ROAD TO WAIHO GORGE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1930, Page 3

ROAD TO WAIHO GORGE

FOREST SCENERY

A BEAUTIFUL H IGF WAY. The arterial •«posul l|inl<,ing Wailio Gorge (the present- terminus of the main highway in South Westland) with Wolieka traverses the high hill country for about eighteen miles, and is essentially a forest road. This .so - lion of the mad has been improved greatly of late, and presents some wonderful; scenery. Elsie K. Morten llr well-known anthoresjs has described t-liiis road its “the most beautiful forest highway in till New Zealand.” A!! the beauty of .-other roads is there with a wonderful setting of snow-dad alpine peaks beyond the green- vistas of the forest. The forest growth along the route is remarkable due to the heavy rainfall combined with the mild temneralure all'the year round. This eomhina'ion gives a. great luxuriance of fern an- 1 undergrowth, all of which is set off by the towering nine trees. The weather conditions also account for tl’f tronir.nl growth about the Wniho mv' Fox Glaciers in the same vicinity.

THE ROAD DESCRIBED, The road, is distinctive in ' that in twenty miles it crosses three densely wooded -saddles. It .Is essentially an inland road, probably fifteen to twent miles from the sea coast, and makes its tortuous way among and over the hilte. The streams or we,tcr-couises along the route are now bridged so that- the .through journey is- not nowadays held up by flood, as was often the case in pre-bridging days. The first stream, a short drst-i nee from AVniho Gorge is Docher'-y’s Greek which can be very turbulent in flood now happily mastered by a substantial bridge The road then mounts a high hill and the first esorrienre of the special forest, beauty of the locality is viewed from varving heights After negotiating the long hill and descending to a short flat, the Ooemooron- River is crossed, and them i« another: ascent. This gives a 'fresh view of the , glorious alpine scenerv from a new angle, hut before it is all enjoyed there, is-another' descent and another river to cross, the.. AYiukio, knrin. Thefe iis nj sharp I'asrient jfbll lowing this crossing, with some wonderful fkrort views and, in -season,, great displays o f rota bloom. Finallv when the .high Ill’ll, is surmounted ; hvl a rcinairkal’V woM graded road (a task which must, have been a great or. deal for the pioneering survey nnrt.'A the great AYe.heka hr Coo'-’s P.i-or fiat is spread out, and the Tasman Sea is in the distance. It is a glorious mew, in-, sharp contrast to that behind, an# the' plain Ends and browsing stock suggest a veritable land of milk and liionev, This is 'me of the most wonderful drives in all Wertlaml. and visiting motorist's should not miss it eh any aeeount. Ml who make it carrawav the happiest of memories of the journey.