TOUR OF NORTH ISLAND

Opunake Times, 26 January 1934, Page 2

TOUR OF NORTH ISLAND

HAV/ERA RESIDENT'S TRIP. 2500 MILES m EOIITXIGHT A journey of about 2500 miles in a little over two weeks was the recent enjoyable experience of Mr Claude Harrison, of Hawera, who was accompanied by Mr W. S. Marsh, a farmer, of Christchurch. They leturned to Hawera at the week-end.

Mr Harrison said that the trip convinced him more than ever of the varied beauty and extent of New Zealand scenery. Striking as were the many beauty spots in the north, he felt compelled, however, to acknowledge that for variety and rugged beauty, nothing on the tour excelled the Aratarawa Gorge, between the Wairarapa and Waikanae.

Leaving iiawera, the tourists journeyed by the usual routes to itotorua, were three days, were spent. They went through North Auckland to Moungonui, and across to the Opouoni, on the Hokiauga Harbour and one of the best beaches in the north. There .they found a big Maori festival in progress, about one thousand being present. After a day they continued to Dargaville through the Mangakahia Valley. A short visit was paid to AVaipoua and the Tfonson Memorial Park to see the world famed" forest of kauris, some of which are forty feet in diameter at the base. Three days were spent at the Mount camp s ite, Tauranga, and a new route was taken along the coast to Cape Eunawav and Hicks Bay and down to Napier. Part of the coast trip was exciting, because several miles of shore sand had to be negotiated, and in parts the tide had to be watched carefully. The tour continued on to Wellington and then inland via the Akatarawa Gorge to "Waikanae and to Hawera.