TO THE FAR NORTH

Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 January 1932, Page 5

TO THE FAR NORTH

maS’erton TO GREW A BEACH,

-Writing. North Auckland, on 'January 6th., to her parents in South Road, Masterton, Miss G. M. Aplin gives a .aiost interesting account of a motor casing tour--which sho set out on from Masterton on December 31. Miss Aplin is accompanied by Miss C. Lewthwaite, of Little River, Canterbury. In less than a week tho t. avellers motored over 500 miles, the i >ute being via Hawke’s Bay and the T&'ipo Road. Orewa is a seaside- resort and fruit-growing district in the Waitemata County and 38 miles north of Auckland. At present both nre . attending the Teachers’ Summer School at Wliangarei.

On the first day Hastings was reached, a halt being made at Woodville for lunch, states Miss Aplin in her letter. On New Year’s Day the tourists wenfljk to Napier and from there on to T<nPohue, where they camped under some pines. “From Te Pohue,” write Miss Aplin, “we went onAto Taupo; a perfect day but very dusty. It- is an interesting road, pretty steep, blit “Morris” pulled well and we had no mishaps. There are crow*ds of folks on the road, campers and others. We didn’t stay at Taupo, ljut at Wairakeiy where there is a nice camping ground with a hot swimming p 001.... We called in at Huka Falls between Wairakei and Taupo and had a look at the site of the Opepe massacre. ’ ’ IN THE THERMAL REGION. On the way to Rotorua the travellers left the main road to visit Aratiatia Rapids on the Waikato River before going on to Waiotapu, where they were interested in the thermal sights, such as the sulphur holes and boiling springs. On reaching Rotorua they camped there for the night. ’ ’ continues Miss Aplin, our next port of call, where the is right in the middle of the town, and you felt as if you were sleeping in the street. .But, there were beautiful trees, gas stoves, sinks etc, which were a help.... Once again we packed up like a circus and got out. We stopped in Hamilton and had lunch beside the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia in a lovely park.... We went straight through Auckland and crossed to Devonport by the vehicular ferry. We had to come over the Razor Backs because the detour was closed, and weren’t they steep and rough. We were thankful for the concrete road at Papukura.... The roads have been good In most places, but a few miles of corrugations and gravel make you more weary than 50 miles of good going. If you look at the map you’ll see Silver-, dale marked, and further north, Waiwera. Between these two places are two miles of lovely beach and Orewa...

On Monday night we camped on the beach but yesterday moved up under some pohutakawa trees, which are with dark-red flowers. ’ ’ 'Prosperous country.

After stating that they have done some beach walking and ■clambering round cliffs, Miss Aplin writes, “It is not nearly so dry in the Waikato and Auckland districts. There are heavy crops of hay, bright gardens and green fields. The Waikato is prosperous looking and the country is something like -the Rangitikei district with lots of trees and rolling hills.” “I don’t know where I can post this letter,” says Miss Aplin, who adds that .-she has not found a post office at Orewa, but expects there is one somewhere jQ.ear, ? On the long journey each took turns at the wheel. The return to Masterton will be commenced towards the end of the month and probably some new routes may be traversed.