to a round trip from either north or south. The suggested run, is from Napier to Tnihape, and thence on tf Raetihi, then making, the journey to Pipiriki. The return would be made on the llactihiWanganui road, or if the motorist wished to make north, through Taumarunui and Te Kuiti. The early story of this road makes interesting reading, for in the days before the Main Trunk Railway it gave access to many of the stations in the Upper llangitikei, and was regularly traversed by coaches, and during the busy season by many wool wagons. For a good many years ■ the road was neglected, and it got into a sad state of disrepair. During the last few years, however, its use as a motor road has been recognised, and several rivers have been bridged, while the surface in places has been improved. It is not an all-weather road, nor is it likely to ho made into one, as it taps no towns en route, and will never be an important highway. It is not a scenic road in the generally accepted sense of the word, but it provides fine, bold panoramas, gives broad glimpses of Hawke’s Bay from sonic of the higher points, and in the more mountainous region has . a type of rugged beauty that is unsurpassed in New Zealand FAIR ROAD—FISHINGSHOOTING. It is a little difficult to give an outline of this road which will convey to every motorist its exact state and the difficulties likely to bo encountered. It is very steep in places, more so than the Napier-Taupo road—in fact, of main and secondary roads is practically the steepest in New Zealand, comparing with that of tho Arthur’s Pass road, except that the surface is in better order. Tho highest point is over 3,000 ft above sea level, and is within a few feet of Arthur’s Pass road, which also goes over the 3,000 ft mark. Much of the country through which you pass is light sheep-farming land, while further on you get into that arid belt which is found in the heart of the island. In between you pass over wonderfully craggy mountain country where you can get splendid shooting, and cross streams where trout may be had easily, as they are so seldom fished. Tho car, of course, needs to bo in good order for tlio journey, and you must carry plenty of benzine anil oil, as there are no garages en route. I mention the latter point because wo are so used to service stations at every small town on our way, that we treat tho benzine supply question rather lightly. Tho run from Napier to Taihapo is just over 100 miles, so you can work out your consumption from that, allowing generous measure for tho steep hills. There are portions of unmetalled surface en route, but as there is little traffic over the road, these need cause you little concern except in very bad weather, provided, of course, that you have _ chains. Deer shooting is to bo had in the mountains, and it is only those who are keen on shooting and fishing who will enjoy this holiday. There is a camping ground at Taihapo. RAETIHI AND PIPIRIKI. It is a comparatively short run from Taihape to Raetihi through Waiouru, and on this section you get some very fine views of the mountains. At Raetihi again there is a good motor camp, and in tho district there are some very good streams for fishing. Tho distance from Raetihi to Pipiriki is about eighteen miles, and the road is a fairly good one, having been the original route in to Raetihi, when tho Wanganui River was used for the carriage of goods, etc. Tho last few miles provide magnificent scenery, and the views of Pipiriki itself and of the houseboat have been so widely published that there is little need for me to describe tho delights awaiting’ the motor camper in that area. It goes without saying, too, that a journey up or down the river should be part of the holiday at this point. The run from Raetihi to Wanganui has been described in a previous article. The road is now metalled, is moderately steep in places, and has some rather nasty corners at narrow portions. Tho scenery is fair throughout, and there are some exceptionally pretty glimpses here and there. Some of the streams passed en route are well worth fishing, and no difficulty will be experienced in selecting camping sites, should you wish to linger by the waysido. Once at Wanganui tho main roads go north and south, and make a round trip of it by returning up or down the East Coast.