A CRUISE UPON WHEELS: HAMILTON TO LAKE ROTORUA.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1656, 15 February 1883, Page 2

A CRUISE UPON WHEELS: HAMILTON TO LAKE ROTORUA.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, — As it seems not to be generally known that it is possible to reach the j Hot Lakes by carriage from Hamilton, and as those travellers who dread ' a coasting voyage to Tauranga, or the rough coach journey between Tauranga and Ohinemutu may be deterred from attempting to see the beauties of this most striking and remarkable district, I \ send the folloH ing account of a very eni joyable trip made entirely overland. We travelled from Auckland to Hamilton by rail, and the next day chartered of Mr C. E. Johnson an American Cortland waggon. This vehicle was very light, and yet very strong, and it held four passengers besides the driver, and carried all necessary baggage, utensils, and proA T i&i6ns for the day. We started at 7 o'clock, and reached Cambridge about 9, where we were joined by two friends on. horseback. After lunch at 11.30 we all fairly embarked on our journey. The road skirted the banks of the Waikato River, the scenery of the route being very picturesque. The Maungatautari hills being thickly wooded, and the river winding among gieen meadows, often showed pretty rapids and one fine waterfall. The road is sometimes carried along a shelf cut out of the hill side, and though not dangerous to a careful driver has some steep ascents and descents. After patting Feigusson's plantation wjth litfc. pretty house and grounds we reached Maclean'sstation; then passing through the gate we came shortly upon the Waotu Block, lately dealt with by the Land Court, and about 15 miles further arrived at the Waotu hotel, now kept by Mr Frank Cook who has only lately taken possession, and lias not yet had time to get it completely furnished or stocked. But his active and cheerful wife did all in her power to make us comfortable, and we found the beds aud bed-rooms clean. Here we rested the night, and next day we had a lovely drive through the bush, the totara tiees astonishing us by their gigantic size, ami the (punga) tree ferns by their exquisite beauty. The glinting of sunlight through the tangled foliage was charming, and this part of the journey was intensely enjoyed. Shortly after quitting the bush we found another hotel, which offered good accomodation, and was plentifully btoeked. We then entered on the great Tokoroa Plains, thickly covered with " wi," a white grass, affording good feed for sheep and cattle, ami as it seemed to us, the whole district is capable, when properly cultivated, of yielding food for hundreds of settlers with their Hocks and herds. The country is undulating — richly clad with bracken or fern ; diversified by rock and crag ; watered by several creeks of excellent water, over all of which, bowever, we found practicable fords or timber bridges. The prospect for many miles was bounded by the grand old mountains — Maungaiti and Horahora — the latter ending in a prominent crag called Hinemoa, and both crowned with magnificent forests. The scene was grand in the extreme, and save for its utter lack of dwellings or other signs of human industry, might vie with the English Lake Districts of Cumberland or Westmoreland. After crossing the Tokoroa Plains our track opened out to the paitly formed road leading to the Maori settlement of Maungaiti, where we found a four-roomed cottage fitted up for the u&e of travellers. We had been told that here the accomodation was- rough, and the food scanty and poor, but we found both much better thtp we expected—beds^ bedding, tinned meats, eggs, bread, bacon ana potatoes, while the daughter of the proprietor, Mr Abraham, was active, willing and attentive. Wo rested there very well for the night, and early next; morning threaded out way over a succession of rounded hills and along pleasant valleys, until about seven miles from Maungaiti we came upon the high road leading , from Tauranga to Napier, along which we bowled easily and merrily for many miles, and though not equally level all the way to Ohinemutu, there is a fairly good road the whole distance. The ' scenery all along the route is very grand. We wind round steep hill-sides, we pass pieuresque, castle-like crags, amongst which are the Dickens rock, the Witches' stone, Abraham's Altar,' &c. Then we traverse luxuriant valleys or climb steep hills, tili^ on the summit of the last mountau^B chain we look down on the toiling sulpbuTK mud pools at o,ur feet, and see in the distance the grand Rptorua Lake and the little cluster of houses and hotels at Ohinemutu. It is no part of my purpose to describe this extraordinary and interesting district. That' has been already done by abler pens than mine. Suffice it to say that the sulphur baths are daily becoming more famous for their curative efficacy in gout, rtieumatfsm and certain chest .diseases j that .there are at Ohinemutu three good * hotels ' a\l well kept; clean and i comfortable ;- that the Rofcoroahana Hotel at Wairoa is one of the best/]} haye 1 found; Ah ) the 'colony. > ; From thence the White and Pink Terraces can be easily, visited intone day $etunijng An time to get' back to Ohinemutu ttie lame evening, though three or four d'ayfe might well be- sspenfc in exploring tjjie, lovely scenery in the neighbourhood, many parts of. which, strongly reminded -us ..of .the lake districts of Italy 4 or Switzerland T fc P1??6P 1 ?? 6 R?JyjP!? e s/gM% (facilities "of approach to become the'sanitoriunt'o'f the Southern HemispKere M< and* Jfcbe r holiday resorfc r ,of ,Ijhe, wh^leyNpAhern > Ipkyd. These '»/ nothing of the projected railway, Xai yo t only wxQjeot) ,» jwCtotf Jdlwoft, from

Cambridge to OhinTemVUtftfia Oxford is in progress, and when complete will reduce the distance between Roturua and Hamilton Railway. Station to less, than, 70 miles, which with a change of horses at Oxford may be done in one long day. We sawj the great sights of thp district which fully repaid us the labour and expense, and will never be forgotten by us as long as we live, and then returned by the same route as we came, sleeping as before at Maungaiti and Waotu, but if any decent hotel existed between these two places, we need not have spent more than one night on the road. We found Mr C. R. Johnson, of Hamilton, a very carefulnnd competent diiver. Hesupplied a pair of strong horses .and was himself civil, attentive and obliging. In all particulars he carried out his engagement so as to deserve our best recommendation. — I am, &c, Wm. P. Gmkhtii, Of Bromley, Kent, England.