WITH TENT AND MOTOR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11132, 15 February 1930, Page 11

WITH TENT AND MOTOR

A TOUR OF THE TOWNS. ROUND THE NORTH ISLAND. WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND MOTOR. CAMPS. (By “Trip.”) (All Rights Reserved.) So many of those who journey afield with teait and car come from the cities, that one forgets the large number of country people who now enjoy this form of holiday and are thus enabled to see much of the country at comparatively little cost. I was reminded of these one day recently by a letter from a, country reader asking l’or some information about cities, the places that had good motor camps and those that hacl specially interesting places to see. This article Is the result, mid later wo will deal with South Island cities and towns. After all, ,a real holiday is secured when we do something directly opposed to our ordinary'work, and fur the country motorist, a- run to the city wi'tli its life and brightness. makes a very. desirable break. * AUCKLAND. .Auckland and Wellington arc the North: Island’s two cities so it will bo appropriate to deal with them first, later mentioning some of the provincial towns which have special attractions for the tourist and especially for tho motor camper. Because of its superb situation and its sunny climate, Auckland is the greatest outdoors city in New Zealand, and is therefore ideal for a. summer holiday. Many and varied are the excursions which can lx; had both on its roads and on the harbour of which Aucklanders arc so proud, it has easily the best Zoo in New Zealand, and no one should visit Auckland without seeing it. It is also particulraly fortunate in its parks, of which there are many scattered throughout the city and its environs, many of which are the gilts of private citizens. The museum, and Art Gallery are both very fine, the former having a splendid collection of Maori curios included among its collections. There are several motor camps around Auckland, one being at Henderson, a few miles out of the city. Full information can always be obtained from the Auckland Automobile Association. Here, and in a number of other towns, a preferential rate is given motor campers who belong to an automobile association, the reason being that in many instances it is the associations which have been responsible for motor camping provision. As a matter of fact the Auckland Association is a particularly “live” one and motorists railing there are given every help in seeing all that the town and district lias to show.

North, <551 st. iiml. west. beaches stretch out invitingly, and in the hot summer months these are regularly crowded. The Takapuua and XI ilfoid heaehes are particularly good, these being reached through Oevouport. after ferrying the car across the harbour—a. very quick run. Tire drive to Titirangi and another cut through a kauri forest are two tilings which no visitor should fail to do. There is no need to describe any of the points about the city itself —the visitor will naturally >tr these for himself. Wellington. Much maligned because oi its somewhat variable climate—and especially so this year of course because of the unseasonable weather in early summer—Wellington usually appears to the visitor the busiest of our four principal cities. The centre oi the Government with many line buildings. it is unique in having a fitly mile marine motor drive—nearly all of which is Litumenised. .From the motor camper's viewpoint it is not well equipped, hut by staying some distance out of town in the Upper Mutt district the motorist can make use of private camping grounds, '.served by streams.. 'The city camping ground is at Karon, some six miles out of town. Wellington land is valuable, and Wellington'« bills are steep and country people never tire of seeing for themselves tlm many ingenious ways in which natural building diliiculties are overcome.

Them are a number of very fine I lays and beaches, all Avilhin easy striking distance ol' the town, and the drive from .Days’ Bay, through Pctone, and round through Oriental Bay, and thence round the harbour mouth to Lyall Bay and Island Bay. is one that should certainly bo taken by every visitor. Besides giving you a. very good dea of the outer suburban areas, it provides delightful* glimpses of sea and hills throughout most of its length, skirting the harbour and the l benches' nearly all the way. The iinest trip in the district is that between Akutarawa and Waikanae bench, through delightful bushdad gorges, the round tri'p being just under ninety miles. ’lbis road is subject to slips, and a notice hoard at each end indicates whether* it is closed to traffic or not. Two' other roads running westwards in a similar way, both making good runs to* Pahauanui, run up from Hay wards, and Wallacevillo respectively. Til© latter (Moonshine Road) is the best from a iscenio viewpoint, although it is pretty steep in places. By going up to: Normandale, a blind road in the ‘Western Ilutt hills, a very line view of the city and Its outskirts is obtained, while an oven better one is got from Brandon’s Peak, above Ngahauranga. The car can be driven to Apt thin a few feet of the summit. For fishing enthusiasts the Maungaroa Valley and Wai-nui-a-mata Valley (reached on different roads) offer most. There are well stocked streams in both places, these not being soi heavily fished as is the Iriutt River. Plenty of good camping sites abound in these two valleys, but as most are on private property, the permission of ''owners" is • necessary.

Oi special interest to bonkluver.s is the Turnbull Library which houses some of tbe rarest hooks to he found in the Dominion. file Parliamentary Buildings always interest, country people, of course, and when the Rouse is in (session a visit there is usually included in the list of “sights'-' to he seen.

These outlines of our North island cities are necessarily brief and sketchy, giving a few suggestions from the many trips that can he made in each place. Interests are naturally so varied in the rase of individual motorists that it is guile impossible in the space of ;; slmrt article to do more than this. In rv ery city there arc plenty of organisations to pul you in touch with the things you want to see am! do, and I lie motorists* own as.sm ial ions are designed for special service in this direction.