28 Campers From S. Island In Northland

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1949, Page 5

28 Campers From S. Island In Northland

A large party from the Christchurch Tramping Club is making a three weeks’ tour of Northland. The party, numbering 28, arrived in Whangarei on Monday night and made the William Jones Motor Camp its base of operations for a short bus tour of the countryside and nearby beaches. The trampers left Christchurch on Christmas Eve and, after leaving Whangarei this afternoon, will spend a few days each at Paihia, Kaitaia, Opononi and Dargaville.

Their stay in Whangarei has been too short for them to undertake any extensive 'tramping and, in the words of the club captain (Mr B. T. Cocks) they are "taking it easy”. Yesterday they made a bus tour to the Whangarei Falls, on through Ngunguru to Matapouri, Hikurangi, Kamo and back to camp. They expect to do some “real tramping” in the Bay of Islands. Some of them made an excursion to the summit of Parahaki yesterday, and the secretary (Miss E. E. Witty) described the walk and thv. view as “thrilling”. "When we came to Whangarei we did not know what to expect,” said Mr Cocks. SCENERY IMPRESSIVE “We have been particularly struck by the modernity of the houses in the borough. “It has been hot, but I am used to that as a party of 12 of us toured Australia last year. “So far, the scenery has compared very favourably with what we have seen on the \yest Coast of the South Island." Fully equipped with eight tents, strafv palliasses and the genuine holiday spirit, the trampers have been busy with cameras, taking movies and stills of the surrounding scenery. They have been delighted wi’ i the motor camp and its facilities for cooking. Most of tne members are used to roughing it and cooking their meals on an open fire. Their work is equally divided, and many of them have acquired or been given titles, such as “club scavenger” and "club scrounger”. SHORTER STAYS Most visitors to the motor camp this st nmer are staying for shorter periods than last year. Not many book in for more than one or two nights. Last nigh! 51 sites were taken up, the most so far. However, the most crowded day last year was when 68 sites were occupied. This was mainly due to the fact that many visitors stayed for several days, and their numbers mounted. Better weather this Christmas has induced' many to head further north or to make for the beaches.