BEAUTIFUL NELSON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 June 1925, Page 6

BEAUTIFUL NELSON

THE AIOTUEKA RIVER ROUND It is a long way from Nelson to Aft. Arthur, and thus comparatively few people are aware of the grandeur of the scenery- through which the Alotueka River flows. The surface of the River Road is good, and with the exception of the Stanley Brook Saddle practically level to Kohatu. Leaving Alotueka by the Orphanage road the valley is entered soon after passing that institution. At first the valley is comparatively open, and its rich river flats arc devoted to the cultivation of strawberries and raspberries—a fact worth making a note of. The scenery increases in beauty as the valley is ascended, and towards Ngatimoti becomes magnificent. Overhead tower the snow-capped peaks of the Alt. Arthur range, and from their rocky summits dense forests sweep down, broken here .and there by stark precipices. In late autumn the beauty of the scenery is almost indescribable : when liquid purples and blues fill the gullies and beneath the tall bare poplars the ground appear? if overlaid with gold leaf: when the crimsons aiyl russets and yellows of fading beach and oak and lime seem to set the valley abiazo and the cold steelgray river comes rippling down between its willow-clad banks or foams against the rocks in its course. At Ngatimoti a road branches off to the left, and in half a milo forks, that to the left returning to Lower Aloufere. that to the right loading to Upper Aloutere and Thorpe. (The round trip can be considerably shortened by entering the Alotueka valley by either of those roads). Two suspension bridges span the river near Ngatimoti, leading to the trail by which AIL Arthur (6,900 ft.) is usually ascended. So on the road winds by river and mountain, past I’okororo, to where the Dove River flows in, and a read loads up its valley to Thorpe and Wakefield. Yet a little farther on, and a third bridge carries the Baton road to the western bank. The Baton river rises cn the southern slopes of Alt Arthur, and those in search of the picturesque or adventure may from here follow it up for a considerable distance. Three miles further on the river is left for a while, the road striking inland. and passing through Stanley Brook, where, at tho School, a road leads back to Thorpe, icaehos the foot uf the Saddle. Here motorists must resist the temptation to follow the line, of least resistance for the level road

the left leads nowhere. Formerly it was the high road between Stanley Brook and Wakefield, but now-a-days it is but seldom used, and is no longer traversable by car. Compared with Spooner's Range the Saddle is a molehill —a mile across. From the summit, however, a glorious view is obtained of the Mt. Arthur Range, whilst to the South, in sti iking contrast, the river flows peacefully through a wide valley before plunging into the gorge. The descent to the vailev requires careful driving, but once it is reached an excellent roa.d leads through Tapawera in nine miles to the hotel at Rohatu. The return journey over Spooner’s and by Belgrove to Nelson is too well-known to need description. Distances: Nelson to Motuekn. 34 miles: Motneka to'Kohatu. 31 miles: Kohatu *o Nekscn, 33 miles. Total round, 98 miles.