One of the first places we ever took our motorhome, about ten years ago now was Leigh.
Plenty of room.
Back then, we were still very new to motor homing, so the plan was to head somewhere not too far from home… just in case we’d forgotten something or if anything went wrong. Of course, nothing did! Instead, we ended up discovering a fantastic little village overlooking the sea.
Down at the wharfLooking out over the water from the wharf.
A few years later I came back while Fiona was working to see the village light itself up for their annual light-up event. It made for some great images; you can see those here.
The park before the wee storm with the conference centre and Motel units also part of the campground behind.Entrance to the Conference-Wedding centre.
Last weekend was another one of those “unsupervised” trips while Fiona was at work. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous on the first day with hail, thunder, and strong winds in the forecast. The weather did arrive, but it was nothing to lose any sleep over.
The Library
Once the sun reappeared, I headed off for a wander through town and down to the wharf, only about a 10-minute walk. It really is a magic little place.
Scary driveway !
The Fish and Chip shop near the Camp.
Lots of colour
Really nice cabins too for friends without Motorhomes.
While I was out, I met the owner of Leigh Central who introduced himself and had a good yarn. A really friendly chap, and he mentioned there are some big improvements planned for the future.
Looking up the main street of Leigh
The campground itself is fantastic, close to everything, quiet, and super relaxed. On my last night, I tried the fish and chip shop right next door to the camp… delicious and very reasonably priced.
Character buildings.
And of course, one of the best things about Leigh: it’s so handy to Auckland. Only about 60-odd kilometres from Devonport, so it’s an easy and super convenient weekend getaway.
Another great stay in a favourite little settlement by the sea.?
Soon after I arrived at an NZMCA Rally in Glenbrook, Gavin and Gladys rolled in with their absolutely stunning Valiant Hardtop complete with a matching caravan. What a gem!
They were living in Australia when they bought this Stirling Moss Special, which was created to promote Chrysler’s Australian designed Hemi Six engine. The car itself started life as a US Dodge Dart, but with an Aussie nose grafted on, a true cross-continental hybrid!
Gladys and Gavin with their Caravan.
Of the 139 originally built, it’s believed that only 11 still survive today, so this is a pretty special machine.
Gavin and Gladys used it in Australia before bringing it back to New Zealand, where it served as their family car for more than 30 years. After that, it was tucked away in a shed for about 15 years before being completely rebuilt for a family wedding. What a comeback story!
Under the bonnet now is a 245 cubic inch Hemi with a 350 Holley carb, electronic ignition, and high compression, giving around 240 horsepower. It’s also had upgrades to the brakes, suspension, and gearbox, making it a lot tougher for towing duties.
Having been a Valiant owner myself back in the day, I was blown away when they arrived, it looked absolutely spectacular.
Looking out towards the car.
The caravan has its own story too. They found it about three years ago down in the South Island, bought it, and drove it all the way home. The hardest part, they said, was finding one in decent condition that hadn’t been knocked around. They repainted it to perfectly match the Valiant, and now the pair turn heads everywhere they go including at Mystery Creek and other classic shows.
It was fantastic to see them both out there, enjoying their Wheels of Yesteryear. A real treat for the eyes!
What a lovely little place to sneak away to! And the best bit, it’s not far from the big smoke.
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Fiona was at work, so with a couple of days free I thought it was the perfect time to stretch Rafe’s legs, and Sandspit beckoned.
At just over 50km north, straight up the motorway, it couldn’t be easier.
After checking in, I grabbed a prime waterfront spot, opened a few vents, and headed out for a wander. Across the road is the marina, where a boardwalk winds its way through the mangroves, great for a stroll and a stickybeak at the boats. The bar there was closed (only open Thursday to Sunday), but I was more interested in the boats anyway.
The BoardwalkWorking on the boats
From there, I carried on down to the wharf where you can hop aboard the Mail Boat as it does the delivery run around Kawau Island. It’s a brilliant trip that takes most of the day, with a stop at Mansion House Bay (I’ve written about that trip before, see that here.
Click on the Gallery below to check out the Baches
Amazing Baches
By lunchtime I was back at the campground, soaking up the sun by the water and admiring some of the cute old baches nearby. Most of the baches you can stay in, but some are privately owned.
The Marina
With the weather set to turn, I made the most of it by walking up the hill to check out the famous big chair and take in the view.
The big chair on the top of the hillThe View from the top
The park itself is a gem. I hear it’s on the market after being in the same family for more than 40 years. That’ll be a sad moment for them, it’s not often you find spots like this anymore.
A fantastic spot, close to home, and one I’ll happily come back to.
I was on a bit of a mission. I needed to get some leaky taps replaced out at Zion Motorhomes, and I had to be in Pokeno by 8am on a Tuesday. Anyone who knows me knows… I’m not a morning person! ?
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The lake next to the Club
Solution? I’d been wanting to check out the Waiuku Cossie Club’s motorhome parking and explore the township properly, so this was the perfect excuse.
Lovely outlook
I left Devonport around lunchtime on Monday and cruised down the Southern Motorway. Traffic was light, and I found myself in Waiuku early in the afternoon.
Parked next to the Wizard
On the edge of the carpark, in his motorhome, was my neighbour Wizard, doing a few running repairs on his newish Roller Team. He’s a full-timer and a real character.
The Waiuku Club
The setup here is great. There are three blocks of power boards with around eight sockets each. One quirk: when you pay your $25 with power, you also leave a deposit for a key to the power boards so you can switch your socket on.
The Bridge to Waiuku
After I’d paid, I found a spot near Wizard. He was plugged into a board nearby and kindly used his key to power up a socket for me, a great neighbour to have!
Click on the Gallery below for a Slideshow of Waiuku
Lovely Parking
The Historic Church in town
Downtown Waiuku
The Kentish Hotel
The park opoosite the Kentish Hotel looking out towards Glenbrook Steel Mill.
History everywhere
Loveley outlook
I’d driven through Waiuku quite a few times before, but only stopped briefly, so it was nice to have time for a proper wander. There’s a real charm to the place with plenty of older houses being lovingly restored and a tidy, vibrant main street.
The club’s motorhome park is tucked beside a lake, with a walk bridge that takes you straight into town in about 10 minutes. It’s a lovely, quiet spot. If you’re a member of the Clubs NZ network, you can also enjoy meals and drinks at the club, another bonus.
The park opposite the Kentish Hotel looking out towards Glenbrook Steel Mill.
All up, a great place to park up, unwind, and enjoy a charming little town.
The best way to describe this year’s Covi Motorhome Show? Quiet but interesting.
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Dethleffs XLI
It was an interesting show with some exciting new things to see. The trend towards smaller motorhomes continues, but the big rigs were still out in force, many with new tricks up their sleeves.
In the Jayco pavilion
A couple of notable new entrants caught my eye:
The Frankia K Peak, a 6 metre motorhome on a Mercedes base
The Sunlight Adventure also 6 metres, built on a Fiat base
Click on the Gallery below for the Frankia K Peak
Frankia K Peak
Frankia K Peak
Frankia K Peak
Frankia K Peak
Frankia K Peak
Click on the Gallery below for the Sunlight Adventure
Dethleffs Sunlight Adventure
Dethleffs Sunlight Adventure
Dethleffs Sunlight Adventure
Dethleffs Sunlight Adventure
Dethleffs Sunlight Adventure
Fiona was working, so I arrived midday Thursday, while she planned to join me Friday after work in the car. It was great catching up with some old friends from Waikato NZMCA, who were handling parking duties at Ellerslie Racecourse.
This year, there was also a Zion Motorhomes parking area on a nice flat asphalt section, so I slipped in there easily. Later in the afternoon, a 4:30 ish Happy Hour kicked off behind one of the motorhomes—always a fun way to wind down!
The Dethleffs Area
Show Day
On Friday morning, I hopped on the free show bus to the showgrounds and started cruising the stands. A few highlights:
The new Swift Basecamp just under 6 metres but still a 4-berth with all the usual add-ons, including a TV aerial. Small but perfectly formed!
Stopping by the NZMCA stand for the annual team photo, a must-do tradition!
The NZMCA Team
Click on the Gallery below for the Swift Basecamp
Swift Basecamp
Swift Basecamp
Swift Basecamp
Swift Basecamp
Swift Basecamp
A lot of the usual accessory vendors weren’t there this year, which was a shame. I always enjoy checking out all the handy bits and bobs.
Bruce and Robyn from NZ Today
Fantastic Parking Effort
With all the changes happening at Ellerslie Racecourse, the parking team did an incredible job fitting hundreds of motorhomes and caravans into some tricky spots between trees and in tight spaces, all while keeping it neat and organized.
Click on the Gallery below for Parking Images
Looking across to the Dethleffs Parking area.
Fiona arrived Friday night, so we took advantage of having the car and treated ourselves to a Japanese dinner—yum!
A Fun Weekend
Catching up with motorhome friends is always a highlight, and despite the quieter show, it was still a great weekend.
When we first got our motorhome, Ray’s Rest quickly became one of our favorite freedom camping spots.
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Later in the day
It’s one of the few places in New Zealand where you can park right on the sand, looking out across the water with the Coromandel Peninsula offering some shelter.
Looking south down the beach
A few years ago, this spot like many others saw an influx of largely overseas tourists misusing freedom camping areas. It wasn’t uncommon to wake up with a budget rental van parked just inches from your doorway. Thankfully, updated self-containment and freedom camping laws have put an end to that, making places like Ray’s Rest much more enjoyable again.
A drone being setup for fishing off the beach
Two weeks earlier, I’d been knocked out by Covid, so Fiona suggested I take the motorhome out for some fresh air while she worked, and she’d join me later. Brilliant idea! With the sun shining, I stocked up at Countdown Supermarket and hit the road.
Looking North along the beach
When I arrived, there were plenty of parking spots, though they quickly filled as the day went on. It was great to catch up with several familiar faces, New Zealand really is a small place!
Nice easy pace
I spent the afternoon walking along the beach, soaking in the sunshine, and appreciating just how lucky we are to have places like this to stay. The weather was stunning, and an onshore breeze kept things comfortable—absolute perfection.
Rays Rest is famous for being a bird migration landing zone.
After two blissful days of sea air and sunshine, I packed up, already planning my next visit.
Rafe next to the sand.
Ray’s Rest is still magic, and I’ll definitely be back for more 🙂
After leaving Dargaville, I made my way back towards Matakana, where Fiona was driving up from Devonport to meet me at a new POP (Park Over Property) called Willow Park. The drive into Matakana was a test of patience—traffic from the Warkworth motorway turnoff to Matakana took over an hour. Apparently, that’s par for the course. Thankfully, the destination was well worth the effort.
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Fiona had already arrived by the time I got to Willow Park. After parking up, we sat down with a cuppa and started planning our next moves.
Willows Park
First on our list was the famous Sculptureum just around the corner. The Matakana markets were also in full swing, so of course, we decided to check those out too.
Looking back at Willows Park
Willow Park, located on Totaranui Road, is run by NZMCA member Gary Pallett. It’s situated on a gentle slope, but the 10 or so graveled sites are impressively level. The farm setting offers fantastic views, which you’ll see from the photos. There are showers available, though we stuck to using our own facilities.
Although the Sculptureum is within walking distance, we opted to drive down the hill. The place is massive, complete with a vineyard. The experience is split into four main sections, and they recommend allowing at least two hours to fully explore. There’s also a restaurant for lunch and plenty of parking.
We started in the indoor gallery, which was packed with fascinating and unusual art pieces. From there, we ventured into the Palm Garden, famous for its whimsical giant snails. The landscaping is immaculate, perfectly complementing the sculptures on display. (Check out the photos!)
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Fiona admiring a Pergoda
Amazing sculpture with Fiona.
The Snails
After a couple of hours in the sun, we retreated to the verandah for a much-needed coffee.
Across the road, the Matakana Country Park was buzzing with market activity. We moved the car to their carpark and wandered through the stalls for about an hour. Even near closing time, the place was still packed with people!
At the Markets
Before heading back to Willow Park, we stopped into Matakana itself to grab some supplies and have a quick look around. Unsurprisingly, it was still incredibly busy, so we didn’t linger too long.
It was a fantastic day out, with the Sculptureum being the highlight. The art and sculptures are absolutely stunning, and the entire experience is amazing. A great couple of nights away and not too far from home 🙂
We hadn’t long been out of bed on the Saturday morning when Fiona announced,” Let’s get out of town, what about Kaiaua”?
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The Bay View Hotel in Kaiaua
Kaiaua has become our easy bust out of the house destination being not far to drive with a great NZMCA park next door to a fantastic pub and the Fish and Chip shop from heaven 🙂
So, within a couple of hours, we were arriving in Kaiaua. Almost opposite us were full-timers, Kelly and Claire in their Autotrail Delaware. Small world stuff. It turns out that Kelly built a friend’s boat. Moored in the same place as the old family boat Rorqual.
We tootled over next door to the pub next door and there was an amazing band playing called Small stuffed Animals. they were amazing playing all the old favourites.
We also met Vicki and John who are just getting a Caravan ready to hit the road. Vicki grew up in Kaiaua.
I was told that there was a German Ompah band playing the next day and that explained why some of the staff were dressed in the appropriate costume, like the German beer festival. Lots of fun.
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Manu about to deliver some food to a table.
We pretty much spent the rest of the day there and then got fish and chips for tea at the Fish and Chip shop. While we were there, we stumbled on some Liquorice Ice Cream. We last had this with Sambuca over it years ago in Coromandel and it was unbelievable. Well, we’ve found it, and it is made by Lewis Road Creamery… I feel a visit is imminent with the freezer on 🙂
Manu with some happy customers.
The next day, Fiona went for a walk, and I went to chat to the neighbours and later we found ourselves back at the pub where the Herman band was laying. Barman Manu was in his German gear making the most of it and it was a fun afternoon.
Later in the day we checked in to the Pub for tea. I had an unbelievable Pork Roast and Fiona had a Fish Pie… both amazing.
It’s cold and the weather isn’t that flash, but it was time to give Rafe a fright by getting on a highway or two.
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Nigel no mates 🙂
My first destination was the Kaiaua NZMCA park and being a Wednesday afternoon, it was no real surprise to find there was only one other vehicle there, but we were joined by another Motorhome later in the day. It rained most of the day, but it was nice and warm and there were a few movie endings I wanted to see on Netflix to keep me going 🙂
Later I wandered over to the pub next door for a glass of wine and managed to catch the 2nd half of the NZ womans 7’s team winning a medal… fantastic.
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Quiet in Kaiaua
One of the main streets in Thames
The Paeroa Pub
The main street in Paeroa
In the morning, it was still pretty gloomy, but I went for a bit of a walk around with the camera. It is very different here mid-week with unfavourable weather, that’s for certain. Here’s what it looked like a few months ago.
Free parking in ThamesA place to see in Thames
After packing up and stowing things for travel, I thought I’d head for Thames to check out a spot for next year’s Dethleffs Owners group. Finding accommodation for 40 plus vehicles that also takes Dogs that we haven’t been to, is not all that easy.
Our new venue for the get together next year.
After ringing ahead, I later met Kevin who showed me around out next venue which is perfect and an easy walk or bike to the shops. Its in the diary and we’re all ready steady go for early next year.
Free parking in Paeroa
Feeling pretty pleased with myself, I thought while I was out and about, I’d pop out to Paeroa which is only 20 k’s away and settled into a spot in the council provided freedom camping at the end of the main street. A great spot and for $5 I had power too for the heater… it was cold!
The Paeroa Pub
The next morning after a look around Paeroa, I headed back to Auckland stopping at Ngatea for Diesel and the Dump Station. A nice couple of nights away. A flashback to a recent trip to Paeroa.
Rafe’s tracker map to Thames and Paeroa – Armada GPS
This month, our Dethleffs Motorhome hits the ripe old age of 10 years old. It’s amazing how things creep up and need doing.
Rafe at Sandspit recently
About this time of the year, there is a list of things that we need to do to keep Rafe in good shape…
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At North Shore Diesel for the Service
The annual service done at North Shore Diesel who have looked after it from day 1.
As we’d only done 6000 k’s since the service last year, we elected to skip the fuel filter for a year instead having an additive added in the fuel to nail any Diesel bug that might be lurking.
As they do most years, the Technician, Ben also did a pre-COF check and found a led marker light above the windscreen had died. We managed to get one from Zion Motorhomes, the Dethleffs agents and Ben was able to install it for me.
Installing the new Marker lightThe new German light shining brightly
Interesting reading through the invoice, they also forced a DPF filter burn which is good.
The COF always a stressful time but thanks to the pre Cof check and the light replacement, it sailed through. Interesting though, the VTNZ tech invited me down into the pit to show me the brackets holding the Grey Water tank behind the back axle. It was empty of course and was light enough to lift up above its support about an inch. It has been like this since it was new so I’m not too fussed about it but I will put a couple of Rubber strips to pack the gap with big cable ties to hold the rubber in.
Insurance and Registration one for the Budget 🙂
Big outgoings here!
About a month ago, we decided that our Queen centre bed was getting a bit uncomfortable and started looking at what we needed to do after 10 years. We decided that the feather topper over the mattress had done its dash as some of the feathers were starting to leak out onto the floor. After reading on Facebook, some NZMCA’rs are getting a good run from a Bamboo Memory foam Topper which was on special for just under $200 and its really comfortable. The bed is a little higher but really nice.
The new Headboard and Mattress Topper
The other thing we did in the bedroom is we reupholstered the Headboard which was a bit of cheap brown vinyl stapled to a sheet of ply and pretty hard if you slipped off your pillow.
We bought some good quality foam and some other stuff that covers it and some new good quality light grey vinyl and I re upholstered it and put it back in… much nicer.
Bedroom done!
Sanding the Headlight
Just before the last COF late last year I got a huge stone chip on the right-hand headlight. Amazingly it was a chip! I sanded it up and filled it will some clear Araldite and coated the Headlight with a left-over Headlight repair kit I used a few years ago but in doing so, removed all the nice 2 pot lacquer I had done professionally three years ago. It was chipping in form the edge anyway and was starting to go yellow, so time was pretty much up.
Polishing timeSanding….
I booked it in to a place I found in Albany called Final Touch who specialises in coatings for paint and headlights. They quoted me between $150 and $250 depending on what was involved. It took two of them 2 hours to sand off the three coats of chipped lacquer! But they look amazing and now have a Ceramic Glaze on them which should be good for up to three years and it’s much easier to fix then.
The Reveal.. all done with Ceramic Glaze
The other 10 year upgrades this year have been the Dome / Mi Box Upgrade.
The Lithium Phosphate Battery upgrades was a massive upgrade too. People told me it would “change your life” which it has 🙂 Apart from the Lithium change we also went from 200-amp hours to 300-amp hours.
Looking smart
On the way to get the headlights done, I checked it at their next-door neighbours Carters Tyres to see if my tyres needed rotating, they were due but the experts there thought they were wearing well and were fine where they were so one job less to do.
So, we’re off for the Matariki weekend. I’m not sure where yet but Rafe’s ready and so are we 🙂 Safe travels everyone.
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.
Bugger It, we are off - www.buggeritweareoff.com 
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