This is one of those places that you’ll keep coming back to. It is just magic and there’s a ferry to Kawau too.
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Just Bliss
I arrived early in the afternoon and got myself setup in a corner spot but then realised that under some huge trees, there would be no TV signal.
First thing on the waterfrontLooking over towards the ferry wharf
It’s a fairly casual arrangement, “Park wherever you like except the waterfront spots which are booked for a whole bunch of Ozzies in their Britz vans”. I was only 10 steps away anyway so that was fine:-)
The Ozzies on the water
It was warm, there were people out kayaking in the camps free Kayaks and people out swimming.
The Ozzies catching upKayaking fun
I went for a walk across to the Sandpit Yacht club later for tea and sat out on the deck with a nice glass of chardonnay. Very civilised I thought but such a nice spot and the food was fantastic too.
At the Yacht club
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You can stay in this.
Close to the water
The Ozzies on the water
Snakes and Ladders
The Boardwalk across thye mangroves to the Yacht club.
At the Yacht club
First thing on the waterfront
Later it was time to head back for a shower in the fantastic newish ablutions block.
Some of the history
There used to be a whole bunch of pretend historic shops around the office area which all seem to have gone which is a shame.. one of the features of this camp but still a great spot to stay all the same.
This has been on my list of places to see for quite a few years, and I finally get to go there. The weather forecast was evil but as it turned out it didn’t really eventuate to the level promised 🙂
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The cafe
I arrived just in time for lunch at the Cafe to check in for a park for the night.
The ablutions and cafe behind
I was served by a very friendly chap who gave me the run down on where everything was and then made my lunch and a coffee so I was off to a great start. The parking was $12 per peron which included power, showers and toilets. There is also a dump station there too!
The parking area
The parking is basically one behind the other on what looked like it was once a wide driveway, so you need some wheel ramps to combat a slight camber.
Parking
The facilities are fantastic and look reasonably newish but well maintained.
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Noisy!
I met my very friendly neighbours on both sides and after that went for a walk down to the wharf where several people were enjoying their fishing. I’m not sure what the birds were but there were lots of them.
Lovely spot.
Later, I was showing my neighbour from Orewa one of the year books I used to produce for the Classic Yacht Association, and he recognised himself in one of the photos!
Its been in the wars 🙂
A lovely spot to stay in a nice part of the world.
Rafe’s Tracker map to Shelley Beach – Armada – GPS
It has been a wee while since we’ve been here at what used to be called Pinewoods. We used to come here quite often as it was close and a nice break away without driving too far. With the cost of diesel being what it is, I thought it was time for a visit!
The weather wasn’t perfect as a whole week of unsettled weather was due a few days away, but it was stinking hot.
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The new parking area looking out towards the beach.
I checked in at the office and found that the old parking area with the very clean and tidy but basically in a bachy style building was not the first-choice area. They’ve now got a new very swish new parking area in an area that used to be a paddock you walked through to get to the beach.
It is set out with a big wide concrete driveway in a half circle arrangement with concrete parking bays running off that. A neat setup as it doesn’t matter where you’re parked, there is an easy angle to back in.
This also comes with a swish new facilities block, a kitchen, along with several showers and toilets.
The entrance
The kids a play area has been souped up too with the addition of a flying fox and other gear too.
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Looking out from the creek to the beach.
The original camping area.
The entrance
Some of the old baches
Looking out to Orewa from the rocks
I always remembered this place for its big concrete table tennis table. Easily one of the best around.
The amazing table tennis table.
Once I had Rafe settled, I walked over the park for a look around. The bachs all dotted over the hill and as I understand it are still all managed by a collective board. At the top there is also the famous Jacobs Ladder which is a set of steps going down the cliff although there is a sign saying you shouldn’t go down due to the erosion on the cliff.
The original camping area.
Funny who you meet in strange places. After I took the photo of the new area and posted it on my own Facebook page, a friend Adele was saying what a nice motorhome her friend Gordon had in the foreground, so I went over to meet him. Having been the owner of several Dethleffs, I’m certain we’ve met before, but it was nice to meet him again.
The Beach
Back to the campground. Across the new campground is a locked bridge behind the surf club to cross the creek to the beach The creek surrounds the campground on three sides. It’s nice to be parked so close to the beach and not far from the big smoke for fuel!
This amazing walkway starts at The New Plymouth port and runs right around to Bell Block.
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Port TaranakiEast End Beach
The last time we were in New Plymouth with bikes, we stayed at the NZMCA Bell Block Park. From there, there is a track that runs just down from the main road to the coast and on into New Plymouth port. It’s a fantastic track being all concrete and easy.
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New Plymouth
Crossing the creek
East End Beach
Port Taranaki
Covered in plastic
Enjoying the sun at Fitzroy
New Plymouth Port
I joined it this time from the city and walked out to East End beach and along the track to Te Rewa Rewa bridge. Unfortunately, it is covered in plastic being blasted and painted. It is still a great walk out there and I was surprised by the amount of foot and bike traffic.
Back by the Holiday parkBusy on the track
It’s a great facility and its fantastic to see it getting so much use.
It was great to back in New Plymouth. It was a catching up with friends’ trip, and to attend a Photo auction for Hospice Taranaki which was being held in town so I was keen to not be too far away from the action.
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Fitzroy Beach was the perfect place to stay being right next to the beach and an easy 20 minute walk into town along the waterfront.
Good flat parkingKitchens and Showers
With a bit of wind around, it is protected by hedges everywhere you look. With nice big flat sites, two dump stations, nice clean Toilets and amazing showers, it was just perfect.
New Plymouth PortWalking the dog.
There is a big jumping pillow and a great playground too for the kids.
The City to Bell Block walkway winds its way along the waterfront right across the front of the campground so there is plenty to see and do. There is a great Kiosk not far away on the sand dune that does coffees, Ice creams and everything else.
People riding on the walkway by the camp
On our last trip here quite a few years ago with bikes, we explored the walkway from Bell block all the way into town. See that here.
View from the top dump station 🙂
Great Hosts and nice campground handy to town.
Rafe’s Tracker map to Fitzroy Holiday Park – Armada GPS
With one week to go until the Hospice Taranaki News Photo Auction, I set off to New Plymouth a bit early to have a nosey around the mountain. Mt Egmont.
Click on any Image to enlarge.As I got closer to Mokau, on the coast I thought I’d stop at the Seaview Holiday Park right on the beach which had views down to Mt Egmont.
Bright Colours!
It’s a typical west coast beach complete with Black Sand and the wild water. The ruggedness is what makes it though.
The Beach looking towards New Plymouth
I checked in and was given a park right behind the sandhill facing the beach but still protected from any wind that might come up. Great parking!
One of the many baches along the coast
It’s one of those real old original Kiwi family parks with nice bright colours on slightly older cabins.
One of the Ablution blocks
The ablution blocks are covered in murals… nicely done.
Looking through the campgroundRafe with the beach behindMt Egmont on the right
I went for a wander around the park and then along the beach. Lovely spot!
After enjoying a great All Blacks win in the Raglan Holiday Park, we headed into town over the walk bridge to check out the shops. First stop was a Café for a coffee and then we walked about 1k across to the wharf and Silo area.
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Raglan personifiedThe Historic RaglanNeat shops
We last visited this area years ago with friends Dianne and Gary from Taupo so check that post out for more photos of this area.
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The Beach by the camp
The Bridge to town
Raglan Jetty
Lunchtime
Neat Shops
The Historic Raglan
The main street
The view out of the main street
The Raglan Wharf
Raglan personified
Sundown
Since then, one of the Silos has been converted into what looks to be some very nice rentable Apartments.
The Silos
Its a busy area with a fantastic Fish and Chip shop on the outer end of the wharf along with some pottery and Leather shops. Fiona bought herself a new Leather Hand Bag where we enjoyed a really nice chat with the shopkeeper. I complimented her on her lovely London accent before she told me she was from Perth ! Oops .. but she did have a nice English Accent so no harm done 🙂
The Raglan WharfCafe opposite Raglan Wharf
After a coffee in a new (to us) Café opposite the wharf, we headed back to the town and Rafe.
Sundown
An amazing little town and not far from Auckland with the current Diesel prices as they are.
Glancing through my iPad recently, I came across a rather sad posting of a friend who had been battling a Melanoma for the last 10 years but finally lost the race. They had recently moved out of Auckland to Papamoa to enjoy their retirement by the sea.
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Hear those waves
When we found out the funeral was on and where, it was time to jump into Rafe and pop down to Papamoa to the funeral. Leaving Auckland early to beat the traffic, I found myself around the back of Hamilton by 9:20 in the morning. By 11:30 I was cruising into Papamoa after crossing the Kaimai’s. What a huge difference that new motorway makes by passing Hamilton.
Wild!
After checking into the Tasman Holiday Park in Papamoa, and settling Rafe down by the sea and after a cup of coffee, I called a Taxi to take me to the venue which was on the other side of Papamoa.
After the funeral, one of our old boating friends who also came down dropped me back at the entrance to the Holiday Park.
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Fantastic Beach
Nice new cabins
Nice new ablutions block
The camp has a lot of permanent Caravans all with their laid out decks and additions and I’m sure the place absolutely pumps in summer. The area where I was next to the sea was about 1/3rd full but it was pretty windy, cold and miserable with waves crashing in. Very handy to the beach which was probably less than 50 metres away.
I took the camera for a walk and it was wild with the sea absolutely raging.
Fantastic BeachSome of the new beachfront chalets.
The ablution block looked almost new and was spotless. For the shoppers, its really handy to downtown Papamoa with a huge shopping centre right across the road.
Dusk at Papamoa -cellphone pic
The forecast for the morning was evil with thunderstorms forecast and high winds. When I woke up at 7, I thought I’d get up and get going given it was pretty exposed on grass and the clouds over Tauranga looked positively evil. It rained but I think the worst of it went offshore.
Its a wee bit off the beaten track but being here is just magic. The weather was perfect too.
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Bream Head in the distance
It was the middle of the week and with Fiona at work, I thought somewhere nice in the sun would be nice. I last came here several years ago and post Covid, the only real thing that has changed is the trees have grown but I gather there are some big changes coming.
Chatting to one of the managers, they have a massive amount of unpowered sites which people don’t seem to want as much so they are powering a large bunch of them up. Some of the cabins are apparently well past their use by date but they seemed ok to me.
Great view from these Caravans
The camp is dominated a bit by long term Caravans but there is plenty of room for Motorhomes and more with the new powered upgrades to sites.
Some tenters popped in.The view from one of the Units
The kitchen and lounge facilities are really good and there are several ablutions blocks.
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Some tenters popped in.
The feature though is that amazing beach.
I went out there not long after I arrived and the sense of peace and quiet is just amazing. I sat out there for an hour or so before heading back as I’d forgotten to take a hat but its just beautiful.
I did the same the next day with a hat 🙂 and its glorious.
Looking back to the camp from the beach
The nights were starting to get colder so there was only me and a couple of others in the campground so there was room for Africa. I bet it gets busy in the summer though.
The Racecourse was quite handy as the Bike Trails all ran around where we were parked.
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The Richmond Motorway
We set off to ride into Nelson for lunch via the bike trail along around the waterfront. The whole Nelson area is spoilt for bike trails, they’re everywhere.
Riding along the Tahunanui
The first section runs right alongside the Richmond to Nelson motorway and goes around the back of the airport. Eventually it comes into the Tahunanui area and then onto the bike lanes following the traffic around the waterfront.. I rode on the footpath here as it felt heaps safer and there only a handful of pedestrians anyway.
Rutherford ParkNelson main stThe city council building
Coming into Nelson via the Bike trail at Rutherford park, we found ourselves virtually in the main street next to an amazing, seen only in Nelson, two level bike park. Fantastic and after a few minutes of figuring it out how it all worked, we stuck our bikes in there and off we went for lunch.
Amazing secure bike rack
Often when you’re biking it is sometimes hard to find somewhere to park your bikes safely and securely, this is the answer!
Nelson at lunch time
We found a Café which had an empty block right next to it, this might have once been a carpark or a commercial building, but they’ve decked it out on one side as a dining area and on the other side made it available to several specialist food vendors with caravans selling all sorts.
The Caravan VendorsThe Caravan vendorsPeople enjoying lunch
We opted for a Japanese fried chicken dish which was yum. There were lots of people there coming and going so it seemed to be well known around the town.
Fiona had a another look around and then we were off back to Richmond. The trip was a round trip of 36k’s so we felt like we’d done some exercise by the time we got back to Rafe.
Riding outside the Tahuna Campground. Fiona out in front.The view out from Tahuna
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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