ROAD GOSSIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 522, 27 November 1928, Page 6

ROAD GOSSIP

THROUGH THE FAR NORTH, FROM DARGAVILLE THROUGH THE KAURI FORESTS TO HOKIANGA HARBOUR AND ROUND TO OHAEAW AI

BY

“IWANTA”

This trip otters the motorist a good variety of scenery—gum fields, kauri forest, marine views, natives in their thatched whares, tobacco growing, and camp sites amid the wonderful nati\ e bush and mountain streams or on the beaches of the Hokianga. Harbour. NORTH OF DARGAVILLE The road rises out of Dargaville and soon follows up the Awakino Valley. This is quite a good metalled road. Many of the farms seem to have been abandoned here and the country looks very poor—probably neglected—as iurther up it has a much improved look, and some of it is under cultivation. Quite a near view is now obtained of Mount Tutamoe. Signs of the early timber industry—giant kauri stumps—are passed. At tlie Kairara School junction, a road to the right goes to Mount Tutamoe, from the top of which, on a clear day, Auckland may be seen. Over the hill climb, one gets a very pretty view of Mamaranui in the valley ahead. The road surface heie is very rough and would be much improved with a coating of fine metal. After crossing Ka iii u Bridge, the railwav is Joined and the surface becomes very broken and rough, but workmen are busy on this stretch. There are some nice camping and picnic spots where the road follows the river before reaching Kaihu. THROUGH THE KAURI FORESTS From Kaihu the traveller has the option of two routes. The first is through Trounson’s Park and Donnelly’s Crossing. This road is metalled but very rough, and joins up with the other road later. The second route is via Aranga. The climb out of Kaihu is in quite good order and along the top on the unmetalled stretch graders have been working, making this very pleasant driving. The traveller gets a. very pretty view of the surrounding hills and the open sea awav to the left toward Mangonui Bluff. Soon after leaving Aranga the metalled road is again joined and the road soon enters the Waipoua Forest. At the present time this road is under construction: practically the whole of it is metalled with cobble stones and when this is blinded will no doubt be one of the finest drives in the Dominion. The whole road is just one long camp and picnic spot. After descending and crossing the bridge, the road rises to a height of 1,200 ft. Quite a large fleet of lorries are busy on this road, and given favourable conditions the road should be metalled before Christmas. MEETING HOKIANGA HARBOUR As the road descends to Waimamaku, the traveller gets a wonderful view of the valley below.and when once down on the flat the metalled road is in splendid order right on through the Pakanae Gorge and over the hill climb to Opononi. There are some very nice camping spots here, and a very fine and safe bathing beach. The road now follows round the llokianga Harbour, passing through the pretty little village of Whirinaki. The natives are very busy here just now transplanting tobacco plants. Plenty of ideal camping and picnic spots from now on through Oue and the road surface is in splendid order. The country is undulating, and the top of each hill climb presents many pretty scenes—peeps of the harbour on one side and the waterfalls tumbling down in the nearby range. A SIDE TRIP TO RAWENE The four-mile run off the main road into Rawene is quite a pretty little drive round the harbour, with a splendid metalled surface. As the road rises up past the hospital a wonderful view of the Hokianga Harbour and inlets is obtained. Motorists can ship their cars here across the river and continue on to Kaitaia if desired. THEN ON TO KAIKOHE Pretty driving on through Omanaia Pa, and although corners are narrow the road is in splendid order. One is struck here by the real old thatched Maori huts, so rarely seen in any other part of the Island. On the Waima hill climb the surface is a bit rough, and quite a big landslide lias occurred here, and the road needs building up a bit. On the descent here a very pretty view is obtained of Waima in the valley ahead. Few parts offer so many ideal camping and picnic spots as does this route. FALLS AT TAHEKE At Taheke the traveller should pay a visit to the Taheke Falls. There are two falls, and at the higher one remi-

nescences of the early logging days present themselves. One tremendous kauri log wedged in the rocks here is lift, in diameter and contains enough timber to build a tour-roomed house. Following on round the river, the newly metalled part is very rough on tyres and badly needs a coat of blinding metal. On over the White Hill the surface is very rough and only partly metalled. This is only characteristic of the many short rotten strips that have been left in many of the highways in different parts of the country. Metal is here and only wants putting on the road. KAIKOHE TO OHAEAWAI When once the metalled road is picked up. the surface is in splendid order, and when passing through thg pa before entering Kaikohe the fields of potatoes present a very pretty sight, ! although the natives informed us they were suffering from the blight. After leaving Kaikohe the road rises _ gently. The surface is pot-holey and ‘ rough in parts, and after passing the Ngaliu Pa, a more open view of the | country is obtained, and earth work . fortifications may be seen on Maunga- ’ turoto llill nearby, while further south Pourirua Hill is to be seen, with its fortifications and trenches. The road sur- - face is now quite good on to Ohaeawui.

The Wellington Automobile Club has placed a service officer on the road with a motor-cycle outfit, similar to those used by the Auckland Automobile Association patrol officers. The South Taranaki Association lias a membership of 3.200, and .t is hoped to organise a patrol system when a roll of 2,000 is reached. If the engine develops a spark knock or * ping” when pulling on a steep grade, retard the spark until the knock disappears.