HOLIDAY RESORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1930, Page 3

HOLIDAY RESORTS

IN WESTLAND,

The Kokatahi Plains are a revelation to visitors. Reaching Westland by rail down the Teremakau Valley and along the ocean foreshore, does not give much of an idea of tiie pastoral prospects of the district. The uninformed traveller forms an entirely wrong idea ot Westland’s resources as he travels by train and observes the 1 country-side from the carriage window. A surprise—a pleasant surprise—awaits him when he takes motor and jaunts out to Kokatahi and Koiteiangi. He will travel for the greater part of the distance over one of the best surfaced mecndamised roads in tlie Dominion, free from hills and dales, and with excellent visability. If on holiday bent, there are different localities he may seek out. There is the Styx Valley at the head of Upper Kokatahi road. This will be eventually the route for the road round to the head of Lake Kanieri to join up with the new road at Dorothy Falls. The Styx is a beautiful stream and fringed with forest of a bright green colouring, rather in its way. But before the destination ireached over the fifteen mile run, there are many farms en route, and the visitor has a new vision of the potentialities of Westland. Farms, mostly dairying, dot the road-side, with many pleasant homesteads to set, off the picture. Stock in good order, are invariably browsing in the paddocks and give an air of wealth and , prosperity to the district. The settlement covers a. large area of land capable of greatly increased production ais the land is cleaned up. Land in the district is cheap relatively when compared with sale prices in the North Island, and the settlers of the district as a class, should not be greatly harrassed even at the present time with the low returns, for overhead costs on ,highly valued land are uot involved. The second route to cover the Kokatahi .Plain*, takes the visitor across the Kokatahi river to the Koiterangi Settlement. This was settled much later than the main' settlement at Kokatahi. There are various drives (1) to the Hokitika river at the back of Camelbaek hv way of Wall road: (2) to Municipal Valley by wav of Borough road to the hack of Donelibov and (3) tVe most popular, to the Hokitika Gorge at the end of * the Whitcombe Valley road. Along the route, again, there is much farming settlement, all wearing a prosperous air. There is a good deal of limestone country in the Koiterangi area, for Mt. Camelbaek is largely a limestone belt. The country is noted for ; its stock, and- some of the best cattle 'in the country come off its grass pastures. Dairying flourishes also, and j sheep farming is also in vogue. The Kokatahi Plains certainly add greatlv to the wealth and prosperity of the district, for- there* !►> a steady all the year round output of produce and prime stock. As a farming settlement it has an assured future. Jt is set in a pleasant valley, surrounded by high, hills, bush clad to the snow line, and is a healthy location. One of the special scenic features is the Hokitika River Gorge which hnP been the subject of many fine photographs. Tile river comes... through high granite oliifs, mostly covered with bush, and in season revealing rich glowing rata bloom. The water is of great clearness, and despite the confined channel is remarkably unruffled. It is a rare beauty spot, an ideal location for a picnic outing, about 18 miles from Hokitika by a practically level road throughout. The Kokatahi Plains reach up to the mountain fastnesses which divide the West Coast from the East. There are several mountain passes over which pedestrians make their way, and wonderful walks are to be had. The Browning Pass route is probably the best known. It was the way the Maoris of old travelled in the distant pafct when searching for greenstone. The route follows up the Styx Valley to the divide, and thence declines by the Wilberforce to the Lake Coleridge country.! Opossums flourish in this territory. Many deer are also to l>e seen, and bird life is increasing. There is much fine mountain scenery. There is one pleasing plateau an ideal site for a sanatorium. Quartz reefs are located in the high country, and some day the golden treasure of the matrix may be I'ecovered. From the Hokitika river Valley above the Gorge, +he Whitcombe track takes the traveller into the high country, and two routes into Canterbury are at his disposal (l) the Whitcombe Pass into the Rakaia and (2) the Mathias Pass to Rakaia Forks and down to Coleridge. The Whitcombe is considered one of the easiest as it is the finest of the routes going eastward. There are some wonderful gorges. Rainbow trout abound in the upper waters, anddeer are in plenty in the high country. The mountain scenery is striking. Barron Canyon, a subject to the uhotographer, is passed by the wav. There is also the Wilkinson glacier, and the ice precipices of Mount Fnm.ns which is at the head of the Bi" 1 ganui river on the opposite fall. The | alpine grandeur is remarkable at everv I turn and the acccps round and about jg not difficult to the active. The Mathias is .somewhat shorter. ' After negotiating the Hokitika, and | its main branch, the Whitcombe river, the traveller branches at, Fre"-’ c creek Tn the high grass land of this route deer -re fairly plentiful. There Ih- a low saddle on Frew’s creek to negotiat". and then (Mi to the mam oa.ss The high country is fairlv oner, I and affords Ion" views westward with the Tasman sea in the distance. There

is scope for a. great mountaineering holiday in this way-back country. There are huts at different, stages to afford shelter. Beer stalkers take in camping outfits, with flying camp material, and can use one of the huts as a base for varioujs. expeditions. The Kokatahi Plains with its settled areas, are one of the main supports for the future permanency of Westland. Settlement must always flourish, and the land will always produce. The time is coming when more of the land will be closely settled. Much of it is not used to its capacity yet. There are parks in need of clearing and cleaning up. This process is going ahead slowly but surely. In the day of closer settlement the Kokatahi and Koiterangi settlements will become a greater asset still, for the land has 'been proved as to its capacity,, and under proper treatment will continue to produce high class fodder the foundation for the success of stock raising and dairy farming. Next . article, Interesting . Motor Drives.