A LONG MOTOR TOUR FROM COOK STRAIT TO THE NORTH CAPE

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 6, 1 December 1925, Page 48

A LONG MOTOR TOUR FROM COOK STRAIT TO THE NORTH CAPE

THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE NORTH ISLAND

A WONDERFUL summer trip ■L*- for people who are not limited to time, is from Wellington to the North Cape. Every year the highways are being improved, and now it is possible to go through without meeting any obstacles in the way of impassable roads. Starting on our tour from Wcllintgon bright and earily one morning. we were soon over Paekakariki Hill, where we could admire the view of the sea hundreds of feet below, with Kapiti Island, the bird sanctuary, in the distance. Through Shannon, Palmerston North and the Manawatu Gorge wc passed on our way to Napier, where we spent the first night. The prosperity in Hawke’s Bay is quite evident; all the farmers having modern homes and expensive motor-cars. The main attraction in Napier is the Marine Parade, stretching for miles. The second day we left for Taupo. climbing one hill after another for hours, the highest being 2650 feet. On the plains near the Runanga

Falls is Rangataiki, where an enjoyable holiday may be spent. Close by is a stream abounding with trout. Seventeen miles further on we came to Lake Taupo, which was looking beautiful in the sunshine, with a background of snow-clad ranges. Near the Spa Hotel are a few mud pools and hot mineral baths. It is surprising to sec stray rats in this vicinity, as the ground is warm and there seems little for them to live on. We called at Huka Falls, which provide the electricity for Taupo. It is lovely to stand on the suspension bridge and watch the mighty torrents roaring down at a swift pace. Close by is Wairakei, also Geyser Valley. Entering the Valley one sees

steam rising from dozens of geysers. There are plenty of thrills for the blase, in one place boiling water splashes over the narrow path every few minutes, and close by is a continual knocking underground. Further on is the dancing rock, which does its “turn” every five minutes. The principal geysers are the Champagne Pool and the Wairakei Geyser. After seeing all the weird sights, we took the road leading to Putaruru, passing the Totara Timber Co.’s mill on the way. We called at Cambridge and then arrived in Hamilton by dark. The road then runs alongside the Waikato River to Mercer, except where it crosses the famous Rangi-

riris, which are no longer formidable. It was a nice run over the Razor Back into Auckland. There we stayed a few days to visit some of the many beaches and see a few of the sights. It takes months to really see everything in Auckland, as it is favoured with so many beauty spots. IX/'E then started out for the * * "Winterless North." Taking the ferry to Devonport, we kept near the East Coast for about sixty miles, passing Silverdale, Brown's Bay, Waiwera, and Warkworth. Going over the Matakana hill to Waipu we saved twenty-eight miles. In good weather it is a pretty drive, the road in parts being just the width of a car, and skirted on both sides by pungas. In another hour we arrived at Whangarei, which is quite a ''goahead" town with good roads and an excellent climate for fruit grow-

ing. We visited the largest orange grove, which looked a picture, being laden with fruit. The road then goes past Kamo hot springs on to Hikurangi, where the limestone rocks form peculiar sentries against the sky-line. For about two hours we passed through gum country, which certainly looks like “No Man’s Land.” It is interesting to notice the different soils so close together. If cultivated it should make good fruit producing land. Tobacco also seems to flourish there. Whangaroa Harbour, one of the deepest harbours in New Zealand, is very sheltered, and has the outline of St. Paul’s Dome on the top of the hill cut out in rock. We went near Maunganui, on to Kaitaia, which is the last township in the North. About five miles further on we went out on the NinetyMile Beach, which is really only fifty-seven miles in length. This beach is somewhat similar to Murawai, except that the sand is white, and it has a harder surface. For speeding it is ideal, as the full length can easily be done in an hour, there being no fear of meeting any traffic except, perhaps, a stray horseman or Maori children digging for toheroas. A peculiarity is the birds, who swarm the beach in thousands, looking like horsemen in the distance on the wet sand. When we arrived at the end of the beach we turned into a creek and drove for two miles between high sand hills until we came suddenly on good sheep country, which is part of Te Paid station. The North Cape is very narrow and hilly, but the climate is superb, fully justifying its

title of “Winterless North.” The beaches on the three sides are totally different. On the East Coast the sand at Parenga is pure white, from which glass is manufactured. The beach on the West Coast is quite

ordinary, but there are some beautiful shells to be found there. Spirits’ Bay, at the extreme end of the Island, from where the Maoris believe the spirits depart, has a fine shelly beach, and when the sun is shining it

looks like millions of jewels glittering. It is a very pretty bay, with a lagoon and bush in it, and one is amply rewarded for their ride out from the homestead. At the end of the summer the curlew congregate there in thousands before leaving for Siberia. They are never seen leaving, so they evidently take flight in the night, only the weak birds remaining on the beach. On all the high hills at the Cape are signs of old Maori fortresses, and quite often valuable curios are found. our return trip we came down the beach again to Kaitaia, then through the Victoria Valley and Maungamoku Gorge. In the valley we came upon an unusual sight, in these days of speed, when we saw about two hundred bullocks carting waggon loads of metal for the road. The Gorge rivals Mt. Messenger for scenery, the dense bush extending for many miles, and there are several pretty water-falls on the way. Crossing the bridge at the head of the Hokianga Harbour we passed on to Kaikohe, and then to Whangarei. While there we visited the Wairua Falls, which provide the electricity for Whangarei; also the Grotto tea gardens, where there are some fine specimens of kauri and other native trees. '' I /HE next day we left for DargaA ville, then on to Auckland, stopping on the way at Helensville mineral baths and taking a short spin up to the Waitakerei Ranges. There

an excellent view of Auckland and the Waitemata Harbour is obtained, but the air alone is worth the climb. Our next stop was at Hangatiki, where we paid a visit to the Waitomo Caves. These are really wonderful, especially the underground river. One imagines they are in fairyland when rowing on the river and seeing the thousands of glowworms overhead. We then called at Tc Kuiti and went on through the Awakino Valley to Mokau, where we crossed the river on a punt. The roads in the Valley have been greatly improved recently. One time I went through there and I took five hours to go fifteen miles in the worst partmost of the time the car was being dug out by a gang of men stationed along the road. We stopped at Mt. Messenger to view the magnificent scenery, then went on through Urenui and Waitara to New Plymouth. / ~PHE next morning we left for Mount Egmont, where an enjoyable day was spent. The narrow drive of four miles from the tollgate to the Mountain House is very

picturesque, In New Plymouth the Recreation Grounds arc beautiful, there being plenty of native bush, also two lakes, one covered with water lilies and the other is large enough for rowing boats to take the visitors around. Near the Breakwater are the Moturoa oil fields, which are causing some interest at present. The roads in Taranaki have always been very good, and it is to be hoped that now the toll gates have been abolished that they will keep up their high standard. Leaving New Plymouth early in the morning we had a beautiful view of Mt. Egmont, with the sun on it, and we did not lose sight of it until we had passed Stratford. We arrived in Wanganui in good time and paid a visit to the Sargeant Art Gallery, which is a fine building. This is a progressive town, and it has a big asset in the beautiful river. After lunch we resumed our journey and arrived in Wellington by night after an interesting tour. A few visitors to New Zealand pay a visit to the North Cape every year, and they are always delighted with the scenery and the climate.