INTERESTING MOTOR TOUR

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40041, 19 December 1929, Page 2

INTERESTING MOTOR TOUR

FOXTON TO ROTORUA VIA

TARANAKI ANID TIAWKE’S BAY.

A local resident who has just returned from a motor trip in the north during which Taranaki, Hamilton, Te Aroha, Arapuni, Rotorua’ Taupo and Napier were visited, reports the road to be in excellent condition for motoring. The first stretch of the journey from Foxton to Hamilton a distance of 306 miles was accomplished on the first day and occupied about twelve hours.

From Foxton to Hamilton the surface is good with the exception of a stretch from Pio Pio to Te Awainutu which is pot-holed, but road gangs are busy on this section of highway and effecting improvement daily. From Hamilton to T'e Aroha, a very pretty drive, the roads are excellent, while the road to Rotorua via Arapuni is in vei’y good condition. Similar conditions prevail on the Taupo run and from there on- to Napier the hill troad presents a good surface while there is no room for complaint on the final stretch of the round trip from Napier to Foxton. The work carried out by the Automobile Associations reflects great credit, ion tlue bodies 'concerned but in this connection the Auckland Club stands pre-eminent. Throughout the province there is scarcely a track or by-road that is not clearly defined by notices. The motorist is given timely warning of dangerous bends, steep ascents or descents, one-car Bridges, etc., by means ot sign hoards, while it is impossible for him. to lose his tv ay the roads being so clearly defined that a road guieje is unnecessary while a patrol .man is frequently encountered. Benzine prices fluctuate throughout the trip, the cost per gallon ranging from 2/- to 2/10, hut there is no danger of running out of gas on the road. Bowsers are to he found in the remotest places and signs often advise the motorist to fill up as a long run is ahead. From' Hamilton it is a delightful run to Te Aroha, a typically English road with its’green hedges and avenues of trees with a hack ground of green,fields. The road to Rotorua is also pleasing and after passing through the pretty town of Cambridge it is not long before a sign hoard directs the motorist to Arapuni. The Waikato River is picked up and followed for a short distance when Arapnni comes into sight, flora Horn is passed before reaching the township, the serviceable power station tlieli’e being dwarfed into insignificance by the big power station higher up. Avapuui is full of interest and work is proceeding apace. Cars are able to pass over the top of the dam and may jbe parked near the power house during sight-seeing operations. The spillway is Niagara on a small scale and presents a wonderful sight, the\surging water throwing’ spray high into the air. Below lies the buried forest chiefly white maire and totara. and when one sees the number of souvenirs of this interesting spot for sale in shop windows at Arapuni, Rotorua and elsewhere, one wonders how long it will he before this interesting link with the past uncovered as a result of a great engineering feat, disappears for good. After leaving Arapuni five miles can be saved ill dry weather by taking a clay road. Nearing Rotorua the road passes through beautiful Native busl'i and the lake is soon picked up. The Fairy Springs are encountered where the tourist is able to see hundreds of trout in the crystal elealr water and even teed them with bread provided by he. guide while across the pool a photographer with an eye to business emerges from the trees and before lur has finished his “just one moment please” the camera clicks and he disappears once more into tiie bush from whence he came while the guide takes you up a track to see some pheasants and more trout, sparring the while to give the photographer time to de velop his film and way-lay you with a proof of the snap. Leaving Fairy Springs the smell of Rotorua soon greets the nostrils of the visitor and lie is soon swalt9 lowed up in doing the rounds of the thermal regions. Wherever he goes, however, lie is always certain to meet the man with the camera, who quietly way-lays him, disappears mysteriously into the scrub to reappear a little later when the guide is in the midst of explaining some of the wonders of the locality with liis “only a rough proof, sir, the finished job will be better than that, 5/6 the half dozen. Would vim care for any.” Rotorua to Taupo is a good run over pumice roads. Forestry plantations arg passed en route and the road winds round the foot of' the Rainbow Mountain. Poor scrubby country characterises this part of the district and apart for thermal activity at W’airake, and the Huka Falls there is little of interest. A road over undulating country firing's the motorist'into Taupo. Leaving the lake behind, uninter - cstin gserub-covered desefrt country is passed through for some time until the hills are reached. Of the 98 miles from Taupo to Napier 56 miles are taken up on the hills, the mad irisidg ;to a height of 2700 ft. The road, however, is quite safe and presents a good surface. Approaching traffic can ho seen a long way off in most places and the view obtained from the tops of the hills is wonderful. 'Clearing the foothills the sea soon comes into view and Napier in the distance. The last stage of the journey js made over fiat undulating roads on

which the motorist feels a pleasant sense of relief after spending the best part of five hours on the “qui vive” while negotiating the hilly Tanpo Road the previous day.