EASTER TOURING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 18, 12 April 1927, Page 11

EASTER TOURING

WILL BE SOUTHWARD SEVERAL ROADS DIFFICULT Travelling this Easter will depend almost entirely on the weather, and, the date being so late, there is a prospect that quite a number of the : roads will not be available to most drivers. Some ofthe clay roads, which are holding traffic fairly well at present, will cut up very rapidly when the volume of holiday traffic sets in. Incidentally a few drivers who do not know much about travelling over clay will make considerably more of a mess of a road than a greater number of those who understand the art.

Quite a number of motorists have already made their arrangements, and have secured their itineraries from the Automobile Association. The majority of inquiries have concerned: Rotorua and Taupo. Hamilton, Waitomo Caves and Te Ivuiti. I-lauraki Plains to Thames and Coromandel. Raglan, because of the good road. Hauraki Plains, to Te Aroha and Matamata, visiting Arapuni and Cambridge on the way back. There is little inquiry for the northern runs, most of the motorists knowing that the roads are already cutting up fairly badly, and there is little prospect of anything approaching comfortable travelling at Easter. ROTORUA AND TAUPO For all the southern trips, excepting those across the Hauraki Plains, the Main South Road is followed to Hamilton. Cars for Rotorua and Taupo turn off at Hamilton. Cars for Taupo, in turfi, take the road turning off at Tirau. Roads. All-weather surface to Tirau. Portions of Tirau to Rotorua road are under re-construction, particularly those parts which caused trouble at Christmas. These have been laid with rhyolite, a soft metal of the district resembling papa, but not so greasy. A large amount is unmetalled. It dries in two days. Portion of the road from Tirau to Taupo, between Putaruru and Lichfield, is being tar-sealed. Small deviations may be necessary. Most of the road is pumice formation. Soft in one or two places in wet weather. Use of chains will be the worst inconvenience. Time.—Usually one day to Rotorua. Some motorists spend a night at Hamilton, Cambridge, or Tirau, on the Taupo trip. WEST COAST ROUTE This road is metalled right through to Wellington, and no difficulties face the tourist, except perhaps in the

matter of slips or blockages in <Vet weather making the use of chains necessary. HAURAKI PLAINS Travellers by this route will turn off at Pokeno. Between Maramarua and Waitakuru, on the coast, there is one piece of unmetalled road for 1$ miles. This may require chains. Remainder metalled. BAY OF PLENTY Few inquiries have been made for the Bay of Plenty, owing to the condition of the Kaimai hill, which is in bad order. The Waihi Tauranga road is rough. The soil is fairly light and dries quickly. ONE-DAY TRIPS For those who stay near home, and rely on getting an outing if the sun shines, the conditions will not be very promising. The Main South Road, unless it improves in condition, will make travelling as far as Papakura unpleasant. The spots suggested are: Muriwai beach. Nihotupu. bush and view from the Waitakere Ranges. Henderson Valley, and the bush and stream. Tui Glen camping ground in the bush. The East Coast bays, north of Takapuna. Wevmouth, if the tide is in. HoCvick, Cockles Bay, and Kohimarama.

At Easter carry chains on all roads. Even if the road is metalled there may be a slip or some necessity for taking a detour. On unmetalled roads you might need them at any moment.