NEW SCENIC ROUTE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18205, 28 September 1933, Page 6

NEW SCENIC ROUTE

SPLENDID CAMPING SITES 111 NTS TO TOURISTS As the unparalleled attractions ot the new scenic following the Bay of Plenty cua.v-Hine from Opotiki towards Cape Runaway arc becoming more widely known throughout- the Ninth 1 sian 1, it is amieipated mat many motorists will choose that route

for their summer camping tour, and in preparation for the holiday season (in* Automobile Association has prepared a useful guide to the const reserves.

The 70 mile stretch of road between Opotiki and Gape Runaway skirts the i-onst. for most of the distance, amt presents delightful scenery. there are splendid opportunities for motor camping, ami the Automobile Association is making arrangements for areas to be set aside as permanentcamping and scenic reserves. Motorists are reminded that all the land is owned by the unlives, and at preesnt all motor camping is permitted only through the courtesy of the native owners, who have displayed the utmost willingness lo assist the association. The Automobile Association, therefore, urges motorists to return that eonrtesv and to ask permission before camping, ami on no account to enter areas which are fenced oil without, lirst having secured authority. The native owners already have generously offered to donate suitable areas of land; a committee of native landowners has been appointed, and when the arrangements are finalised, signs will he erected. ft is absolutely forbidden to cut or mutilate trees or scrub, or to remove ferns 011 any portion of the coast. Driftwood on the beaches provides an amide supply of firewood, and m 1 tiis respect care should be exercised not to light fires in the proximity of trees. THE TRIP DESCRIBED. The first portion of the trip from Opotiki towards the Motu River bridge, although of scenic value, may be regarded purely as a means of reaching the better camping places further on towards Cape Runaway. At Haparapara stream. JS miles from Opotiki. motorists have camped previously in the stock paddocks on either side of the road, but permission must be obtained from the homestead. The flats on the Opotiki side of the creek at Waikanae Beach (421 miiosj and at. the base of the hills alongside the beach have become popular with motorists, and usually no exception is taken to camping there. Other pleasant sites are situated half a mile further on, near the Te Kahn dairy factory, but permission must be obtained before those sites may be used.

AH ANAR FA BEACH. The approach to Whanarua Beach (51 miles), ail attractive resort, is indicated by a sign, “To Beach.” and the owner has granted permission for campers to use the flat alongside me beach and at the foot of the hills, provided that there is no interference with property, and that the ground is left clean. The area around the Maraehaka Stream (55J miles) is enclosed by fences, but permisison to camp may be sought at -Mr. Fairweather's homestead. It should be possible to obtain suitable camp sites on the seaward side of the road just beyond the creek at Te Wai-iti (59 miles). Among the scrub adjoining the Raukokore riverbed (60 miles) there is plenty of room for pitching a tent, if motorists desire to stay over-night a little further back from the seashore than is the case with the majority of the sites. To reach Oruaiti Reach (67 miles) from the Waihnu Bay junction (65 miles) the road runs along the seafront, and there is ample room lor tents to be pitched under the pohutukawn trees. Care should be taken, however, to select a camp near water. At the far end of the beach, where the road turns inland, there is a grassy flat on the opposite side of the 1 reek well suited for camps. The native owners living along the beach would probabiv permit camping in other property it asked. There is nothing particularly attractive around Cape Runaway (72- miles) from a motor camping point of view, and as the road at the back of the beach is being formed and a bridge may not bo completed, it is recommended that motor campers for the 1933-34 season limit, their tours to the end of Cruaifi Beach, unless A.A. signs at the end of the beach indicate that the new toad is open for traffic.

No charge is made for camping on this ( oast, and notorist-s must destroy refuse and leave the sites clean before vacating camn.