PLEASANT MOTOR TOURS

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 29, 11 December 1930, Page 7

PLEASANT MOTOR TOURS

Akatarawa—Waikanae Gorge.

The distances" to Waikanae via Paekakariki and via Akatarawa are very nearly tie same, but the amount of hill climbing to be done on the Akatarawa Toad is twice as much as on the other. The Akatarawa summit is, approximately, 1800 feet above sea-level, vriereaa Paekakariki Hill is less than half that height. The scenery along the gorge is magnificent; beauty breaks in everywhere. There are many f ernde&ked valleys. These, together with the grandeur of the green hills, tall trees, and rippling streams, await to f interest and enchant the sight-seer. One] great charm of the Akatarawa Gorge is that its beauties do not reveal themselves all at once. Here and there^ as the motor proceeds along, are haunting vistas of shining water and shaded wood that are like so many glimpses of . Paradise. Words cannot do justice to j the magic and the wilfulness and the; charm and the splendous of this road. Waikanae has many natural attractive features —sunny sloping uplands) and bush scenery. At Reikiorangi (which signifies 'The Gate of Heaven* located a few miles up the Waikanae River, there is charming rustic scenery* Wainni>o-<mata and Oronatarongo. 'Pleasant run, with one hill (643ft),| otherwise practically level, surface gen-( j»rally good. Leave, by Hutt Boad, go through Pe'tone, over Pipe Bridge, then turn to loft up Racecourse 1 road,' tp right along White's Line, then first turn to right'to foot of hill, when a steady climb follows't6v643ft. summit, and a descent of 300 ft., thence pTacticaily level. The .road branching to the left, off- the reservoir road about three-quar-1 tors of a mile from main Wainui road

goes about three miles up Moore's Valley. Continuing on down main Wainui-o-mata.road from the junction with Teserviee road, the beach is reached after an almost level run-down the valley through pleasant scenery. The beach is shingle and fairly steep, but there is good bathing in the lagoon in which the river ends (usually soaking through the shingle into the sea). A fine view of the entrance to "Wellington "harbour can be obtained by walking along the beach to the westward and climbing. Baring Head (about 200 ft). The road continues along the beach about threequarters of a mile, and ends at an Orongorongo homested (Mr. E. Riddi- . ord). The point beyond the homestead is Cape Turikirae^ Taita Bound Trip. A pleasant afternoon Tun on level roads. Excellent route for begirfners in motoring. Leave by Hutt Road to Petone, thence along beach to Cuba Street, up Cuba Street, to Jackson St., then along to right across Hutt Elver pipe bridge) then turn to left up Racecourse road, to Tight along White's Line and then first turn to left up Waiwetu Sack Road, which follow up to Wai Nai 'Xiane,' bearing to right and continue on past Taita Cemetery to junction with main Wairarapa Eoad at Taita. Hutt Valley Kcniclring Spots. Besides the • usual* favoured spots along the Belmont-Haywards Road from Lower Hutt, Silverstreaan, Moonshine Bridge, and Maori Bank, the river may bo reached' at'pleasant and less frequented points higher tap. On the main Wairarapa Eoad about 4 miles beyond Upper Hutt there is apieturesquo reach of t»he river, with a good bathing pooX At the foot of the Mangaroa Hill the •abandoned Maymorn Mill tramway track crosses the road, and. runs to the Hutt River (three-quarters of a mile to the left), which it crosses on a large

•bridge, and then winds for some miles into the 'bush, where it may be followed by those who do not mind a rough scraimble. To the I'ight of the road the main track Tuns about 3 miles up to the mill site by1 the railway near Mangaroa Station. s

Other picnicking spots can foe found along the Akatarawa Road, which turns off the main road aboivt 2J miles beyond Upper Hutt. About a mile along the road the Hutt River is" crossed by a 'concrete bridge, and this spot is a favoured rendezvous for motorists. Two miles further on the Little Akatarawa branches off to the left "i;o Messrs Campbell's sawmill (one mile), and along it good picnicking spots abound, but cars cannot readily be turned without running into the, mill yard at the end of the road. From the mill a beautiful walk through the bush can be had by following tip the old sawmill tram-track beside the river. The track goes aibout 4 miles to Mr. Price 's farm, while the branch track crossing stream at about.2* miles winds through the bush up the hill to another farm afoout two miles distant.