THE FAR NORTH.
ITS SIGHTS AND The question is constantly bt. * » * • what is the far North like ? What ku v place is it to settle in? and such question, are not easy to answer off hand, because in the far North there are so very many places totally different from each other in every possible respect, and many of them very different from what one finds in any other part of New Zealand. To describe "the North " requires some more room than a few paragraphs in a journal becupied with more stirring news. It seems to be the usual plan for tourists, and other visitors from the South, to go no farther North than Auckland : thence they visit the Waikato, Te Aroha, above all the Hot Lakes, some of them run down and have a look at the Thames mines. But very few bend their steps to the Bay of Islands, or Whangarei, and fewer visit the North West. Yet in these districts there are many beautiful and romantic scenes, and many peculiar and pleasing surroundings, that one sees no where else than in the far North. The journey too is now easy and pleasant, and by no means expensive. From Auckland there are fine large steam boats running both to Rupeljin the Bay of Islands, and to Whangeri. The fare to the former place for a return saloon passage is £2 ss, which includes excellent meals, and a good, comfortable state cabin with every convenience. The run occupies about 12 hours. To Whangarei the fare is £1 (return)
and the conditions about the same. Fijom Russell you cross to Opua by steam, and thence you can cross the island to Hokianga easily by rail, coach, and a river steamboat, at the expense collectively of about 25s or 30s, including everything, and have an excellent view of the country. You can then take a passage by steamboat to Oriehunga, and thence by a abort railway trip back to Auckland ; or ,bstter, you can return from Hokianga to Kawakawa, where the Bay of Islands coal mines are, and thence take a passage! by a very comfortable .and well-horsed coach, to Whangarei (fare 15s). So that the trip through the best part of the north, including the counties of the Bay of Islands and Whangarei can be easily done from Auckland at an expense of certainly not over £5, for everything, and at the cost of little time in comparison with the amount of view seeing. In this trip you have a great variety of scenery — sea and rock, volcanic, woodland, and river, and not a little of the wild and desolate — besides being able to form a good idea of the fruit-growing properties of the country. In some future number I propose to attempt a few word sketches of the far north.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18900410.2.114
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 39
Word Count
471THE FAR NORTH. Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 39
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