MOTOR CAMPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 239, 9 October 1928, Page 16

MOTOR CAMPING.

COUNTRY WELL SUPPLIED WITH GROUNDS.

SITE NEAR AUCKLAND WANTED.

SUGGESTIONS FOR LABOUR DAY TRIP.

It is a bit early to go motor camping, but with a very probable change for the better after the present' barometric depression has passed, motorists will begin to talk and plan camping tours. Such tours are becoming more popular each year and so many camping grounds are now provided adjacent to all our large centres (and some small ones) that "Sparkwell" predicts a much greater number of motor campers will take advantage of the facilities offered in parks and grounds during the coming summer.

No doubt many motorists will be away on Saturday week, making the most of the holiday on Monday (Labour Day). Comparatively short trips are the most popular and are very suitable for a two-and-a-half-day holiday. The trip , "Sparkwell" recommends is from Auckland to Te Aroha, via the Hauraki Plains, leaving on Saturday. This can be done in five hours or comfortably in six. The extra half-liour of daylight, which commences next Sunday, should give time to reach Te Aroha before dark. There are many good places to stay, ■from the Palace (the A.A.A. House) to the camping ground, which is just across the river, first turn on right. It is a pretty, well-sheltered spot and quite close to the town. Next day, take a run across* country, through Waharoa, passing over five miles of concrete road and then on through Matamata to Arapuni. This is always well worth a visit. The dam and spillway are. fascinating, with their thousands of gallons of water tumbling down like a miniature Niagara. It is only 50 miles from Te Aroha to Arapuni and the journey can then be resumed to Te Awamutu and Waitomo or, if preferred, back through Cambridge to Hamilton, leaving all day on Monday to get home. If one fancies going north, and the state of the roads permit, a run to Waiwera or Warkworth is a good trip. Then you can go on to Whangarei if very fine weather, but it would be better not to venture so far, as miles of clay are met with after passing Wellsford. The return can be made from Warkworth, via Helensville, where the hot springs at Parakai are well worth a visit. The road home from Helensville is pretty rough in several places before the concrete is reached, but it is not so bad if taken steadily. On the way in, a stop should be made at Tui Glen, Auckland's only motor camping ground. Here you will find every possible want catered for in a pretty spot running down to the water, the whole place being under the supervision of the owner, Mr. C. F. Brookes, who restricts its use to private motor parties. This camping ground is recommended by the Auckland Automobile Association and is the only one at present available to motorists visiting Auckland. The council of the A.A.A. has had the matter of a camping ground nearer the city and on the southern entrance under serious consideration for some months past. [Various sites have been inspected by the touring manager and Messrs. A. Grayson and H. Butcher, but up to the present nothing definite has been agreed on. Efforts to locate a really suitable spot for camping grounds in the vicinity of the south road, preferably no further out than Ellerslie, are being continued this week and a report will then be made to the council. If this is secured, it will remove a reproach from many southern motorists who visit the city

and ask their way 'to the camping ground which they are familiar with in nearly every other city of any size. When on the matter of camping, it is Well to remind some of the careless ones to .make .the j>lace neat and tidy before, they leave it, just as you would like to find it yourself. If in doubt about your drinking water,; always boil it. Take only the necessary items with you, but do not forget a tin opener and a corkscrew. You can buy these in one combination, but get a good one; there are some very, poor., articles, of. this description on the market. Canvas buckets are good buying, they are light and pack easily. It is a good rule to turn in early and although it may be strange for you to do so, get up at daylight. The early morning is the best part of the day, the air is so fresh and an early start is half the battle in making from place to place. It is to be hoped th" weather will take up in time to dry the roads and make them suitable for a run into the country.