WITH TENT AND MOTOR

Evening Star, Issue 20672, 20 December 1930, Page 5

WITH TENT AND MOTOR

A BRIEF CHRISTMAS RUN TOURIHG IN TARANAKI DAWSON'S FALLS AND MOUNT EGMONT [By Trip.] [All Eights Reserved.] These articles, written primarily for motor campers, will give all motorists useful information about roads, etc. In order that they may be of the fullest service, queries will be answered and . assistance given in the planning of itineraries. Those desiring information for Christmas vacations should forward queries at once. They should be accompanied by a sta'mped, addressed envelope, and addressed to “ Trip,” P.O. Box 1,178, Wellington. This is the final article before Christmas, and deals with a brief holiday that takes in many beauty spots. Those who have longer holidays can extend their stay at various places on the l,ines suggested. It is not in any sense one of those holidays where long distances have to be made each day, but rather a quiet and peaceful one where most of the time is spent at beaches or in the bush, and where the runs between the various places are short and easily made over good roads. While Taranaki is noted principally for Mount Egmont, and the many beautiful bush drives in its vicinity, it also contains some wonderful beaches—iu fact I regard the New Plymouth beaches, and the accommodation provided there for campers as being equal to the host in New Zealand. WONDERFUL ROADS Places to camp.—Wanganui: Choice of three grounds; best is at Aramoho Park, tents can ho hired there. Waverly: In township and also at beach about five miles out. Hawera: Good ground; also ground at beach near town. Dawson’s Falls: By the mountain house; huts can bo hired if wanted. Opunako: In township or at beach. Eltham, Stratford, and Inglewood : Camping grounds handy to town. New Plymouth: Two grounds; ono at beach; very well equipped. Mount Egmont (north side): Camp near the mountain house. What to see.—Wanganui: Run up the river, if time permits; art gallery and museum. Castlechff: Beach; Cook’s Gardens. Dawson’s Falls: Good walks through the bush and up the mountain. Opunako: Great beach resort. , North Egmont. New Plymouth : Pukekura Park and beach. At a time when motorists in most districts were struggling over clay or badly metalled roads, the, fortunate Taranaki motorist was running smoothly over the bitumen. Taranaki is noted for its excellent roads, and justly so, but when you get well away from tho main roads you come across others equally as bad as those in‘other districts. However, the roads over which the great majority of motorcampers pass are a sheer delight, making the journey doubly pleasant. Once you get near Hawera, Egmont commences to dominate tho scene, and in, good weather there is an everchanging view of the snow-capped mountain, from there onwards to Now Plymouth. . SPLENDID BEACHES Mount Egmont and Dawson’s Falls are, of course, the two things which draw most people to Taranaki, hut for those who want tho freedom of beach life, there is no better district in New Zealand, especially if you move along the coast between Wanganui and New Plymouth. The road 1 from Wanganui to Hawera is never very far from the coast, and from all the small townships through which you pass, roads lead off to different beaches. At some of these there are proper camping grounds, while at others you have to take pot luck. However, they have the very great advantage of not being crowded, and as you are never more than a few miles away from a township, supplies offer no trouble. Another tine little beach along this coast is at Opunako where there is good camping accomodation. Best of

all though, is the beach at New Plymouth for tho climate there lends itself to the outdoors life at this time of the year, tho facilities are excellent, and the beach itself clean and safe.

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN For many Taranaki people Mount Egmont is the week-end run which they take year after year both in summer and winter, and no matter hojv often they go, they always seem to find fresh things to interest them. In winter of course the ' snow level is always changing, offering great opportunities for mountain climbers—not, however, without some though there are safe' walks all over the mountain side, and even those who are no longer young, can find many easy stretches. Personally I like the Dawson’s Falls side of the mountain best for, it has all the beauties of_ bush and mountain tracks, and in addition the falls themselves. A walk which adds interest to a visit to Mount Egmont and which offers no serious difficulties is that from the Dawson’s Falls house, to the North Egmont House. The track is clearly defined, and the distance only about six miles, so that it is. an ' easy day’s journey, there and back. Naturally, you get great panoramas here, for the track circles the mountain at a height of about 3,000 feet. Those who intend camping round the mountain should bo well prepared iiy the matter . of blankets, for the nights are clear and very cold, even in mid-summer. GOING FURTHER • With a little more time to spare it is possible to work in a visit to Tongariro from Taranaki, or else to go up to the Waitomo caves and then across to the Chateau. The quickest route through to Tongariro from this vicinity is the road out from Stratford through Whanganamomona to Taumarunui, but although this has been improved during the last few years it is still by no means a good road, and should bo avoided during bad weather. It has magnificent scenery in places. From Taumarunui the run down to Waimarino and thence to the Chateau, is short If the run to "VVaitonio Caves is being made, the safest and best route is on the main road to To Kuiti, and thence down to Taumarunui This latter road lias been greatly improved the last couple of seasons, and is now in pretty good order. For a, brief holiday, Taranaki offers many attractions, for a more lengthy visit it cannot be surpassed.