HOLIDAY MOTORING

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 7 December 1931, Page 8

HOLIDAY MOTORING

AUTOMOBILE ROAD REPORTS

INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS

CONDITIONS IN NORTH ISLAND. From inquiries now being received it appears that there will be a large number of private cars touring the North Island during the coming holidays, the central portion of the Island, comprising the National Park, Taupe, Wairakei and Rotorua attracting a very large number, states the service officer of the South Taranaki Automobile Association (Mr. ,1. McKee) in a review of the road conditions of the North Island.

The roads in these districts are mostly in good order, but there are portions which should be watched in the event of exceptionally heavy rain. Between the Chateau and Tokaanu, where heavy lorries operate, the road is liable to become deeply- rutted in wet weather- and, although 'this dries up very quickly, it may possibly cause inconvenience for veryi short periods during heavy rain. The dh'ect road on the eastern side of the National Park between Tokaanu and V a fount is also a clay road, and although this affords reasonable travelling in fine weather it should be avoided immediately after heavy rain. the pumice roads between Tokaanu and Rotorua will carry traffic satisfactorily under all conditions. in fact a little rain usually tends to improve the pumice sections. On the road between Taupo and Putaruru, on the direct route between Taupo and Auckland, a portion of the pumice toad in the vicinity of Tokoroa sometimes becomes greasy after rain, but a driver used to these conditions seldom .finds any trouble. The central route between Te Kuiti the National Park and either Wanganui or Palmerston North now provides very fair travelling and can be relied upon in any weather.

The Tangarakau (Gorge route between Stratford and Ohura is. however, a fine weather route. Chains would he necessary after rain. To reach Ohura from the north it is better to travel down the main central highway from Te Kuiti towards Ongarue and then branch off through Matiere to reach Ohura.

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE

REPAIRED

Damage caused to the roads in the earthquake area has now almost entirely disappeared and good travelling is experienced between Napier and Gisborne, and also between Napier and Taupo. At Wairoa, where the bridge was destroyed by earthquake, a pontoon ferry runs continuously from daybreak until 11 p.m. There is very heavy traffic on the ferry, and in order to avoid delay a detour has been signIKisted along the railway line for the use of traffic travelling direct between Napier and Gisborne and not wishing to call at Wairoa.

The roads in the Gisborne district present very comfortable travelling at the present time and the East Coast road from Gisborne through Tolaga Bay to To Araroa and Hick’s Bay can now be negotiate 1 throughout- the year. Between Gisborne and Opotiki the Motu Hills provide beautiful scenery-, but owing to the narrow winding read there are numbers of motorists who refrain from undertaking the journey-. The alternative route via the Wak-- 1 Valley, which obviates the use of the Motu Hills, will be available for the coining holidays. The road is still under construction but the surface is very reasonable and to the higherpowered cars provides an easy topgear run.

Throughout the Bay of Plenty, reading conditions have improved very considerably during the last year. At the moment, between Te Puke and Tnuranga, a section of the main highway is closed and a small detour is made, but it is expected that this will be finished before Christmas. There is no likelihood -of motorists experiencing trouble on the roads in the Bay- of Plenty or between the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.

Throughout the Waikato, Mntamata, Te Aroha and Thames districts good road surfaces provide pleasant- touring.

On the Coromandel Peninsula which abounds in pleasant camping sites, improvements have been carried out during the past- twelve months Care, however, should be exercised in using the road between Tnpu and Mercury Bay via Coroglen, where clay surfaces become difficult in wet weather. The alternative route between Coromandel and Mercury Bay is metalled.

The Bombay- Hills deviation between Auckland and Hamilton will be available for summer traffic. Metalling operations are starting immediately and it is hoped that the surfacing will be completed before the winter.

On the West Coast there is now good travelling from Te Awaimitn to To Tvuiti and thence through Awakino and New Plymouth, careful maintenance having effected a great improvement. As is usual, roading conditions in the districts south of a line from New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Napier to Wellington do not provide any difficulty and are not dependent on weather. In most cases good surfaces provide easy travelling and the motor tourist can undertake any of these journeys with confidence. I.AKFJ \VATKAREGVIiOiANA-TtOTORUA The route between Rotorua and Wairoa via the Urewora Country and Lake Waikarempana lias been described as one of the finest scenic motor drives in the world. During the last winter slips and fallen trees blocked the road, but. under ihe energetic influence o ltlie Public Works Department the road lias been cleared and conditions have l>cen considerably improved. To an experienced driver the trip can he undertaken without hesitation, but to a motorist unaccustomed to narrow winding roads and steep hrll country a trip through this district might prove somewhat of an ordeal. In the summer time, when tourist traffic may he expected on the road, it is quite safe, to predict that an average of 10 m.p.li. would he the maximum speed for over 50 miles of the bush section of the road.

An inspection carried out Ivy the touring manager of the A.A.A. last week shows that many portions that gave trouble last summer have been metalled, other portions have been widened and that general improvements tend towards greater safety. Round the shores of Lake Waikare-

monna there are snout seven miles of' unmetalled road and this might easily? present difficulty in very wet weather. I For those who are not prepared to undertake the whole journey through the TJrewera, a trip from Hawke’s Bay through Wairoa to the lake house at Wailcaremoana is a delightful one. If the weather is still fine a run can then he taken round the shores of the lake and the day - spent amidst native- bush. Another trip which is little known is the walking track leading through 2J miles of virgin bush to Lake Waikare-iti which is situated at an altitude of 2940 feet or approximately 1000 feet above Lake Wa ik a remoan a. The track turns off the main road a couple of miles from the lake house. Lake Waikare-iti is studded with seven islands on the top of one of which is another lake. It has been likened to a glistening pearl set in an emerald casket. The lake itself is surrounded by mountainous country, the sides-of which and also the islands are clothed with tall native bush from the skyline right down to the water’s edge. Boats are available at the lake and these can be hired from the Wa.ikaremonna Government Hostel NORTH AUCKLAND. North Auckland promises to be very popular with motor tourists during the coming summer. The very great improvement in roading conditions and the provision of a metalled surface between Auckland and the Far North will encourage hundreds of car owners to investigate the attractions of this semi-tropical region where previously a clay gap has proved a serious deterent. The majority of motorists will cross the harbour at Auckland and will proceed through Warkworth and Wellsford to Maungaturoto. The Dome Valley between Warkworth and Wellsford contains an unmetalled section which will be available for traffic during fine weather. In the event of rain, a detour via Kaipara Flats and Port Albert will he necessary, this adding 19 miles to the journey. Barriers and notices will be placed at either end of the Dome Valley if the road is closed. At Maungaturoto, the Dargaville and Whangarei routs separate, the Whangarei traffic passing through Waipu, and Dargaville cars going through Paparpa and Ruawai. The old East Coast route through Mangawai is in reasonable order, hut the clay section will of course. _ give trouble in wet weather. This will he the shortest way to reach Waipu Cove nu ( l the camping •ground at Mangawai Heads.

. Owing to the uncertainty with resard to the fen-y at Russell and the fact that there will lie little improvement in the barging _ facilities, the majority of traffic visiting the Bay of Islands' will now travel' back over the same route and will then continue north through Ivawa Kawa and Ohaeawai. There is still a clay gap on the latter highway, but this can be avoided by a metal detour through the Jordan Valley.

The route to reach ' Paihia in the Bay of Islands is a little indifferent and is subject to weather conditions. Continuing north from Ohaeawai reasonable travelling can be expected both through Whangaroa and Mangonui and also through the Mangamuka Gorge.

Cooper’s Beach, near Mangonui, which in the past has been a favourite motor camping site, will not he available this year, but a larger area has been set aside at Taipa, a. little further north, -.where motorists will find ideal conditions for pitching a tent. To reach the Ninety Mile Beach hrom Kaitaia there is a metalled road via Ahipara, hut probablv the shortest route will he via Waipapakauri where reconstruction of the access road has been carried out.

NINETY MILE! BEACH. Motorists proceeding up the Ninety Mile Beach will notice the garage which has been constructed to house “Wizard” Smith’s car nestling amongst the sand hills at Hukatere. 12 miles north of the Waipapakauri road. This marks the southern end of the speed track, and the beach which will bo used for the forthcoming attempt on the world’s land speed record is between the garage and the bluff, a. further 18 miles north. Unfortunately, at the moment, the* Te j Iraki Creek is blocked by a sand drift and motorists will not have access to j Pandora and Spirits’ Bay from the | beach unless conditions alter. The ; latest advice will be available in Auckland for members of Automobile Associations travelling north. The inland road north from Waipapakauri through Houliora to Te Paki, although a little rough and uncomfortable, is passable in all weathers as far as Te Kao. Beyond there are clay surfaces which will prove troublesome in wet weather. A new road which has just been completed this vear will give access to Kapowairua, a pretty valley on the extreme eastern „end of Spirit’s Bay. It is about an hour’s walk along the beach from Pandora. The motor roa<] to Pandora, however, leads down from Te Paki. In the past |vthis has rather alarmed a number of | motorists inexperienced in back coun- | try conditions, but a certain amount of 'improvement in widening; and cuttig back the corners will permit much easier access this summer. The general conditions at Pandora are very pleasant and a permanent caretaker will be in attendance during the summer. On the West Coast, the route between Herekino and Broadwood is i not recommended for through traffic, and motorists travelling south should take the Ivaitaia-Mangamuka road and then branch off via Tutekehua to reach Koliukohu. Cars which are shipped across the Hokianga Harbour to Rawene should be embarked from the •“Narrows” landing miles down the harbour from Koliukohu. A motor camp is available at Rawene and another very attractive ground is also available at Oponom. The Winona* Forest road, which runs through the heart of the dense kauri bush, is now receiving attention by maintenance men and affords reasonable travelling. The Tounson Kauri Park is one of the attractions of this region and careful attention to the mai> is necessary to find the best

routes to reach the park. Unless there is a long spell of line weather, piobably the most comfortable travelling would be to follow the metalled road I from Katui School to Aranga and thence cut over the hills to the park. At the present time the road between Donnelly’s crossing and the pork is m very rough order. Between Kailin and Dargaville there are alternative routes and In fine weather, the shorter road alongside the railway line can be used, hut in wet weather the metalled surface through the Awakmo A allev is preferable. North Auckland is famed for the manv seaside beaches a_t which the motor tourist may pitch camp and spend a few days: Although these are not .official, motor camps, in the majority of cases the owners ol the land adjoining raise no objection providing permission is asked and all ie 9® cleaned away before vacating the site. \ A A. patrols will he stationed at Warkworth and Whangarei during the holiday period and the fullest information will be available to members of Automobile Associations touring this district.

SOUTH ISLAND ROADS

RECOMMENDED ROUTES

REVIEW OF CONDITIONS

North Island motorists will find much in the South Island to repay them for crossing Cook Strait Adyioe as to which part of the Island should be visited depends Tnueh on the tune winch, is available and where the, vacation is only 14 days some ofwhich must be spent in getting to Wellington, the trip from Nelson, through the Buller Gorge and down the West Coast to the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers returning to Christchurch and then travelling along the East Coast to Kaikoura and Blenheim and Picton, is one that can be recomm‘fh<Tlakes of the South Island have a charm entirely their own and to those who have already visited the West Coast an inspection of the Jakes district can be recommended. On Hns tour, however, it is essential that time should be allowed to undertake the various boat trips, as the real Jake scenery cannot be seen from the road. Roading conditions throughout the South, Island are very favourable the Buller Gorge is in good order and the new coastal route between Westport and Greymouth. is worth inspection and preferable both from a scenic and tourincr point of view to the inland road via Reef ton, all rivers being, bridged and no trouble being experi-j eneed. i DELIGHTFUL SCENERY i

The scenery on the road from th Hokitika to the Glaciers is delightlui, the snow-capped peaks surmounting! the bush clad mountains adding a-pic-1 turesque touch. From the Iranz Josef (Waiho) a North Island motorist need have no fear in travelling over the road to the Fox Glacier in normal weather. On account of past conditions, this route still retains a reputation, but improvements in late years transformed the surface. If it is desired to visit Picton on. the southern journey, the Tophouse Road between Blenheim and Westport can be undertaken in most weathers. This passes ivithin a quarter of a mile of Lake Rotoiti and crosses the upper waters of the Buller River. The East Coast route between Christchurch and Blenheim is noted for its coastal soeneiy, a good surface ■nil easy grades adding pleasure to the trip. In crossing from the East to the West Coast it is still desirable to rail the car from Springfield to Otira although at certain times it is possible to drive right through. Advice should be oba-ined immediately before taking the trip. The road from Arthur’s Pass railway station over the Pass to Otira is well worth while to an experienced motorist, the grades not being any worse than on the Razorback” between Hamilton and Auckland. South af Christchurch, right through to Dunedin and Invercargill, good wide roads and smooth surfaces permit long distances to bo travelled without fatigue. The road to the Hermitage skirt si Lakes Takapo and Pukaki, but if time is limited. North Islanders can obtain alpine attractions at the Chateau at another time. If however, the Hermitage is visited, the shortest route south is via Omarama, but this route is unmetalled and liable to become greasy after heavy rain. Pembroke on Lake Wanaka should be visited and between Pembroke .and Queenstown there are alternative routes. The direct road over, the Crown Range crosses the river a number of timesi and rises to an altitude of 4000 ft. This is also unmetalled, but it« surface usually presents reasonable travelling. The other road via Cromwell is entirely metalled and passes over undulating country. In the North ■lsland, one gains Hie impression that Southland is a rugged mountainous district, but- this is quite incorrect. On the main road®, there are no severe Grades, and the ear rolls over an undulating road amidst rich agricultural and pastoral lands with ever changing scenes which make for ideal motoring conditions.

Stewart Island lias an attraction «ntire.lv its own. but- is visited by very few North Islanders on account of the extra time it* takes. It is well worth inspecting.