THE NATIONAL PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE NATIONAL PARK.

MOTOR TOURISTS ATTRACTED. ROUTE THROUGH KING COUNTRY. Scores of motorists are going off the beaten track this summer and are including a visit (o the National Park in their tours. In view of tho road conditions in tho King Country, tho'National Park has been barred from the itinerary of the average motorist in previous years. IWaimarino, tho nearest township to the park, is just over 200 miles from Auckland, and even a mediocre driver should mako tho trip in two days. Tho clay loads aro reported to be very favourable for a visit, just now. There is a paucity of iniorms.tion concerning tho approaches in the immediate vicinity of the park, but tho road advised lies through To Kuiti, Ongaruo, and Taumarunui. Visitors to Taupo can, howover, skirt around tho iruahoo and Tongariro mountains through Tokaanu to Waimarino. Leaving Hamilton the road is clear through Oibaupo, To Awamutu, and Kihitihi. Otorohanga is reached at 29 miles from Hamilton, and tho road then leads (through Hangatiki to To Kuiti, a dis(tanco of 41 miles from Hamilton.

.At To Kuiti a motor camping ground Aas been opened. From hero the road follows tlui railway to Taumarunui. It is metalled to where it passes through •Puketutu about six miles out of Te Kuiti. It then leads on to Kopaki. From here through Aratora and Mapiu to Tangitu, it is sandy. It is rough for about one miin on the Mapiu Flat, and half a mile en the Tangitu Hill.

Good Summer Roads. From Tangitu to Ongarua there is about jfive miles of .fairly rough metal surface. The rest is all clay, and it provides a comfortable surface in fine weather. Chains are necessary if rain is experienced. The route crosses the river at Onganie land leads on to Okahukura, a distance of iuine milos. This section of tho road is inetalled through pumice country, and is passable in ail weather without chains.

At Okahukura tho road again crosses Ithe Ongarue River over a railway bridge. !From here to Taumarunui the road is jnetalled for ef.ght miles, and i 3 always 'negotiable. A metal road now leads out tof Taumarunui alongside the railway line and through Mananui to Piriaka. Hera it leaves the railway but rejoins it late knd crosses the lines again before entering Owhango. From here the direction across the Spiral is clean through Raurimu to Waimarino. Tho 30 miles of road from Taumarunui to Waimarino is metal and pumice, and is in fair order with short, rough sections. Tho Spiral is now being metalled, and it will be one of tho best surfaces in the (district. From Waimarino the motorist lean take his car through the National Park as iar as the Haunted Whare. The toad is being continued from hero to (Whakapapa, but it is not feady for fcnotors yet.

eoute to national park.

To visit tho National Park from the Rotorua ♦'Vtrict the motorist has the choice of jwo routes from Taupo. The shortest route is via Tokaanu. From Taupo to Tokaanu the distance is 36 miles. Three miles aro metalled, and the balance is through pumice country. This road is only impassable whon heavy rains make the fords dangerous at the Waiotaka and Waimarino streams. From Tokaanu it is 43 miles to Waimarino. About 12 miles is metalled, and the rest is through good pumico country, usually safe without chains.

Tho other route from Taupo leads first to Waiouru and then circuits around the mountains through Ohakuno and Raetihi. From Taupo to Waiouru is 77 miles. The road is clay, pumice, and sand. Waiouru to Ohakuno is 20 miles of fair road with a patch of coarse gravel. Ohakuno to Raetihi is seven miles of good metal, and Raetihi to Waimarino is 20 miles of average road. At present there is a rough section about seven miles from Raetihi leading on through Koropito. From Taupo to Wr.imarino by tho first route is 79 miles. The longer trip via Waiouru is 124 miles.

RACING TRACKS. AUCKLAND'S NEED. Auckland still lacks a motor-racing track, and Muriwai Beach has to servo for yot another year. Tho great public interest in tho recently-opened speedway at Marouba, near Sydney, should suffice to convince sceptics that a motor-racing track would not prove a " white elephant." Tho thrills of automobile racing are too real to be limited in their appeal. Despite the discomforts of a journey to Muriwai, thousands of motorists make the trip every year to witness the races, and as many omnibuses as can bo pressed into service can bo filled. The public wants motor-racing and more of it. Auckland is lucky in tho possession of a number of enthusiastic amateurs who would stimulate

tho sport if given more than the annual chance provided by the Muriwai meeting. Farther, cars are selling so rapidly and trade competition is so keen, that many car agents can be depended on to enter for speed trials. If Auckland possessed a motor speedway within half an hour's drive, it should draw crowds almost equalling jockey club meetings. Finance is wanted to develop the site in the Pukaki Lagocn, at Mangere, which waa bought last year by Mr. George Henning who foresaw its potentialities. Tho lagoon occupies 90 acres, and it is estimated that a scheme could be completed for about £50,000. The track would be about 1£ miles in circumference, which is an ideal size for spectacular reasons.

It was hoped that some fast Australian cars would be seen at Muriwai this year, but the Marouba speedway offers such attractions to Australian drivers, that it is doubtful if any will be tempted to cross the Tasman.

The Marouba track is five-sixths of a mile in circumference, and 11,000 tons of concrete were used in its construction. Brooklands track is 2} miles in circumference, which is rather large for easy observation at all stages of each lap. The Montlhery track, near Paris, is perhaps tho fastest in tho world. It is 1£ miles long, and its banking is 55deg. at the steepest part. Brooklandi; is 35deg., and the steepest bank at Marouba is 48dog.