WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 28 November 1930, Page 4

WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

A RUN TO MOUNT COOK. SPLENDID SUMMER EXCURSION. (snouut warrraa roa Ttra usiws.) [By "Trip."] (All Rights Reserved.) The*, Brticl.., written primarily for motor siir?„.si 1 Tc aTi Tn '-if b nay a n a ° ) tho f 11 ™ 1 ' Servic ®. uiU be answered ahd assistance given' in planning of .t.neraric., Thoso deofrin" information for Christmas vacations „hould forward queries at once. They ehou'd bo accompanied by a .tamped addreened envelop, and addresnod to "Trip," P O Box 1178, Wellington. Those who have never enjoyed the delights of an alpine holiday often 1 imagine that the winter is the only time to visit places like Mt. Cook, if full enjoyment is to be secured, but this is very wide of the mark, .There is just as much to do, and just as many places to see in summer as in winter, and the advantage for those of moderate means is that camping is possible —and pleasant—in summer, whereas it is out of the question in the winter season when the snow is lying low all round the Hermitage. Every facility is given to campers by the Hermitage people, and the ground itself is close handy to the main buildings. The summer climate is delightfully bracing without being too cold, and as Mt. Cook is within easy access of .either Christchurch or Ounedin, it makes an ideal spot for a short Christmas break. For those who have greater time available, or for North Island motorists having an extended tour of the South Island, it works in well with a round trip which takes in Queenstown and the lake*, and Southland. The Route Through Falxlio. Those coming from the north will make the run to Mt. Cook through Timaru and Faiclie, and if they want to do so, can easily break the journey at either Timaru or Lake Tekapo. For the benefit of North Island motorists it should be mentioned that at Christchurch there is the best motor-camping accommodation in Now Zealand, for at the Addington Show Grounds motorists- have their choice of camping in the grounds, or making use of very comfortable accommodation in a big fcrro-concrete building. It is luxury camping indeed for there are gas cookers, electric light, nnd hot baths all to be obtained at merely nominal COKt. ' r The run from Christchurch to Timaru, across the plains is about 110 miles over an excellent road, and as it i« only a further 66 miles to Tekapo, it is poasihle to have a fairly easy day, and stop there the night, camping by the lake. The run through to the' Htrmitage can be made in the day, but as it is nearly 250 miles ' from Christchurch, it is a fairly tiring journey, especially as the road is fairly steep in places, and the surface rather rough during th<j later stages. • Tekepo' i* a .Rplendid ploco for motor camping, and is itself becoming steadily more popular. Many of those who go t'> Mt. Cook put in a few days at Tckapo, and also at Lake Pukaki, nearer the Hermitage. From the Sooth. Th« most popular rout* with southern motorist# who are not pushed for time, is up to Queenstown, and

thence via Pembroke and over the Lindis Pass to Mt. Cook, but where time is short the quickest route is up to Oaraaru and across to Gmarama, where you join the main QueenstownMt. Cook road. This route puts Dunedin about 40 miles nearer to Mt. Cook than Christchurch, a fact whi:h is very little known among motorists who usually look at Christchuroh as being very much nearer the mountain. Tho I>unedin-Oamaru road ia of course a main highway, but is mostly macadam, and is often rather bumpy, especially in the Waikouaiti-Palmer-ston area. However it presents no difficulties no matter what the weather. The Oamaru-Omnrama road is also a good road with no very bad hills, but there are one or two creeks here which give trouble nfter heavy rain, and which have to be watched. Probably the best way of doing the journey from the south is to make through to Lake Pukaki the first day. This is about 170 miles from I>unedin, ani with the good roads, makes a fairly easy day. From there on to the Hermitage is only 40 miles, and can be run off early the following day. so that von can arrive at the Hermitage in time for the day's fun. The Mountains in Summer. The genuine alpinist prefers this holiday in the winter when the outdoor sports are at their height, but as mentioned earlier, such, a holiday is '.mpossible to the motor camper. „Ap"rt ivStogether from the many interesting journeys that beckon in. su.mmer, the vary air at Mt. Conk is so bracing and so different, that it makes the holi-l-iv delightful. With the snow well up the mountain sides, ascents of the nearer peaks are more easy than usual, and even those well on in years can make some ol the walks through- the beautiful paths bordered by the mountain liliee. of which there are acres and acres during the summer. Picnics are arranged to some of the: huts, and rides -on -the Hermitage ponies will carry you to

other vantage points, from which wonderful panoramas and glorious .views of the mountains will bo obtained. If you wish to do so vou can have' your meals at the Hermitage—or some of them, and as there is both a store and a post office attached, your other wants will be well catered for. There is one tiling which must not oe overlooked, or your holiday will inevitably be marred. You are going io a place thousands of feet above seaovel, in the midst of the glacier reyoi, pack the bedding. Camp 'eds plus sleeping bags are the ideal ■or a climate like this. Camp beds -'one, and insufficient blankets spoil absolute misery in a keen climate liko ; anc ' y° u should have almost as 'iiuch underneath you as above you, in order to keep out the cold draughts. With good preparation for the cold, and plenty of provisions to allow for oversize appetites, the Mt. Cook holi-r>uy-'f one t *' e tast possible for the vyhristmas break more especially so as it is entirely different from the holidays usually available.