GOOD WEATHER

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 33, 11 March 1930, Page 4

GOOD WEATHER

AUTUMN MOTORING OONDITIONS SOUTH ISLAND SPOTS. , \ There is a fairly general irupression among North Island xnotorists that the weather in the South Island is so varied, that motor carnping is usually earried out under difficulties. It wo-uld be hard to imagine anything mofe variable than the weather in most paris of the North IslancL during the early part of this Summer, and I can assure motorists that it is very unusual indeed to have such weather in the South Island during the early. Autumn. This is the best time of the year for travelling there, for February and March are about the two most settled months. The small towns in the south mostly mahe some provision for motor-campers, and in a number of cases, not -only provide good camping sites with water and other amenities, but actually make no charge for them. Personallv I believe in a charge, as_ the revenue can he spent in maintaining and improving the grounds, and in providing further facilities. WEST COAST AND OTHER TOWNS. As there is rto intention of classifying towns according to their size, hut rather of taking them according to the ronte travelled, we had better start at the north, with sleepy Picton, nestling at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound. There are two camping places here, one picturesquely situated near the wharf, and the other at the domain, and either of these could he used as a base from which to explore the beautiful countrv around. For a real Sounds holiday though, a hoat of some description is needed. Blenheim is the centre of a prosperous -farming district, hut there is nothing Special to attract visitors. There is a camping ground there, but more interesting places may be found along the Blen-heim-Nelson road. Nelson is, of course, a beautiful place, surrounded hy charming fruit-growing country, and as it has an ideal climate, a camping holiday here is most enjoyable. The grounds and treasures of the Cawthron Institute, and the Art Gallery are two things about Nelson which will present a very wido appeal. There are onlv four towns of any. size on the West Coast, and three of these have facilities for motor camp-,. ing, these being Westport, Reefton, and Greymouth. There are very few deeent camping places between Reefton and Greymouth, so, if making south. it is advisable to make use of the Reefton ground -fo-r the night. There is no special camping ground at Hokitika, hut ,,1ihere are places near the beach where you conTd camp. On the East Coast between Blenheim r.nd Christchurch ,■ you pass through Kaikoura, Rangiora and Kaiapoi, three small ^ towns with no special at-tractio-ns for the motorists. The best camping places on this rqute are not in ^the towns (where no special facilities *are provided") hut on the coast at various shelfcered places. SOUTH OF CHRISTCHURCH. The road sonthwards from Christchurch is, of course, studded with townships, hut the first place of any size is Ashburton — a verv pleasantlysituated town. South of this again is - Temuka, a beautiful town, somewhat overshadowed hy Timaru which has wonderful beach attractions. Free camping is available at Temuka in a very well planned ground replete with every facility ; there are splendid sports grounds in the town which is a very busy little centre. Timaru is the largest and most progressive town between Christchurch and Dunedin, and is an excellent place for a holiday,

being particularly rushed during the Summer holidays. There is a camping ground at the Show grounds, and although this could he improved npon, it makes a good hase from which to enjoy the wonderful beach facilities which make Timaru one of the bestequipped watering places in New Zealand. There is much less of the city atmosphere about Oamaru which is a well-huilt town with fine streets, and a particularly good camping ground in a corner of the botanical gardens, close to the centre of the town. The town itself is well laid out, and is the centre of a distriet in which plenty of good fishing may be had. Inland are both Kurow and Naseby, two small places, the former on the way -from Oamaru to Omarama, on the route to Mt. Cook. I had almost neglected "Waimate, off the main road, between Timaru and Oamaru", hut it certainly deserves mention if only for the provocative notice on the main road, which urges motorists to see Waimate. It is a splendid little centre and has a free camping ground in pleasaAt surroundings. Many of the smaller Otago townships do not provide special facilities for motorists, ko ' that places such as Hampden, Palmerston, Port Chalmers, Mosgiel, Outram and Clyde have no very ' direct interest for the motorist. Usually he can find camping places within easy distahce of these, if necessary. Queenstown and Pembroke are in a very different category, for thev come within the to-urist area, and Queenstown especially goes out of its way to provide comfort for the motorcamper, there heing a splendid camping ground overlooking Wakatipu. OTHER SOUTHERN TOWNS. On the run up to the lakes you pass through a number of towns and townships, some of which, such as Lawrence, have seen better days. Neither Lawrence nor Milton make special provision for campers, but at Roxburgh there is a camping ground laicl off. Near Lawrence, there are plenty of suitable sites. In Southland, Invercargill is the largest and most interesting town, and here, there is good provision for the tourist, in a corner of the park, close handy to the city. With its wide streets, and good type of puhlic building, Invercargill is practieally a city, and.is in -fact the largest inland town • in • the Dominion. It is surrounded hy a most beautiful distriet.. At places like Riverton you can enjoy beach life to the full, at Tuatapere there is virgin- foregt, while if you make northwestwards, you are entering the lakes region, the piece de resistance of the whole distriet. Further north, at Gore, you are in the heart of that long-settled and fertile country which ha3 made Southland -famous. Gore, toq, is a firie little centre, with many evidences of civic pride. Lumsden, at the commencement of the lakes region, lies to the westward, and Kingston is further north, hut once in this a,rea camping places need not worry the tourist, who has a very wide choice of scenery. There are other small towns in Southland, such as Otautau, hut the motorist who visits Invercargill, goes out- and camps in the ground provided at Riverton — one o-f the finest watering places in New Zealand, and Wonderfully sunny — then moves on to Tuatapere and sees where virgin forest meets settled farming country, finall.v making up to the lakes, will see all of the best that Southland has to offer. Besides the manv towns mentioned in this article, there are others, but these have no special claim on the motorist5 s_ attention. Generally . speaking, he is interested either in the larger provincial town. or in the small town that is situated in a tourist distriet. These, I think, have all been dealt with.