AUCKLAND TO TE AROHA.

New Zealand Mail, 30 December 1892, Page 32

AUCKLAND TO TE AROHA.

ONE of the pleasantest excursions which can be made by rail is that to Te Aroha, a sanatorium fast coming into repute, and within easy reach. The cost, too, is trifling, as will be seen from the particulars given below. Te Aroha is a bright little township situated on the Ttames River, and at'the base of afine mountain which gives the town its name. It is celebrated for its hot baths, which are of several varieties, and on which a considerable expenditure has taken place in improving the natural facilities for bathing, and in the adornment of the grounds within which the baths are situated. There are several comfortable hotels and boardinghouses. The river scenery is very pretty. A visit to the gold mines at Waiorongomai, four miles from Te Aroha, cannot fail to interest the tourist. From Te Aroha a very pleasant tour may be made by river steamer to the Thames —the town at the mouth of that river—and from there a six-hours' voyage down the Hauraki Gulf, and amongst the many islands studding its waters, will land the traveller in Auckland. A coach also runs daily between Te Aroha and the Thames. The road is through pretty scenery, and the trip is most enjoyable.

AUCKLAND TO THE HOT LAKES.

For those whose time is limited a trip to Okoroire will be found sufficient to form an acquaintance with the thermal wonders of the district. Excellent accommodation is obtainable at this place, which is rapidly growing in popular favour as a health resort. Until the completion of the railway right through to Rotorua, the tourist has to take coach from Oxford or Okoroire railway station (about 36 miles)'the greater part of which journey is over a fern-fringed road through a magnificent forest. At Rotorua is the Government Sanatorium, and there are besides many private establishments where baths of great variety may be enjoyed. During the summer season (besides a train service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) a fast passenger train runs from Auckland to Okoroire and Oxford on Saturdays, starting at 8 a.m. Passengers depart thence by coach, arriving at Rotorua tbe same day. The journey through from Auckland to the lakes will thus be made in one day. The return trip is to be made on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. From Rotorua to Taupo is a short day's journey of 56 miles, and from thence to Napier a distance of 86 miles has to be traversed by coach through country more or less interesting, and affording capital views of Ruapehu, Tongariro, and other mountains. Tourists starting from Wellington can reach Rotorua by any of the following routes, the approximate cost of the journey, Wellington to Lake Rotorua and back, for a monthly trip by any of the routes being £lO : 1. By overland route, Wellington to Taranaki, thence by steamer to Onehunga, and rail Onehungato Auckland, Auckland to Okoroire or Oxford, and Okoroire or Oxford to Rotorua by coach. 2. By Rimutaka line : Wellington (Government station) to Eketahuna by rail, Eketahuna to Woodville by coach, Woodville to Napier by conveyance to Rotorua by coach. 3. By Manawafcu line : Wellington (Company's station) to Mapier by rail, thence to Rotorua by coach.

NAPIER TO WELLINGTON.

In order to reach Wellington, the seat of the Government of New Zealand, and the senior city of the Colony, train is again taken at Napier from which town there is a choice of two routes.

I3y the eastern route, through the Forty-mile Bush and the "Wairarapa plain, the journey to Wellington may be done quietly in two days, 26 miles of the distance being by coach.

By the western route the trip may be done in one day, via Palmerston and the Manawatu Gorge, rail all the way. The eastern, or Government railway, crosses the Bimutaka Pange at an altitude of 1050 ft., after ascending a gvacle of 1■ in 15 from the Wairarapa plains. For 60 miles from Napier, the line runs over an open plain, and undulating country teeming with sheep, ime views of the jßuahine .Range are obtained across the Kuataniwha plains,

WELLINGTON TO PICTON, NELSON, AND WEST COAST.

To obtain the fullest opportunity for viewing the grandeur of New Zealand forest scenery, the West Toast of the Middle Island should be visited, and the overland journey made from Hokitika to Christchurch. The sea trip to Picton takes five hours. From thence to Blenheim by rail, 18 miles. A day s coach drive over the range between Mount Buppa and Castor Peaks, and along the beautiful shores of the Pelorus Sound, brings the visitor to Nelson or the trip may be continued by steamer from Picton, From Belgrove (which is connected with Nelson by railway) to Westport coaches run tri-weekly, the journey taking two days. While at Westport opportunity should be taken to visit the workings and incline railway of the Westport Colliery Company at Waimangaroa and Denniston. From "Westport to Gre} mouth via Reefton, another day is taken up. The drive up the Buller Valley, especially between Westport and Inangahua, is very fine. Before commencing the overland journey, time may be profitably occupied at Greymouth, Kumara, or Hokitika. From Okarito, 60 miles south of Hokitika, the western glaciers are within easy reach At the head of the Waiho river the Francis Joseph glacier comes down to within 11 miles of the sea, and only 700 ft above it. A horse can be taken up close to the foot of the glaciei. The trip across the Southern Alps is one of the most exciting to be travelled in New Zealand. The end of the first day's journey is at the Bealey, 2i4oft above the sea, where a day or two may be spent in exploring the Eolleston glaciers, and the splendid Alpine region around., Christchurch is reached at the close of the second day's journey, the final portion of which is by rail from Springfield (44 miles).

CHRISTCHURCH TO HANMER HOT SPRINGS.

The Hanmer Sanatorium is within a day's journey of Christchurch. The Springs are situated in the broad valley near the confluence of the Hamner with the Waiau-ua. There are two bath-houses, with twelve baths, in which any temperature up to 112 deg. Fahr. can be obtained direct from the earth. 'J here are two accommodation - houses, and invalids have fine opportunities for recruiting, either by driving on the plains or climbing the mountains, some of which are over 6000 ft. high. The complaints which receive benefit are rheumatism, gout, and diseases of the skin.

MOUNT COOK.

The Mount may be reached from Canterbury and Otago by either of two routes, each of which offers its own advantages. The shorter and easier is that via Timaru and Kairlie Eailway lines, thence one day's coach travelling y*a

Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki to the Hermitage, a well-conducted hostelry, nestling under the hush-covered slopes of the moraine formed by the Mueller Glacier. The longer and less frequented route is from Oamaru to Kurow by rail, thence by coach up the Waitaki .River to Omarama. From Omarama to the Hermitage special arrangements for horses, &c, must be made, as there are no regular conveyances. Another route is from lake Wanaka, via Lindis Pass, hut this journey may have to he specially arranged for. At the present time a regular coach runs during the summer months only between Pembroke and Lake Pukaki. From the Hermitage the Hooker and Mueller Glaciers are immediately accessible, even for ladies, as also near views of the huge ice-cliffs of Mount Befton, from whence may frequently he seen huge avalanches forcing up clouds of snow. The Mueller Glacier can be ascended by a short walk, and from there may be viewed the outlet of the river of the same name, as it emerges to light after having run a course of many miles under vast fields of ice. A view of the great Tasman Glacier, the largest of its kind in either hemisphere, outside of the polar regions, would alone repay a visit. There are also a number of other mountains and glaciers, notably the Hochstetter Dome, 11500 ft., but towering above them all in solemn and awful grandeur, with its pyramids of rock and ice, is Mount Cook, or Aorangi, the Cloud Piercer.

race, 5673 ft., the shy peak of Mount Aspiring is caught sight of—a peak 9960 ft. high, yet rarely seen from the beaten track. The valley of the Cardrona is rather tame as the coach rolls down its long slope, but Lake Wanaka in all its glory of sunset is ample reparation.

DUNEDIN TO QUEENSTOWN.

This journey can be done in one day four times a week, the train being taken across the "Waimea Plains from Gore to Lumsden, and arriving at Kingston, where a small but elegant paddle - steamer lies alongside the wharf at -which the train stops, and the run to Queenstown, 25 miles, is made in two hours. In steaming up the lake the rugged Bemarkables, 8000ffc., are on the right, the Eyre mountains lie far away on the left, rising to 6000 ft., but the nearer hills slope more gradually, forming some cosy bays, where settlers and fire-wood cutters have built their cottages, and made homesteads. The lake city is well known for its good accommodation and attention to travellers, and may be considered a centre for mountain excursions.

QUEENBTOWN TO LAKE WANAKA.

The coach journey from Queenstown to Pembroke, takes one day. Starting from the lake city in the early morning, the road skirting the waters for a few miles, along a rather steep siding—crosses the Shotover river, whose yellow waters and gravel beaches betoken the work of the gold miner. Then charming Lake Hayes glides into view- with its shores surrounded by well - cultivated fields. Rising the Crown Ter-

LAKE WANAKA TO MOUNT ASPIRING.

A ride of 25 miles, and a scramble up the Matukituki river, will bring the tourist into the glacier region, near a shoulder of Mount Aspiring, where he can see and hear the tumult of crushing avalanches, and the blue ice-cliffs of the glacier meltiug into waterfalls right into the foaming torrent of the river. On Lake Wanaka a steamer will convey the traveller into the heart of the grand mountains which hem in the northern shore. The general elevation of these peaks is 5000 ft. to 7000 ft. Lake Hawea is within a few hours of Pembroke, and is well worth a visit, although its scenery is more tame than that of Wanaka. At its lower end is a fine tract of agricultural land.

LUMSDEN TO MANIPORI AND TE ANAU.

The tourist who desires to do the western lakes, or to cross the mountains to the West Coast Sounds and tlje great Sutherland Waterfalls in Milford Found, should leave the rail at Lumsden and take

z coach, or hire a waggonette. A regular coach leaves Lumsden on Tuesdays and Saturdays on arrival of morning train from Invercargill, returning from Te Anau to Lumsden on Mondays and Thursdays. During summer months (December to March) it runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, returning from Te Anau on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. An immediate start will enable him to reach the accommodation house —fifty miles—in time for tea. Guides and boats can be hired for exploring the islands and gloomy depths of grand Manipori. A steam launch plies on Te Anau lake, and rowing or sailing boats can also be obtained. The lake is long and narrow, thirty-eight miles by six, affording a more extended view than Manapouri. Its many fiords stretch far into the mountains, their sides rising perpendicularly from the water s edge, so that rarely except at their heads, where the streams flow m, can any landing be effected. Excellent fishing is to be found in all the streams in the district; trout of immense size may be caught in abundance.

MOUNT EARNSHAW AND THE HUMBOLDT RANGE.

Steamers run up Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown nearly every morning in summer, and land passengers at several places on the way, at Glenorchy on the eastern shore, and at Kinloch on the western. At Glenorchy a guide may be had, and horses for the first twelve miles up the Rees Valley, but after that knapsacks and alpine gear must be shouldered by those who wish to try the 9200 ft. ascent of Earnslaw. Two days' hard climbing, and a camp on some sheltered plateau on its massive side, give some experience of the tremendous works of snow and ice at such an altitude. In a good summer's day it is possible to get from Glenorchy to the foot of the glaciers and return the same day. It is comparatively easy to get up about 8000 ft., but above that altitude the ascent is difficult, and would test the endurance of the best alpine climber.

From Kinloch the track to Lake Harris, on the divide, is a succession of beautiful scenes. The view from the saddle is one of the finest in the Lake district. There is a hut on Route Burn—five hours' ride from Kinloch, and two hours' walk from Lake Harris—which would afford shelter for a few persons. .

Mount Bonpland, 8100 ft., one of the peaks of the Humboldt Range, may be ascended from Kinloch without great difficulty. Prom its sides is obtained a splendid view of the' grand mountains all round, right over to the western sea* J

From Queenstown excur* sions may be made in many other directions, such as up Ben Lomond, 5747 ft., by a good horse track, most of the way, to the Greenstone Valley, to Te Anau (via the Von River), the Kawarau Falls, the Remarkables, and many others.