MOTOR OUTINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 December 1933, Page 3

MOTOR OUTINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS

OFFICIAL ROAD REFORT COMPILED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE N.A.A. Following the usual custom the Secret arv of the Nelson Automobile. Association (Mr E. R. Neale) supplies the following brief reports on the district roads and others likely to he frequcnted by motorists during the holidays. Care has been taken to get as accurate information as possible concerning those not recently personally inspected but in any direction whore weather conditions are likely to affect the position motorists should endeavour to secure first hand information as late as possibly before leaving. Local motorists who intend to travel in the holidays are advised to keep a copy of this report for their own use or for possible visitors.

Nelson to Blenheim via Havelock The road is in very good order. There is a fair amount of loose metal and care should be exercised on bends and corners. Extensive work has effected a great improvement on the Marlborough side of the Rai Hill where corners have been cut back and in some cases the road taken through the projections. To Picton The main highway from Blenheim to Picton. is in splendid condition but drivers wishing to reach the port without going through Blenheim have several alternatives. The Grove Track

This road goes direct from Havelock to Picton round the Sounds and is a very pretty and unusual run but should on no account be taken during or immediately after wet weather as it is uiimetalied, narrow and winding. It is quite all right in dry weather but must he driven very carefully. It is the shortest route to Picton, hut not the quickest. Extensive work has been carried out on the Mahakipawa Hill. After negotiating the Dill (near Havelock) there is an easy run through Mahakipawa to the Grove where the road round the Sound commences. The portion in the vicinity of the Ngakuta Homestead is often not in the best of condition and should be taken carefull v.

Round the River to Tua Marina Tile second alternative route to Picton is to turn oil' to the left shortly before reaching the Wairau bridge and follow the river round to Tua Marina coining out at the foot of Massacre Hill and so oil to Picton. The road is quite good and rather pretty, winding and a little narrow in places. The third (and probably the quickest route) is to turn to the left just before reaching the river bed road to Remvick and go through Rapaura and Spring Greek. A long straight run from the turn oil' for several miles to i Redwood’s at Spring Greek enables time to he made up (if required) and the driver will come out at Spring Creek station joining the main Blen-heim-l’ictou road there.

Round Trip Nelson to Nelson via Tollhouse, Wairau Valley, Blenheim (or Rcmvick) and Havelock. About 205 miles (about R)1 if Blenheim is omitted). Lake Rotoiti can he visited at a cost of about 10 miles extra. Lake Rotoiti (64 miles). The road from Korere to Tophouse has been very greatly improved. Turn off at R.O. Store, Korere, and cross Motupiko river. Ford near Accommodation House at Tophouse may be troublesome in wet weather. Lake Rotoroa (69 miles). Turn off at Cowan Bridge Railway Station: Road up valley in fair order, Good accommodation house. West Coast. The Bailor Gorge road is now not only restored hut in many places better than before as widening has been carried out when the road was being repaired. Westport by this route 147 miles. Motorists during the Coast trip are strongly advised to traverse the new coast road between Westport and Greymouth (about 113 miles). It enables one to see the Lower Bailor Gorge to Westport and then travel to Greymouth down the coast without having to return to Inangahua Junction, and is infinitely prettier and more interesting than the comparatively drab journey through Inangahua and Greymouth by the old route. If desired of course one route can be taken one way and a return made by the other. It is not necessary to actually go into Westport oil this run as the road branches four miles inland' from the town. (Signposts indicate.) The Eox River is now bridged.

Via Maruia. If tlie quickest route is not a necessity a very interesting alternative to the Duller is througli the Maruia ley. Keep straight on when leaving Murchison and travel up tlio Matakitaki Valley instead of crossing the river to the right. The road was properly opened and much improved when the Hu Her Gorge was blocked and there is much line hush on the way. Road has gone hack somewhat since the 1 .idler wiis re-opened, but it is still in •in ito lair order. Accommodation is available at Lester’s about ;i(i miles from Murchison, and the road comes out at Keclton by this route about do miles.

Maruia Hot Springs. The above is now the quickest route to the Springs from Nelson. Springs Junction is about Id miles past Lester's on the above route and the Springs about h miles from the Junction. The road is now in quite good order for motor trallic. From Nelson, about 1 10 miles. .Portion of new hostel should he ready for Christmas holidays.

Nelson-Motueka Main road in splendid order. Via lluhy Hay and 'Tasman: In the host condition it has ever been. Surface generally good and somo of the cor-

ners improved. The Association lias now after considerable trouble and expense established a much needed water supply on its freehold property at Ruby Bay and a pump has been installed at each end of the property.' This removes the only serious drawback to the properly and it is hoped that care will betaken of tlie pumps and that tires will he lit only in the properly constructed fire-places provided. Ferns must not he taken from Mr McKee's bush adjoining.

Moutere Hills District. There are many roads in and about the Hills District opened up in recent years which are more or less unknown to the average driver. The Association has signposted most of these and the motorist will iiiul many interesting alternative runs available without the fear of losing his way. Motueka Valley Area. The same remark may be applied to this locality where most of the roads are, now signposted and different routes can he taken with safety. Just below the 'Woodstock School is an area on tli 0 river hank which the Association has received permission from the County Council to clear and fence as a picnic site. The upper portion of the Motueka Valley is well worth a trip and one can come out over Stanley Brook to Tapawera and return by way of Spooner’s Range (now enormously improved) and tile Waimea Plains.

Takaka Always a popular run, the road to Takaka is in quite good order. The Hill of course requires to he taken carefully, but there is no need for it to deter any average driver from taking th 0 trip. Its length is its chief drawback , but some wonderful views are obtainable. On proceeding down the Takaka Valley the road forks, the West and East roads. Either will lead into Takaka from Uruwhenua (10 miles). The West road is almost level and easier driving, the East road a little hilly and higher. They can he alternated going in and returning. In very wet weather a. portion of the .West road is sometimes flooded. From Takaka the roads are good down to Poliara. Beach and the Cement Works (<i miles), and the Pupu Springs (3 miles) can he readied comfortably, although the last small portion of the hitter road is not of the best. All these side trips cun be compassed in an hour or two. The new road beyond the Cempnt Works is now open to motor traffic right over to Cigar and Wainui Lays, and makes an interesting addition to the Takaka side trips. The Takaka Caves are not open at present.

Collingwood. flip road lrom Takaka- to Collingwood (19 miles) is in good order and a. favourite run now being much availed of is to go on beyond Collingwood to Puponga (15 miles) and towards Farewell Spit. There are good camping and picnic spots in many localities along this area. Rockville 6 miles, Bainhnm 12 miles up the Aorerc Valley, Westhaven (12 miles), branch off at Pakawau. There is an excellent beach at Pakawau.

Oyer Dovedale to Motueka Valle}’. Iho road on this favourite run is in excellent order and the trees in the Dove Valley are always beautiful whatever the season of the year. There are many tobacco fields ‘in this locality nowadays. Go straight through Wakefield and Pigeon Valiev instead of continuing on the West Coast road.

Kaiteriteri and Sandy Bay. The new road from Riwaka lias been constructed for a considerable distance, and is in good order in fine weather.

New Croiselles Road. The road branches off at R.ai Valley (l’lat Creek) on this side of the township. In proceeding up the Valley he careful to keep to the left road about halt' a mile up. The road continues on through some very fine bush scenery lor several miles and then runs along the ridge lrom which splendid views are obtainable. The distance from Flat Creek is about 12 miles. Grades easy. Roads fairly good.

To Wakefield, Up WaiJti Valley, down 88 Valley. A comparatively short but interesting run. About 60 miles. Cross the Wai-iti river at Belgrove (now bridged) continuing up the Wai-iti Valley turning to the left over the hill into 88 Valley near Kainui homestead; run down the latter valley into Wakefield again. The large nine plantations in this area now make an interesting sight. 88 Valley can of course be reached by turning up Quail Valiev before reaching Belgrove, lmt this cuts out an interesting portion of Wai-iti Valiev. '

Aniseed Valley. I.iio Association has purchased for the use of its members a, pretty area of land in this popular valley near the firstgate, about a mile or so from the foot of the hill. The area has been denned up and improvements made. The Hill on the Nelson side should be taken carefully and descended in second gear.

Wairoa Gorge. A short round trip can be made through the Gorge, turning off at Brightwatcr and coming out at Wakefield or vice versa. The’ road is rather narrow in places at the Brightwatcr end and some creek crossings towards the Wakefield end are sometimes very soft. If the trip is taken from Wakefield the driver will be oil the inside vanning through the Gorge. (The Lee Valley off the Brightwater end of the Gorge is quite a good picnic spot,)

Christchurch. The road to Christchurch through Blenheim and Kaikoura is in splendid order. The liuudalee has boon very greatly improved in recent- years, and the surface has now settled down again. Tiiere is nothing on the whole journey to cause any trouble. The Dashwood Bass road which reduces the distance between Blenheim and Seddon by about 4 miles and avoids the Redwood Pass is now open. The metalling is still fairly heavy but it is an easily graded wide road and practically all traffic is now taking this louto. To those crossing from Coast to Coast and coming home by the other route, it may be n ci.tioned that it. is advisable to hook as far ahead as possible for a truck on the railway (if one is going through the tunnel) and it is well to "ire the Railway at- Christchurch or iireymoulh as the case may be as soon as one :s on lain of the day the truck is required. Many motorists of course •still go over the 'Otira. Gorge and are well repaid in (he matter of scenery. '1 he hill is best tackled from the Canterbury side and enquiries should be made from the Canterbury Association or its Greymouth branch iis to the latest road reports.