After our fun at the Holiday Park, we were looking forward to a stress-free night at Ngongotaha with power to watch the rugby final. I haven’t tried the new Kiwi camps power system yet, so it was all new and it works well.
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Looking out to the lake
We cruised into the NZMCA park there around 10:30 and checked out the scene for parking with power. After finding plenty of space near the power posts, we went back to buy a Kiwi camps tag at the 4 square and after loading some money on the tag and setting up the app, we plugged in and we were away .. easy peasy.
Great OutlookNice place to stay.
A cup of tea was deemed necessary and then we caught a bus into downtown Rotorua. After wandering around the very impressive newly done up Lakefront, we watched some Helicopters, Jet boats and Seaplanes come and go.
We walked over to Eat st for lunch and then walked up to the big barn shops (Farmers, Briscoes etc.) so I could get some shoes.
Eat st
After a cup of tea stop and one of Fiona’s other favourites cafe’s, we caught a bus back to Ngongotaha NZMCA park and prepared ourselves for a night of good Rugby.
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The power post
The power post
Nice to see the bottom area getting used.
Planes and Helicopters were busy.
There was a great soccer game going on right next door so we sneaked through the gate and watched. A nice game and apparently by two of the top teams.
Next doorOur neighbours Taupo V NgongotahaThe Grandstand at the edge of the NZMCA park
We have come here quite often over the years but haven’t been here recently. It’s just lovely and always easy and I have to say, as a “power” person, I really like the addition of power for those who want it. It’s so easy and it is really nice to have at one of our better parks.
A few days away in Rotorua sounded like a good plan so after restocking the fridge and topping up with a bit of water, we set off for Rotorua. Straight down the motorway with the new Hamilton bypass, it was too easy.
The unusual Covered Boardwalk with the Facilities in the middle.
The park is quite different from your average holiday park in that is has a covered boardwalk that surrounds the park and meets at the newish ablution block. It means you can park close and avoid getting too wet if its pouring with rain to get the facilities. Clever.
After an afternoon of a few swims as you do, we settled down for the night. The forecast was evil with heavy rain and maybe some thunder too.
About 4am, we were woken up by this massive thunderclap and huge lightning. You could feel the vibration of the thunder through the motorhome even through the bedding! There were a couple of more strikes and then things settled down to just heaps of rain and wind.
In the morning, we woke up to a fridge which had been on power, a bit slow to respond and it was decidedly warmer than it should have been. We thought maybe it had been spiked.
Reading the Herald on the iPad, we saw that at the Golf course just a 100 or so metres away over the road, a Cyprus tree had exploded, and bits went flying up to 50 metres away after a lightning strike. We figured this must be what we heard at 4am.
The Facilities
The fridge was still a bit lethargic so after talking to my son, he suggested (I should have thought of this) that reset the fridge and try it on gas until we get back to Auckland to save our food. The fridge worked brilliantly and when we got home, we tested it on power with some ice and glass of water and it passed with flying colours 🙂
Outside the French Cafe
After getting over the fridge and getting things together, we headed into Rotorua on a bus and headed to Fiona’s favourite French Cafe in Rotorua. As always, the food was fantastic and from there, we went for a wander through the shopping area.
Fiona at her favourite French Cafe
Rotorua always has that holiday feel to it with the thermal smell and all the touristy stuff happening. It’s a great spot and we can never get enough of it. The Hot pools of course make it even better.
We finished off at Farmers and Noel Leeming and some of the big shops. A cruise back on the Bus and we were back in for another swim in the Hot Pools. Bliss.
Rafe’s tracker map to Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park – Armada GPS
Some of you may remember the Auction for Hospice Taranaki set up by my old friend and boss Rob Tucker in September last year. Rob organised some of his old work colleagues and other close news photographers to each provide their 3 favourite images for the auction. They were framed and mounted and various businesses in New Plymouth banded together to donate their services to make it a huge success. The Auction raised over $200.000 for Hospice Taranaki and really helped them out financially.
The three images I contributed to the Auction taken during my time at the Auckland Star below. Click on the images to enlarge.
Tina Turner at a press conference under TV lights.
Micheal Winslow outside the Regent in Auckland.
Run for your wife. One of the last shows at His Majesties Theatre in Auckland before it got bulldozed. L to R: Geoffrey Hughes (Coronation Street), Timothy Lea (Confessions of a Windows Cleaner) and Windsor Davies (It aint half hot mum) were staying at the White Heron lodge in Parnell where I met them early one morning.
I used to work as a photographer at the Herald with Rob. I was his first appointment when Rob was appointed as one of the youngest Picture Editors the Herald ever had. He had worked in Taranaki, at the Auckland Star and in the UK. The Herald did a really good video of Rob’s career highlights which you can see here. Rob was also appointed a medal in the recent Kings Birthday Honours for services to Photography.
A couple of weeks ago, Rob sadly passed away after fighting cancer for the last few years. The day we knew would come arrived, but it never makes it any easier when you lose a good friend.
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On the drive down
So, I jumped into Rafe and set off for Fitzroy Holiday Park to attend the funeral which was in Rob’s hometown of New Plymouth. The weather wasn’t fantastic, but I still managed to get some nice moody images coming down the coast into New Plymouth.
Lovely Coast
I checked into Fitzroy Holiday Park and the next day at the funeral caught up with my old darkroom buddy and fellow Herald Photographer Ross Land. We both started within a year of each other as young 20 yr olds, both appointed by Rob so have known Rob for over 40 years. As Rob was confined to a wheelchair, Ross was Rob’s right-hand man at the Auction, helping with the mounting, putting the book together and helping get the Auction under way. Despite the loss of our good friend Rob, it’s always nice to see Ross.
At a get together at Rob’s place 6 or so years ago. LtoR, Rob, Rob’s brother Jim and me. Rob’s wife Bonnie took the photo.
I also caught up with a few other photographers and Journalists present including Robs brother Jim who was my boss at the Auckland Star for 5 years or so in the 80’s. It was also really nice to see Robs wife Bonnie and their family.
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Well used walkway
The Kiosk and surfclub.
Water isn’t far away.
Cabins
Fitzroy is one of those Holiday Parks you never get tired of. It’s in a great location right on the beach and the facilities are fantastic and its reasonably priced at this time of the year. It’s also handy to the city.
There is a walkway/bike lane that runs all the way up the coast and back into the city which is amazing. It runs through the front part of the camp and a really popular coffee Kiosk just outside. It’s a really popular place for the surfers and the walkers and bike users, both on the walkway and beach are nonstop.
I was a bit unlucky to catch a bug doing the rounds, so we couldn’t get away over Kings Birthday weekend. It then hung around for another week 😐
The following week came around and Fiona suggested I get out of the house and escape in Rafe and get some fresh air! Yippee .. What a great idea!
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Just over the road early in the morning.
The easy bolt hole from Auckland, the Hot Pool at Miranda or the Kaiaua NZMCA park and blob out by the coast. It’s just lovely to be back out on the road.
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The dog area
The pool
The bike trail to Kaiaua
The weather forecast was awful, and it was cold, so the easy choice was a few days at Miranda.
Miranda is close and easy, especially when it’s a bit on the cool side with not too much driving and not too much diesel. On the way, Rafe clicked over 100,000k’s too!
The new Childrens area
A few days in the pool meeting some nice people was fun.With the NZMCA park at Kaiaua, it’s great to have some extra options with Motorhome accommodation and right next to the pub and Fish and Chips too. !
The irony of the trip is at the end of three days, I still wasn’t quite right but it was really nice to get away at a great place.
A nice few days in Paradise!
Rafe’s tracker map back from the Miranda – Armada GPS
After 9 years and 94000 plus k’s, the LED running lights on one side of Rafe’s bumper had decided to fade on me and the driver’s side were significantly duller than on the other side. This is apparently a symptom of them on their last legs. I thought I’d get ahead of the curve while they were still dying and get some new ones and arrange to have them replaced just in case I got on the wrong side of the COF people.
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And After with the new LED’s
First port of call was to my trusty reliable friends at North Shore Diesel who have done the services on Rafe since new, to see what the trouble was. Within 20 minutes or so, their workshop manager, Nandra had narrowed it down to dying LEDs on one side rather than water in a connection or similar. Nandra was able to get the part number for me off the current ones making it easier to get a replacement.
I found one on a site in the US quite easily, but most vendors were either out of stock or new stock was almost double the price in US$. Looking further afield, I found a place in Latvia that had them at the old price 213 Euros plus about $30 freight.
The Kit from Latvia
They arrived about 3 weeks later and last week, I booked it in with our local bumper experts, Fleets Street Panel beaters just around the corner from us. They had the bumper off just about year or so ago to sand it and repaint it after the Italian paint fell off it due to NZ’s harsh UV light so I figured they would be familiar with it and all the body tools to get it off.
The Bumper on the floor with the LED Cluster on the right . Pic Nathan Hale
Being short staffed, Nathan (the CEO/Owner) did the job himself, and although there was a stray bolt that wouldn’t play the game, it came together well. He took these photos to show how it all looks stripped down.
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Pic Nathan Hale
Gee its ugly with the bumper off :-)Pic Nathan Hale
Close up of the back of the cluster on the bumper. Pic Nathan Hale
The LED cluster. Pic Nathan Hale
The Kit from Latvia Pic Chris Miller
And After with the new LED’s Pc: Chris Miller
So, we’re back in business for another 9 years or so. I always thought LEDs didn’t give up but it’s amazing how they do. Apparently, there are some on a new popular brand that only last 2 years before giving it all away.
The LED cluster. Pic Nathan Hale
In the last few weeks, I’ve been contacted by a couple of people who have a similar setup to mine and similar aged vehicles with driving lights so it’s good to know how we deal with it.
The Hella Part number for Dethleffs Globe4’s is : 2PT 010 458-701
One of my all-time favorite places to stay and very good value. It’s also close to a couple of great Restaurants and Bars for later in the evening. I see too that the loos have had a bit of a do up which is great. Nice bright Scottish paintings on the outside.
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On the way back from Whangarei after topping up with fuel, we stopped in to see some of our old boatie friends from Auckland in Ruakaka. After lunch with Chris and then a pop in with Tina and Mark and their family, we decided we would just stay in Waipu in our old favourite park.
The Museum
They had just had a big festival there and some of the trucks had carved up the wet ground quite badly, so you had to be selective about where you parked! I parked on the outside edge closest to the driveway where it was unmarked and pretty dry.
Nice and safe next to the gravel.
It was blowing dogs off chains, so I set Rafe back a bit from the trees just in case and also for a TV signal 🙂 The weather looked iffy too!
The plan was to get something in town to eat but in the end, we snacked in the van and had an early night given that we were heading home the next day.
A great 10 days or so away and nice to do the bits we’ve never seen in Northland.
Rafe’s tracker map to the Waipu Caledonian Park – Armada GPS
I don’t know how many times I’ve photographed and driven past the loos at Kawakawa, but Fiona and I had both seen the publicity on the new Art centre in Whangarei and it was on the must do list 🙂
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Nice easy parking
We arrived in Whangarei just after lunch after stopping in at Manganui for a piece of fish and a Scallop or two for morning tea 🙂
Very styley 60’s 🙂
With the weather looking decidedly dodgy with wind and rain, I decided on the Whangarei Central Holiday Park which is easy walking distance to anywhere in town. It’s also very reasonably priced with very nice people running it. Everything works and its handy!
After settling down Rafe, we set off with our umbrellas towards the new art centre, about 10 minutes’ walk. It’s amazing! The first thing to do while it was not raining was to check out the dome and the roof garden. There are some really rare trees from the islands there too with curled leaves… interesting but to think how quickly this has come together, it’s amazing and on the roof too.
Back downstairs on a wavy tiled floor, you feel almost like you’re on the water. Up one floor for the gallery on Hundertwasser are lots of examples of his art and design, and basically several rooms on how he did what he did and when. Really interesting artwork but with his unique style.
Fiona in the tower. The Marina in the background
He also had an amazing motor Sailer which I think he might have sailed out from Europe.
We spent an hour or so here and then went for a coffee at the Centre’s Cafe.
Some of the art
By the time we finished here it was time for tea. We found an arcade in the main street full of Restaurants and bars and eventually settled on an Indian Restaurant called Tumeric. It would have to be the best Indian meal we’ve both had for some time and was very reasonable. Amazing food.
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From the tower out over the roof top garden towards the city.
Looking out from the tower
Lots of tiles and Coulour
Fiona in the Gallery
It was getting dark as left the restaurant and we ambled our way back to Rafe at the Park.
Outside our new favourite Indian Restaurant 🙂
A really interesting day starting in Ahipara, Manganui for Fish, ticked off the Hundertwasser building and a great Indian meal… what a day:-)
Rafe’s tracker map to the Whangarei Central Holiday Park – Armada GPS
After leaving Awanui, we were going to head to Ahipara. Fiona mentioned that she’d never been to Kaitaia so we were off to see Kaitaia which was on the way. We were going to stop for a coffee but couldn’t find any easy parking. After a visit to the Dump Station, we had a quick look around and decided to head on to Ahipara which is just short of 14k’s away.
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The road entrance to State highway 1 to Cape Reinga 🙂Looking back to Ahipara and the road around to the headland.
As we entered Ahipara there were two Cafe’s which were really busy… so we checked in at the Ahipara Holiday Park being the only place to stay.
Just in front of where we were parked.. huge parking area.
Although slightly on the expensive side, the parking spots were bigger and flatter than I’ve seen anywhere so that more than made up for it. The Loos and Showers were really good too and there was also free Wi-Fi if we’d wanted it. It was only 10 minutes’ walk away to the beach. You generally get what you pay for these days 🙂
Check out the room!
After setting up Rafe and opening vents, and plugging in, I took the camera for a walk down to the beach…. The bottom end of the 90 mile beach! I looked around for anything that looked anything like what I could remember from years ago with the beach buggy, but it all looks very different from what I remember… it was a long time ago though.
Looking north towards Cape Reinga!People enjoying the water.
I went back to the camp and Fiona, and I took Rafe to the Cafe we saw coming in and had a really nice lunch and then went for a drive down to the bottom end of the beach along the foreshore road.
A local friendly Goat
It’s amazing looking up the beach, you can see the bend of the land going right up to the cape. There were a few people having a swim and enjoying what is probably the end of Summer. A great spot.
After an hour or so we motored back to the Holiday Park and blobbed for a bit.
Later in the day.
The wind had died down a bit later on and the sun was shining so it was nice with the stereo on and with all this space, no neighbours 🙂
Rafe’s tracker map to the Ahipara Holiday Park – Armada GPS
This was just such a treat and Fiona and I had been looking forward to it.. the highlight of the trip if you like. We met the bus I was later told; was a 400 HP beast that was once a Petrol tanker but was custom made for its current purpose of ferrying people like us up to the Cape on the sand.
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The driver picked us up outside the Awanui NZMCA park along with a neighbour in the park with his two grandsons and we were off.
Jason the driver and guide was a scream and very good with the flow of interesting information that went all day.
After turning off the main road north at Waipapakauri, we headed a few k’s towards the beach before we got to the sand. The weather for the trip was perfect and once Jason had changed into 4-wheel drive, we were off up the beach… all 56k’s of it apparently 🙂 As Jason said on the commentary “ It’s the only state highway that gets a wash twice a day “:-)
Getting out for a stretch
About half an hour or so of cruising up the beach, we stopped and got out for stretch and a look around. It’s an amazing beach with nothing really in either direction apart from the sandhills behind.
Looking South. the hole in the rock.
There was a rock of the beach with a hole in like the one off Cape Brett.
Jason running the Bus up the Te Paki stream for the sandboarding.
A bit further on, we were heading up the Te Paki stream beside the massive sand hills where we stopped to let to let those younger and more adventurous than us to boogie board down the sand hills. Jason gave them all a few safety lessons and they were off.
Jason doing the safety briefing.Jason doing the safety briefing before they head up the dune.Sandboarding !
They all seemed pretty happy with the occasion and about 45 minutes or so later, we set off again up the stream to rejoin the highway up to the Cape.
After Lunch
Next we were heading up to Tapotupotu Beach for lunch which Jason had stashed away. The road wasn’t for the faint hearted in a big vehicle and although there were a few Motorhomes there, it definitely wasn’t for me.
Looking towards Maris van Diemen
About an 1 hour later with a great lunch by the beach, we all headed back to the bus and Jason then took us all up to the Cape Reinga carpark to walk down to the lighthouse.
The oceans meeting
It’s about a 45-minute walk down to the lighthouse and back and quite steep in places but on a really nice track. As you go down on the left you can see Cape Maria van Diemen where the lighthouse used to be, Cape Reinga in front and the beach that we had lunch at off to the right with North Cape way off in the distance.
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Arriving on the beach
A sandhill in the sun
Looking South.. wonderful.
Jason running the Bus up the Te Paki stream for the sandboarding.
Jason doing the safety briefing.
On the way up.. Jason was saying the escalators were being serviced 🙂
The Lighthouse – pic by Fiona
Cape Reinga
The last time I was here, I think I was 13 years old or thereabouts. We were on a family trip with a 4-wheel drive with a beach buggy on an A frame. It was a trip for a photo shoot with a friend of my Dads who was a specialist Motor Racing photographer for a magazine article. The beach buggy got stuck on top of a sandhill… think all wheels off the ground so I got to learn how to drive it while we got it unstuck 🙂
Back to the trip… it was fantastic to see it all again and all the improvements that have been made for easier access.
At the pub on the way home.
We were all back in the bus heading down the road for an ice cream stop and to the famous Waipapakauri where Fiona and I had a G & T to celebrate the end of a great day. We were only a few K’s north of the Awanui NZMCA park.
Back at Awanui.. great day !
A fantastic day and I’m really pleased we took the option of a guided bus trip. It wasn’t expensive given what was involved and a lot of fun and entertainment. Thanks, Jason, for the great commentary and a brilliant day out.
Rafe’s tracker map to the Awanui NZMCA park – Armada GPS
It is a really handy spot and this is where one of the most recently opened NZMCA parks is.
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Plenty of flat room
On one side is the main rd northwards to Pukenui and beyond up to Cape Reinga and the other side has a river winding its way past. It’s a lovely flat site.
Fantastic spot to park
I was intrigued by the sign in hut or cupboard as it really is. The face on profile looks like a significant small building but if you look at the side profile, its looks very different 🙂 Very clever.
The front profile 🙂The side profile of the “shed”
We had spent the previous two nights up at Pukenui intending to drive up to Cape Reinga but after coming across a company based in Kaitaia only 7 k’s or so down the road, they suggested that we get ourselves here before 9am the next morning so they could pick us up before heading up the beach to Cape Reinga. They had a modified Truck which was a Petrol Tanker in a past life and modified it for use on the beach with 4-wheel drive and sand tyres. .. so here we are..
Nice safe spot
The Caravanner next door had his two grandsons with him and was catching the same bus. The park is fantastic and makes life very easy to plan your way around Northland. Well done to the volunteers who set it up.
Rafe’s tracker map to the Awanui NZMCA park – Armada GPS
Fiona & Chris, two empty nesters put their dreams of doing something different into reality… Now back in a house, they were living in their Motorhome, come along for the ride.
We walked over to Eat st for lunch and then walked up to the big barn shops (Farmers, Briscoes etc.) so I could get some shoes.
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