May 13. — Rose early and pursued our route in a westerly 
direction, our destination being the Waikato Valley and the Middle 
Waikato Basin. We had to cross the Wlmnga range, the northern 
continuation of which is the Cape Colville peninsula on the East- 
side of the Hauraki-Gulf. From Tauranga, however, this range 
does not appear as a mountain-range, but the land rises gradually 
in a gently sloping, inclined plain to a wooded plateau, which to- 
wards the Waiho Valley breaks off abruptly; consequently it is only 
from the Waiho plains that the coast range appears as a steep and 
rugged mountain-range. It consists of traehytic rocks, and forms the 
northern continuation of the Patetere plateau. The road is a much 
frequented path for equestrians. For two hours we had to traverse 
woodless, fern-clad hills; then we came to a cool mountain-stream, 
the Waipapa, forming a few yards off the road a pretty cascade, 
called Taiharu, and about 30 feet high. More the bush commences, at 
first interrupted by some intervening lawns, from which a charming 
view is had over the Bay of Plenty, from the Tuhua Island to the 
Whakari volcanoe; thence it grows denser and denser, until the 
traveller at last finds himself once more buried in the obscurity of 
a primitive New Zealand forest. Magnificent cobalt-blue mushrooms 
2 '/ 2 inches high, and the extremely frequent occurrence of the remark- 
able “vegetating caterpillar” in those woods deserve special notice. 
The Parapara creek — on the banks of which there are very pretty 
ferns (among them Lindscea microphylla Presl) in luxuriant growth, 
— is the last creek running towards the Tauranga side. The water- 
shed to be crossed is about 1500 feet above the level of the sea. 
The road obstructed by the gnarled roots of the trees, and by deep 
mud-holes, was extremely difficult and tiresome, and towards even- 
ing we were obliged to encamp in the middle of the bush on the 
banks of a small creek running towards the Waiho side. Our camp- 
ing-ground on the height of the Whanga-plateau was 1414 feet above 
the level of the sea. The bright glare of our blazing fire illumi- 
nated the gigantic trunks of majestic Rimu and Rata trees, the 
moonlight with magic splendour poured through their lofty crowns, 
and the blustering night wind moaned in the tree-tops. I do not 
