Category Archives: Coromandel 2020

Bay of Plenty, Coromandel 2020, Hot pools

Blobbing out in the Hot Pools

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Our first visit to Athenree Holiday park was in the middle of winter in 2016 when we were presented with the 20000th peppermints! .. being the 20000th visitor to their Holiday Park.

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Rafe looking out over the Estuary

Arriving early in the afternoon after babysitting our Grandkids at Ardmore, we were looking forward to blobbing out for a couple of nights with the pools and generally doing very little.

Kids enjoying the pool

I met Peter at the office who couldn’t have been more welcoming and he very efficiently showed me where everything was and after parking Rafe and getting settled down, we very quickly went for our first swim.

And the hottest pool

Peter and Belinda who have owned this for the last 5 months have also joined up with the NZMCA’s Campsaver Winter program so that makes it really affordable as well. The app shows them having 77 powered sites along with several Motels and Cabins. A well setup park.

Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow

Caravans
The office
Rafe peering over the top
Neat painting showing the pools

We were last here with our friends Rob and Helen a few years ago, when they first picked up their brand new Autotrail after its arrival from Britain via Tauranga.  A great place to meet on their “maiden voyage” home 🙂

Athenree is a fantastic spot right on the estuary and with the hot pools on site, it makes it very easy to find excuses for doing absolutely nothing 🙂 .. that was us this weekend! .. And it’s not that far from Auckland in the scheme of things.

Neat Murals

One of the things I really liked was the murals around the pools which are absolutely amazing. There is also a fantastic painting which is a really accurate take of the pool area.

The pool with the Murals

I posted a pic of us parked on the grass on Facebook which was spotted by our friends Ian and Lee who have a Bach in Waihi Beach so we got a call to pop round to see them for a cup of tea which was nice. Great to see them as we haven’t seen them for a few months.

Sunset

A lovely Motorcamp run by some neat people and being a sucker for some nice hot pools, I’ll be back for lots more of this.

Rafe’s Tracker map to Athenree – Armada GPS
Coromandel 2020

Peter and Margie’s Award Caravan

Before I’d even turned off the motor, Peter emerged from his caravan as my neighbour to show me where I should park to avoid the soft spots. We were due to get some fairly heavy rain overnight in Coromandel so it was very helpful advice.

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After realigning Rafe to take advantage of some fairly serious layers of gravel under the grass, I switched off and went over to say hello.

Peter and Margie

After chatting to them for a while, Peter’s wife Margie said that their son was in the very first rotation when the NZ Army went into Afghanistan years ago. My son Alex was there about the same time and was in infantry but they didn’t know each other.

The Award Caravan

Back to the caravan ! ..Their Caravan was freshly imported from the UK about a year ago.

Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow

The Galley area
Bedroom

Peter and Margie live in Tuakau and had their daughter and her family here too.

Fully self contained with everything you need, there is plenty of room for all. With a centre island bed and completely self contained it is a very comfortable caravan.

Lounge area

I ended up spending two nights here with them and with another Tuakau friend in a pop up trailer caravan. Lots of fun with some nice people.

The Caravan
BOP 2020, Coromandel 2020

Vintage Ford Mainline with Bucket of Vino

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One of the amazing finds at the Whangamata Beach Hop this year was literally parked right next to us. It was the vintage combination of a 1957 Ford Mainline Ute towing a Canadian Adventurer 5th Wheeler and it was a perfect match in scale and style.

The Ford Mainline

Coming from a Retro Caravan background, Ray and Cathie were keen to make it easier to get the self containment issue solved a so decided to start with the Ford Mainline and match it with a 5th wheeler..

Ray and Cathie with their “Bucket of Vino and their Ford Mainline

After selling their Caravan, they bought the Ford Mainline and at their home in Tauranga, fixed up some rust and upgraded the motor to a 347 Stroker Ford motor and a few other changes and with a really nice paint job, it looks spectacular.

The 5th Wheeler
With its new back

Then came the 5th wheeler which they found in Whangarei and over a 4 year period they’ve nearly completed the project. Ray described it to me as a “leaky building” and they recently just put a whole new back on it. I couldn’t get over how well matched they were in scale and style when they first arrived.

The Galley living space
Dining, look at that ceiling.
The Bedroom

It looks fabulous and its name Bucket of Vino suggests they’re going to celebrate their efforts with the project’s completion. 🙂

Looking back to the door.
BOP 2020, Coromandel 2020, Shows

Big Motors, Big Sounds, Retro Caravans, Motorhomes at the Beach Hop!

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One of those BIG events of the year which I reckon we should all do at least once. The 2020 Beach Hop was postponed from earlier in the year but it was just as popular as it always is.  Its a fun event and the fine people at Whangamata did well accommodating everyone as the place was literally jumping with people 🙂

One of our neighbours towed his Rolls Royce behind his Motorhome
Complete with a machine gun!

There were 1700 registered (for the show) vehicles plus they think about that again of unregistered owners of vehicles who turned up just to enjoy the fun.

Rafe in line

I parked on the Whangamata School footy field along with nearly 300 other Motorhomers and a whole lot of Retro Caravans. At $75 for three nights each van, it makes a great donation to the school of about $14k which replaces a lot of cake stalls 🙂

The Retro Caravans – Click on the Gallery below for a Slideshow

One of the Caravans
Ross and Karine and their Starlette
Caravan in the Retro area next door

I managed to get to see some old friends who I haven’t seen for a long time. They’re both ex newspaper Photographers who have retired here now and love it.

Another neighbour with his Ford
Heading out

I met John who used to work at the Christchurch Press and Star, and his wife Cheryl at their favorite coffee shop in the centre of town. Very hard to hear anything with the big V8’s running past but it was really nice to see them. I also caught up with Paul who I used to work at the Herald with. We met at the Whangamata Club which is a neat place and just down the road from the school.. Paul is a Caravanner now so great to see him too.

Just Cruising – Click on the Gallery below to enlarge

Every spot taken!
A bit different
Impala seat
An old Holden

Without a doubt the Grand Parade was one of the big events of the weekend and it went forever width the sheer numbers of cars. Quite a few woman made the most of the occasion and were dressed up in their bebop skirts and looked amazing.

Grand Parade and later – Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow

The Rolls Royce in the parade
Enjoying a dance
Check out those Turbos
Mum and Daughter with Daughters Hot Rod behind 🙂
Even a vintage Tow truck
Nice way to get around
DD of Boom Boom Deluxe

Amongst the cars popped out a Morris 1000 with a half done paint job which got a few smiles. Most of us some where in our histories have had one of those or knew someone with one.

The Morris 1000

After enjoying a good lunch in a town café with an elevated deck for a view of the street, I wandered back and listened to one of the many bands playing.

There was one called Boom Boom Deluxe appropriately singing Rockabilly music and doing it really well. The female lead singer / double bass player, Hettie La Bomb, could really belt out the sound and looked the part too.

Hettie La Bomb on her Bass
Hettie La Bomb

One of the things I enjoyed this time was watching people reactions to the cars and the event.

Specialist French vintage Models, Dollykitten and Marion

A lot of fun and after several years of trying to get here but other things getting it the way, I’m pleased I came. Neat place, I met some nice people and lots of action.

The big picture – Rafe’s Tracker map to Whangamata – Armada GPS
Rafe’s Tracker map to the school – Armada GPS
Coromandel 2020

The Trakka Motorhome

I haven’t ever seen one of these so when one rocked up and parked right next to me, the Sherlock Holmes in me came out and I had to go and check it out.

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Julian and Dianne come all the way from Christchurch and bought it new in 2005.  It is 7metres long on a Fiat chassis complete with air suspension and they love it.

Comfy Lounge area and sleeping

It was made in West Auckland and apparently they were quite popular. They doing a big long tour around the north.

Click on the Gallery below to see a Slideshow

TV and Entertainment
The luton is used for storage.
Lovely older switches
Galley

I was pleased to see a slightly older Fiat motorhome looking in such good condition and although you can see where technology has changed with switches and things it all still works to their satisfaction.

Galley

 

Coromandel 2020

A Kauri treat

Long Bay Holiday Park with the Kauri’s behind

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On my second day at Long Bay Holiday Park in Coromandel, I discovered the track to get up to the Kauri grove up behind the bay.

One big tree

There is a boot washing station to prevent Kauri Dieback getting into the forest but its an easy walk in. Its mostly uphill going in and I found myself stopping a few times just to catch my breath (must be getting old or unfit) but it is well worth the effort.

The walk up

There is one massive tree that I could see, and a whole lot of smaller but really tall trees and a couple of areas where you can sit and take it all in. Its a magic spot just like the rest of the bay.

The Grove at the top with the seating area

I sat up there for about half an hour before walking back down to the Holiday Park in the bay.

Click on the Gallery below for a Slideshow

Wash your boots time
The walk up
One big tree
A bit of a peak out
That’s a big tree
A baby Kauri with the big one behind
Entrance to the Bay
Long Bay

I’ve never been one for long walks or studying trees but this is well worth seeing.

That’s a big tree
Coromandel 2020

What a fantastic place to stay

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There are few places in the world that you can stay at in a Motorhome that would beat Long Bay Holiday park.

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The Beach

In the off season, this is a camp saver park too. Leanne is the very friendly camp manager and also runs the well stocked shop. Everything is very easy and laid back.

Just lovely

I was lucky to have 2 out of my three nights here with just brilliant sunshine and made the most of it by walking around to the next beach called Tucks Bay.  Its an easy 10 minute walk around a coastal track which is well worth doing. There is also a gigantic Kauri tree and Kauri glade which is worth a look too.

Tucks Bay
Coming back from Tucks Bay

But its just a neat spot. You can also hire boats or kayaks and go for a paddle around. There are 65 powered sites and three onsite caravans as well.

Click on the Gallery below for a Slideshow

Lots of parking
The Bay
The Autotrail corner
Kayaking
The walk back from Tucks Bay
Coming back from Tucks Bay
Interesting cabins
Dropping off the Kayaks
Auckland is over there somewhere

I went for a walk and met some of the neighbours. It is within walking distance rom Coromandel town (about 3 k’s) but probably a better bike ride.

A must do if you in the area. I’ll be back soon 🙂

Coromandel 2020

Open Plan Motorhoming

While I was in the NZMCA park in Coromandel, I bumped into Ben and Agnes who were getting ready to go for bike ride.

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They were in their new 4year old Coastal Motorhome. This 8.2 m beast is on a Mercedes Sprinter base and is their 2nd Coastal and they love it.

One of the things I noticed about it apart from the fantastic finish is the huge feeling of space around the living area and galley.

Nice feeling of space.

This comes about by having the Toilet and Shower area across the back where it is most often found opposite the galley, closing the living area in. The Queen size centre island bed has no partitioning between the bedroom to the galley, also adding to that spacious feel. ..Interesting.

Looking forward.

The only downside I can see with this is there is no way of closing the bedroom area off from the living space but then you might not want to 🙂

Nice galley area

There favorite destination is anywhere in the South Island where they’ve been 4 times in the last couple of years.. a lovely Motorhome.

The bedroom. Toilet and Shower behind
Coromandel 2020

Coromandel NZMCA park

It has been a few years since I was last in Coromandel town and that is partly due to meeting an oncoming logging truck on a blind bend a few years ago. He was going for it and how we didn’t connect or me disappearing into the tide, I still to this day do not know! Scary… Thankfully it looks as though they have done quite a bit of upgrading work to the coast road and it looks heaps better.

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Great view from the top.

It’s a great run up the coast and getting up to stop at the top lookout just before Manaia is always a treat for the eyes.

The Coromandel NZMCA park was famous for being wet and everybody crowding onto a small sealed area. Well.. no more. The whole area is gravel and it looks fantastic.

Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow

The fridge has been upgraded too.
And a gate
Dry as a bone
The smokehouse

One of the nice things about this park is its location right in the middle of town. With the Coromandel Smokehouse right in front and a couple of pubs and the shops within easy walking distance.. what a spot!

Look at all that Gravel
Coromandel 2020

Motorhoming by the river

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Nicely positioned on the edge of the Tapu river coming out of the hills in Coromandel is Tapu Creek Motorhome Park. Unless you knew about it, you would never find it !

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It is in an absolute idyllic position right next to the river.

With quite few powered sites and hot showers and good facilities, it is also quite interesting with its slightly alternative decorations. . Really nicely done too.

At $15 with power in the off peak, it is very good value and the scenery can’t be beaten.

Click on the Gallery below to see a slideshow

Outside Kitchen
As close as you can get!

As you come into Tapu travelling north from Thames, it is about 5 k’s along the sealed Tapu Creek road into the hills.

BBQ hut

If you want somewhere nice a quiet and very good value, this is hard to beat.