...OVERLAND... FROM NAPIER to AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXII, 30 November 1895, Page 674

...OVERLAND... FROM NAPIER to AUCKLAND.

[SHE PAGES 670-671.]

AT Taupo one is in the heart of the North Island and well within the boundaries of the great thermal area. Many are the beautiful and marvellous scenes which can be visited from Taupo as a centre. The lake, of which a splendid view is obtained from Ross’ Hotel, invites those who love the water, and there is some fine cliff scenery to be met with along its shores. Joshua’s Spa, where there is a fine hotswimming bath, a sulphur bath, and several geysers and boiling pools, is about two miles from Taupo and Te Wairakei, a centre marvellously rich in wonders of all kinds, is only six miles from the township. The Arateatea Rapids are eight miles off, and Rotokawa, the bitter lake, three miles further on. Ateamuri is 24 miles from Taupo, and Orakei Korako about the same. These last two places may be visited en route to Rotorua, but they are often made the object of a special trip by those staying some time at Taupo. This week we reproduce a series of pictures of some of the attractive spots within this region. They are taken somewhat at random, so as to give a conception of the nature of the country as a whole. The first represents the hot springs at the Terrace Hotel. Here there are sulphur and iron baths and the only real hot lake in the thermal. The Ateamuri Hotel is a most comfortable house kept by Mr Charles Crowther. In view of the hotel, and about half a mile distant from it, stands the hill of Pohatu-roa, a rocky cone of rhyolite, which forms a most distinctive feature in the landscape. On the top of this rock there used to be a pa belonging to the Ngati-rau-kawa, in which the tribe found a safe retreat on the approach of a formidable enemy. Naturally the place was almost inaccessible, and the Maoris by scarping the sides made it entirely so to a foe without special appliances for carrying the assault. ( To be continued.)