Category Archives: Bay of Islands

Bay of Islands, Northland

Rainbow Falls and the Packhouse Markets.

After the Hustle and Bustle of Paihia with the festival, we decided to head for some peace and quiet at the NZMCA park at Rainbow Falls. A nice location away from it all where we blobbed out. I went for a look at the Waterfall .. it would be rude not to 🙂

Click on any Image to Enlarge

The NZMCA park at Kerikeri
Rainbow Falls

We ummed and ahhed about walking down to the Stone Store but decided after our Paihia walking, we’d have a quiet day instead.

The NZMCA park at Kerikeri

Early the next morning, we set off towards Kerikeri to visit the Markets and the Packhouse Cafe. The markets are on every weekend and we had the most amazing lunch in the cafe.  I would have to say would be one of the Bay’s easiest and safest parking areas for Motorhomes around. I call them “Motorhome friendly Parking” places!  …. with a great Cafe and Markets as well 🙂

The Packhouse Cafe and Bakery

I parked right next to a Grader at the back to the carpark, a lovely spot.

The Parking !

We wandered around enjoying talking to some of the stall holders. A very friendly place 🙂

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged Slideshow

The NZMCA park at Kerikeri
The NZMCA park at Kerikeri
The NZMCA park at Kerikeri
The Packhouse Cafe and Bakery
The Packhouse Cafe and Bakery
The Packhouse Markets
Hats at the Packhouse Markets
The Parking !

I bought a dress for my 2-month-old Granddaughter with advice from Fiona 🙂

The Packhouse Markets
The Packhouse Markets

We worked our way through the huge building towards the cafe with the bakery attached where they make the most amazing breads and pies. There is also an attached Butcher and Delicatessen that had everything including the amazing local Cheese from the Mahoe Cheese factory.

The Packhouse Cafe and Bakery
The Packhouse Cafe and Bakery

As the day went on, the wind picked up and the rain came down as forecasted so we decided to head for home. We had a fantastic weekend in the Bay… back next year 🙂

Rafe’s tracker map to Kerikeri – Armada GPS
Bay of Islands, Northland

The Paihia Blues and Jazz Festival

1 Comment

Fiona and I came to one of the first of these about 9 years ago, not long after we first got our Motorhome. It was held at the Falls Camping ground which was then owned by Jan Molloy and partner who along with others helped get the festival under way. I remember the band that was there then was Kantuta along with some others.
Jan and her partner later sold that and set up the Bay of Islands Campervan Park which they still own.

Click on any Image to Enlarge

Bay of Island Campervan Park

This year I called Jan who and she was able to squeeze us in for a couple of nights. We’ve been here before, and it is so handy. They’ve had quite a bit of rain this year so the parks were a bit on the damp side so we had to be mindful of parking so we could get out easily.

Rafe in his spot with the Olive Trees

It is such a great location as you can walk pretty much everywhere and there was a Coach doing a regular circuit of the venues so you could see all the bands playing.

Looking bay to Waitangi

We arrived half through the Friday on a lovely fine day with the odd shower and settled in. There is a Countdown supermarket right opposite, so Fiona went over to get some last-minute provisions.

Paihia

The next day, we were up early and walked to Jazz HQ which was about a 25-minute walk at the Scenic hotel in Paihia. On the way along the waterfront, we passed a band playing on the footpath outside the shops with several people dancing and getting into the swing of the festival.

The street band

After getting our day ticket at the Hotel, we sat down to enjoy some of the music by a really good Napier Blues band called DejaBlue. Fantastic sound and we were able to get a really nice Seafood Chowder for lunch. They were followed by The Nairobi Trio who were really entertaining and again, some great sounds.

Here are some more Images from the Festival

Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow

The Street Band on the way
Nairobi Trio
Nairobi Trio
Nairobi Trio
Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie
Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie
Walking towards Paihia
Looking out twards Russell

It was early afternoon then when we decided to head to the Paihia Club where we heard a couple of bands, one of them from Taranaki who were really good. Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie!!….

DejaBlue
Nairobi Trio

They played a Led Zeppelin song and several of their own. Fantastic sound washed down by a G&T and the acoustics there were good too.

Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie
Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie

After a couple of hours, we wandered on to the Paihia Sports bar and then caught the coach to the Twin Pines Manor at Haruru Falls, where we saw another good band, Herbie and the Heartbreakers!

Twin Pines Manor
Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie

About 6pm the bus arrived, and we decided to call it quits and head back to the Campground while the bus was there.

Courtnay and the Unholy Reverie

A great fun day out and lucky with the weather being able to walk to almost everywhere.

Rafe’s tracker map to Paihia – Armada GPS