CAMPING PROVES POPULAR

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1933, Page 9

CAMPING PROVES POPULAR

NORTH TARANAKI SITES CROWDED.

GREATER USE THAN EVER BEFORE.

This summer has been more than ever a season for camping motorists. Camp facilities have all been improved in North Taranaki resorts and the efforts of those responsible have earned the reward of increased use of every camp in the district. Fine weather through-* out the New Year holiday season has contributed to the favourable impression Taranaki motor , camps h av e made on tourists. . The camp at Belt Road, New Plymouth, continues to be popular with visitors; indeed the degree of patronage has been greater than other years at this season. On Thursday night there were HO encampments, on Friday night 107, on Saturday 109, on Sunday 120 and on Monday night 99. As the parties probably average over four persons each the populations of the reserve durmg the past two days has been about 500. Motorists have been moving in and out all the time, but five parties booked in yesterday for extended periods, some for a week and others for a fortnight. Several of the visitors announced that they had come in order to be present for the-conclusion of the Kingsford Smith flight across the Tasman, and it is expected that in the course of the next day or so others will arrive with this object in view. There were 80 parties in the reserve early last night, with others arriving. Several parties left yesterday morning in order to return to work. Campers have been coming and going steadily- at Fitzroy, though Sunday was possibly the busiest day of all; On the average there have been about 30 parties encamped in the hollow between the sandhills and the higher Ivels behind. Some are. permanent camps but the majority are those of motorists who axe passing through. More than one party has stayed longer than it first intended. The general opinion may be summed up in the words of one camper as lie was leaving on Monday. “I’ve camped at New Plymouth twice before this,” he said, “and it will be more than twice again before I get tired of it. Some places one doesn’t want to call at too often but New Plymouth is not one of them.” . The Huatoki camp site has also been popular over the holidays.. For the last four days tents have appeared to be so frequent that the ground looked full but there has always been room for the next one to arrive. There have been more parties using the ground than, at any time either this season or, in past summers. . There were 62 distinct camping outfits at the Urenui beach camping site on New Year’s night. As a large number of these outfits are composed ; of more than one tent and more than one family it :s estimated that there were over 400 people encamped. There are three families in some camps. The majority of the campers have been at Urenui for nearly a fortnight and there were scarcely any ‘ one-night people at the camp on Sunday. Inquiries show that about half , the campers intend staying for the duration of the Christmas holidays and there has been very little movement in the camp so far, but campers may be in and out more frequently now that New Year’s Day is over. \ Life at Urenui has been enlivened by a contingent of well known New Plymouth residents, the fun having been headed by a citizen well known in R.S.A. and boxing circles, who has now achieved a little' notoriety as a weather prophet. \ _ The camps at Waitara and Tongaporutu are proving deservedly popular with motorists on their way through north or south,. while a smaller camp site that had its dozen parties, on Monday was the mouth of the Onaero River. Other places, favoured by the travelling campers are Mokau, the mouth of the Mohakatino River, the Oakura beach, Everett Park and Awakino. In fact any open space that offers water and shade is eagerly seized on by the tourists, equipped with modem caravans or trailers, both of which are becoming increasingly popular, or with tents of various sizes, shapes and colours. More tourists are on the roads than last season, according to Mr. R. Gredig, patrol officer for the Taranaki Automobile Association.' He has found that New Plymouth and the surrounding districts are coming increasingly into favour with motorists, many of whom have received' pleasant surprises when they become' aware of the number of beauty spots that may be visited.