GARDEN OF NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1931, Page 11

GARDEN OF NEW ZEALAND

ifARANAKI’S CLAIM TO BEAUTY DELEGATES INVITED TO INSPECT. JUKEKURA PARK AND MT. EGMONT. In justification of its claim to be the J garden of New Zealand Taranaki invites 'the dairy conference delegates and ladies who are visiting New Plymouth this week to make as much use. as possible of the time at their disposal in visiting the numerous beauty spots with which the province abounds. Ample opportunity is afforded in the scheduled programme of entertainment to enjoy the two places for which the province is probably most renowned —Pukekura Park and Mt. Egmont, but there are many places in easy distance of New Plymouth that will well repay a visit. Pukekura Park has a beauty of its own, being quite unique amongst the various parks and domains of the Dominion. Recently the park board built a fernery on modern lines, and planted it with rare ferns from all over New Zealand, the object being to make the collection the most complete in the Dominion. No visitor should leave the park until he or she has inspected the fernery, which is most interesting. Amongst the other places of scenic or historic interest within a few minutes of the town are Marsland Hill, St. Mary’s

Church, the port, the “Meeting of the Waters” (four miles away), Frankleigh Park, Huatoki Domain, Western Park, jake Rotokare, Ratapihipihi Reserve, Western Park, Ngamotu beach, Kawaroa Park, the racecourse, anti the museum. To appreciate fully the magnificence of the scenery and the grandeur of Mt. Egmont one has to make the trip. The radius line of the Egmont National Park of 72,000 acres, is some 15 miles from New Plymouth, and the remaining four and a quarter miles to the well-equipped hostelry is through beautiful native bush. A splendid tar-sealed roadway has been constructed between the radius line and the hostelry. The North Egmont hostelry’, situated at 3170 feet above sea level, is set in picturesque surroundings, and affords a magnificent view of the surrounding country. The hostel is a concrete building, steam heated, supplied with electric light, and well furnished with ample room for dances and entertainments. Wireless, gramophone, piano and billiard table are provided. Mount Egmont affords wonderful opportunity for climbing and tramping. A trip to the summit can be made in summer time by any reasonably fit person, whilst in winter climbing there is ample scope for the experienced mountaineer. On Saturday the visiting delegates and ladivi will bo taken to Eltham and the Dawson Falls mountain house, but should time allow a visit should be paid to the Stratford house, which has near it a recently constructed motor highway w'ith unsurpassed outlook. A capital one-day trip can be made to the famous Maori village of Parihaka. This, years ago, was the scene of stirring adven- ■ tures, and is well-known as the headquarters of Te Whiti and Tohu. It is still a place of great interest to the visitor. Here may be seen the last relics of Maori communism in Taranaki. Cape Egmont lighthouse is nearby, and will well repay a visit; whilst lovers of the beautiful in nature will find much to interest them in a visit to Glen Roy Tea Gardens, situate a quarter-mile up the Warea Road. Visitors to Inglewood during summer should not miss seeing the beautiful Everett Reserve, about five miles from the town by a good metal road. The reserve offers beautiful bush and river scenery, and is an ideal place for camping. There is a good sandy beach, and the river provides first-class swimming. Ten miles north of New Plymouth on the river of the same name is the thriving towm of Waitara, on the AucklandWellington highway. To those interested in New Zealand’s native history Manukorihi pa, the last resting place of the ashes of the late Sir Maui Pom are, will make a special appeal. The large meat freezing works gives an insight into an important phase of (he Dominion’s pastoral activif ie.s.

The run out to Urenui, 2C miles from New Plymouth, is a pleasant one, the country en route being very interesting, whilst at Urenui there is splendid river sea and surf loathing to be had, as well as splendid fishing. Perhaps there is no more interesting motor trip in the whole of the Dominion than that from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti, via the Awakino Valley Road. It is so varied, from rolling plains, studded with plantations and smiling homesteads, to woftderful seascapes and river scenes and jpnieous mountain and gorge sewew.