And the amazing view from our parking spot in the Holiday Park!
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The view stunning
We arrived early in the afternoon straight from Queenstown and were given an elevated park that looks straight out over the lake.. amazing. The park looks near new and the facilities are spotless.
One of the must do things on this trip was the Mt John Star project at the observatory on top of Mt John. Fiona wandered along to the office at the campground when we realised that they were in a position to book us in for the Star project too so we were set.
Fiona in the pool overlooking Lake TekapoThe Pools
We also got tickets to the Hot pools next to the camp and wandered down to have a swim.. again elevated with views over Lake Tekapo.
Great ParkingLake Tekapo
About 6pm we headed into Tekapo, about a 20 minute walk from the campground and had a cold drink while we waited for the coach up to the Observatory.
The lake
The coach turned up, we all piled in(about 10 of us) and off we went up this murderous road in the dark!! When we arrived at the carpark at the top, we welcomed by our two guides and were told that there was no lights as it upsets the telescopes. Looking down to the east we had a clear view of Tekapo and the sky was amazingly clear.
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Our neighbour
Great Parking
The Pools
Walking back to Rafe from the pools the new cabins
We were split into groups to have a look at the Telescopes at different stars exploding and a close up look at the moon. It was really interesting hearing different basic facts about the stars and what they represent. We found it well worth doing and really enjoyed it.
On our walk into Tekapo
Its a lovely place Tekapo and its always fun staying here. I was really impressed with the park and the pools and as I said, a shame we were only here for the night.
After a couple of good nights at the NZMCA park in Te Anau, we set off towards Queenstown. By the time we got to Lumsden, it was time for a coffee and a walk to stretch the legs.
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Lumsden – Great parking
We were last here a few years ago and the place looks fantastic. The Heritage Train Station project is looking really good and is now a full fledged parking spot for Motorhomers wanting to stop in for a night or two. The Train and carriages are covered over and its looking great.
Carriage done
We wandered down to a small Café just on the main rd. next to the Train area which carried on the rustic them but with really nice food and coffee.
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Lumsden
The Trains now all covered
Carriage done
The Station
After half an hour we set off towards Queenstown. One of my favourite drives around here is alongside the lake up to Jacks point alongside Lake Wakatipu.
Enjoying the beach at Queenstown
We arrived at Creeksyde Motorcamp right on lunchtime. The first thing we did was give Rafe a wash and a general spruce up and what a difference, it changed colour!
A clean Rafe at CreeksydeThe Gardens
Queenstown was having one of those partly overcast / cloudy days which improved as the day went on. We decided after the last few days at a hectic pace we’d blob out a bit and spend a few days here so Fiona could catch up with her cousins Heather, Jan and Jan’s other half Rob.
Fiona was also keen to have a Fergberger which we did for lunch after we’d settled Rafe after his wash and opened vents etc.
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The Earnslwa on the lake
Queenstown
Queenstown
The bow of the Earnslaw
Downtaown Queenstown
On the bike ride to Frankton
Looking out twoards the Remarkables
One of the outdoor areas at Creeksyde
Outdoor area at Creeksyde
The loos at Creeksyde
So I got the bike down, Fiona wanted to walk and I met her down at the wharf and later outside the Fergberger shop ion the main St. The burgers are everything the ad says, they are fantastic.
After that we headed off towards the gardens and had a coffee outside the beachfront Café and watched all the goings on.
Looking out towards the RemarkablesQueenstown
The next day, we woke to a fantastic clear blue sky but still no snow on those mountains. Fiona got in touch with cousin Heather who popped around and we met in a café over the road and then came over to see us in Rafe in the campground. Its always neat to see Heather, she is always on the go.
The Boatshed CafeThe view from the deck at the Boatshed Cafe
After that, we decided it was a good day to do a bike ride through Queenstown, around the gardens on the point and right down to Frankton. Its about 15k’s for the round trip and is an easy ride through some of the best scenery.
We stopped in at The Boatshed Café which is close to the Frankton Marina and partly overlooks it. Their front deck over looks the water and looks out to the Remarkables and the food and service is amazing. There are heaps of bike racks there so you can secure your bike while you eat.
A great day out after which we headed back to Rafe and blobbed out with a nice G&T!
The Dump station st Creeksyde
We’ve stayed at Creeksyde quite a few times over the years. Its quite a quirky place with the plumbing decorations and the artwork.. one of the best dump stations around and well decorated too.
The loos at Creeksyde
They were doing a deal that if you stayed three nights, the tariff dropped to $49 a night down from $55 for two. Given that it is an easy walk to Queenstown shops and is well appointed with the best loos and showers around, I think its pretty reasonable and they’re always friendly and helpful.
We seem to get the short straw when it comes to getting great weather in Dunedin but we struck the jackpot this time. It was perfect.
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Ross, Fiona and Karen at St Clair for tea.
Before we left Geraldine, I rang our old friends from Devonport, Ross and Karen who have recently moved after a long time in Cromwell to Dunedin. We hadn’t seen them since Ross’s birthday party a few years ago so we were looking forward to catching up.
Nice parking
We made a beeline for Dunedin Holiday Park which was doing a off peak discounted deal and was right next to St Kilda beach. It was also not far to Ross and Karen in Dunedin South.
From the top of the sandhill between the camp and the beach. City in background left.
After settling down, Ross and Karen arrived with their son Cam, and we enjoyed a catchup reunion drink on the picnic table outside Rafe. Wonderful to see them all.
Looking down to St Clair
They had arranged for us to go to tea at a nice Beachfront Café in St Clair which is basically the other end of a long beach from where we were. After a couple of very nice pizzas, they took us around to show us their house. A nicely renovated villa with all the mod cons.. perfect for them. Their two adult kids and grandchildren live not far away.
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St Kilda
Nice parking
From the top of the sandhill between the camp and the beach.
Nice branding 🙂
Nice parking at Gore
The next day, we were heading to Gore and we decided to stay at the Town and Country club.
Early morning at Gore
They have an amazing setup with a brick toilet, shower and laundry setup with separate secure parking with plenty of powered sites around the perimeter of a graveled all weather parking area… all for $20. If you are a Clubs NZ member, they also do meals and have a well setup bar area. Fantastic.
After we left Cambridge, we both decided we weren’t ready to go home so we headed east and while driving decided on heading to Mount Maunganui. I’ve got several friends who have stayed at the campground at the beach and I’ve been wanting to give it a go.
Up and over the Kaimai’s and onto the mount was easy and we arrived not much after midday.
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The reception people were fantastic and we were given #1 park which they said was a bit of a treat as it was a Sunday night. #1 park is right next to the surf club and as close as you can get to the beach… absolutely a primo spot.
The Campground
There was a beach volley ball competition right on the other side of the surf club which was a final of a competition and it was well set up with a big audience watching. A real buzz.
Beach Volleyball champs
There was an endless stream of people walking along the boardwalk, both up and down the Mount, only feet from our bumper. We were right in the thick of it!
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The Boardwalk and Volleyball setup
Beach Volleyball champs
Walking the Boardwalk
Cabins with a view
Great Location
The Campground
I went for a walk around to get the lie of the land and some images and had just posted one with my phone on Facebook when we got an immediate reply from Fiona’s cousin, Malcolm and Michelle who had just arrived at their apartment along the road. They had come from Raumati beach.
An hour or so later and we were having tea with them in Rafe looking out at the beach in front of us.. magic.
Right on the Beach
We were going to check out the hot pools which are half price if you stay here but crashed instead.
The next morning, we had a coffee with Malcom and Michelle at their apartment and then headed home. Its a great place to stay and we were very fortunate and lucky to get on the front row so to speak but I think doing it again, a few rows back would be just fine for me.
A very well setup park with new ablution block and everything that opens and shuts..
I haven’t been able to get away recently so here is a post that was first published July last year.. fantastic campground which is also participating in the NZMCA Campsaver scheme.. enjoy.
From the moment I stepped out of Rafe at Ruakaka Holiday Park, everything about this place is HUGE. There are more than 260 powered sites and the camp is spread out over 13 hectares. The camp is divided into several regions each having their own ablution blocks.
The land that it sits on and its layout and the views are absolutely sensational. Everywhere I looked I could see nice images.
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My view
It also is a participant in the NZMCA’s Camp saver program and owner Anne-Marie says it is working well for them. They also do off peak weekly stays too.
On the waterfront
I was interested to see their information sheet included how to park within your site to ensure that everyone has 3 metres separation. I think this is good news as many Holiday Parks parking is far to close for fire safety.
Great parking
I was a bit lucky to get one of the waterfront sites facing out to Marsden Point and Bream Head even though it was pretty exposed to the easterly nasties that came through, it was really nice to wake up to a great view when the weather played the game.
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On the other side of the peninsular
My view
A bit gloomy then
The weather wasn’t that flash with an amazing thunder and lightning storm coming through with showers before and after but there was enough fine weather to get some nice images.
And just around the corner
This campground though has it all.. the views and the sites are spectacular with great facilities.
Ruakaka Beach is just down the road and there is a Bird Sanctuary to walk through too.
I’ve always wanted to find out about a POP that was reputed to be really popular on the Waharau coast and thought maybe now is the time.
Just north of Kaiaua and the famous Rays Rest, it is the perfect place to spend a few days if you wanted some of the nice things like power and a toilet.
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Lots of parking spots
I rang Andrew, the owner of the Pop and asked if they were open .It was all good so off I went. I spent two days there and it was just bliss.
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The Beach over the road.
The Seal on the rock
Shags not happy
The Creek
The Copper
Shower Tree
Classic Loo
Andrew’s parents purchased the 200 acres of scrub in the 60’s and then had to turn it into a farm.
Rod, the campground manager’s office is in the truck
There is a small Kauri forest on the back of the farm which you can walk up to. The bigger Kauris have all been milled decades ago but its a nice reminder of what was once there.
The camp is a classic with a small stream running most of the way around one side. There are 4 powered, graveled sites, all on different levels plus some unpowered on grass sites.
The levels of parking
The loo is a classic recycled corrugated iron shed but it all works. One of the most popular items here is an old copper for heating the water for showers. With plenty of firewood on hand, you light the fire, heat the water, put in a 20 litre container (provided) and there is a winch for winding it up a tree. That’s the shower mixer with some cold water to get the right temperature. You can also use the hot water in a private shower over a bath setup if you’d prefer. A great setup! and apparently it is really popular.
Almost directly across the road is a beach on the edge of the Firth of Thames looking straight out to the Coromandel Peninsular.. just bliss.
The Seal on the rock
After parking Rafe and checking out the Camp area and being followed everywhere by a very friendly chook, I went for a walk down to the beach.
Dusk at the beach
While I was just watching the antics of the Shags sitting on the rocks, there was some movement in the water nearby. It was a Seal who climbed up on the rock ruining the Shag’s day 🙂 He was now King of the Castle.. Andrew told me later that he’s been coming to the beach for years every year since he was a pup.
There aren’t too many places left in this world where you can get a powered site for 2 for $12 and with a big welcoming smile. A lovely spot, great hosts and a fantastic place to go if you just want to do very little.
Rafe’s tracker map to Kauri View Farm – Armada GPS
Its the silly season and we were looking for somewhere to go.. many places jack up their prices in the hot spots, think $70-80 a night for two and good on them but we would rather go somewhere off the track than pay that and often its just as nice.
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Hot, Wet and just good fun!
We settled on Bledisloe Holiday Park at Little Waihi right on the water.. Just a magic spot and the prices were very reasonable .. 5 nights for just under $200 with power, beachfront parking, fantastic showers(free) and loos of course.
Plenty of Jandals
The camp was busy and slightly chaotic being New Year holiday period but what a spot!.
Fishing at the entrance to the Estuary
On our first day we took Rafe down the road to check out Papamoa. We were parked up on the hill in a Freedom camping spot looking over the beach next to the campground. Fiona was getting ready to go for a swim. I noticed some people all standing on the sand checking something out and there it was.. about a 3 metre shark swimming through the 2 nd breaker along the beach.
The view from Maketu Café towards the Mount.
There was a woman with her 2 yr old toddler just in the water running to grab him.. she also went down the beach further to alert other swimmers and I’ve never seen them get out of the water so fast. Needless to say, Fiona never made it into the water.
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Peace and Quiet
The Seafood Basket.
Baches in Little Waihi
Kids playing in Estuary
After the excitement there, we headed to Maketu where the famous pies come from but the shop was shut. We headed for the Café on the water which does an amazing Seafood Basket for lunch looking along the beach towards the Mount.
The Beach in front of us
After a great lunch we headed back to the camp and settled in for the next few days. We met some great people and I have to say, I really enjoyed the change for us of sitting in one spot for a few days and swimming, reading and just taking it all in.
Fiona reading her Ipad
A wonderful park in a superb spot. You can walk over the estuary at low tide to Pukehina Peninsular for somewhere else to explore.
I discovered that an old friend who I used to work with many years ago was not so well, so I thought I’d try and cheer him up by popping in to see him in New Plymouth.
This post is really about the wild piccies!
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Tyres on the tarmac
I checked into Belt Rd campground in New Plymouth, where I met Nadine who was holding the fort. She very kindly checked me in to a waterfront site with a view which I was a bit apprehensive about due to a wind and rain warning for that night. Very nice of her to offer me that site though 🙂
Nice spot but a bit exposed with the forecast
I trundled off to the first of two sites she gave me to look at … the first I checked out on foot to make sure it was solid as it was grass at the top of the cliff looking out over the port. Very nice spot but I was concerned about the grass and the water with Rafe’s 4.4 tons odd. I tried parking on it and went to move back again and I basically wheel spun to get back to the tar seal road behind.. scary stuff.
Where I nearly got stuckPerched on the hill
So a compromise was called on where I backed in a park further down the campground and kept my front wheels on the road. I could still reach the power box so all was well.
Looking out for that wild weather.I’m not sure washing his new Merc in Salt water is a good idea.
Needless to say, I was a bit stressed after that and went to see my friend for the afternoon and it was really nice to see him.
After an hour or so, he had some other visitors so I came back to Rafe and settled down to watch the weather. Fantastic views but it was blowing dogs off chains!
We’ve been to this park in the height of summer and its a fantastic place but it really surprised me that they had no gravel parking at all for those odd winter months where it just rains.
Nice cabins
When I returned after hearing from my friend who is a long term local was telling me that it never rains there.. Yeah right thought I!
I went for a walk to get some piccies and to have a look around. A spectacular spot though with great views everywhere you look and not that far from the centre of New Plymouth shopping centre.
That night I woke up about three times to some huge puffs of wind buffeting Rafe around and I immediately thought of a motorhome and caravanner up on the edge of the cliff where I was supposed to go… it blew and it rained and it rocked and rolled.. amazing.
Port behind
In the morning I got up early to get back to Auckland as it was in a full lockdown!! I did have plans to check in on an old mate in Eltham, next time!
After checking in with Leanne, the camp manager, she advised us that as they had huge amounts of rain, they still had some sites we could use but most of it was roped off due to mud and slush. This is normally a magnificent part of Coromandel and to see it like this was a real shame for them… its only water and will dry out but with the Covid thing and everything else, they needed that like a hole in the head.
I was given the option of two waterfront dryish sites to park on and we easily got in without skidding but the mud was out there 🙂
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At Long Bay
Tucks Bay
Tucks Bay from the headland
Once we’d plugged in and settled Rafe, we set off for a walk around the headland towards Tucks Bay. You can also camp around there as well. Its an easy 15 minute walk each way and is well worth doing. There is also the Kauri grove as well up behind the camp which is well worth checking out too but we didn’t get to do that this time.
The track back to Long Bay from Tucks Bay Tucks Bay
With the clouds blowing away later in the day, it was just amazing sitting on the side of the beach doing absolutely nothing but taking it all in.
Great sunset
A great destination with plenty to see and do… stick this one on your to do list.!
Only 40 odd k’s from the centre of Auckland is the fantastic west coast surf beach called Muriwai and directly behind the dunes is a raised campground.
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The view
Being so close to Auckland it is super handy if you’re not looking at doing any serious miles and it feels like you’re miles away.
I checked in during the week as they have a minimum of $46.00 during the weekend. It was just $23 for 1 during the week. I wondered about the wisdom of doing this as a lot of people in Motorhomes do travel on their own and now there are no international tourists, it is excluding a large section of those travelling.
Cheryll and Denise were very welcoming and gave me a brief guided tour and allocated me a park up on one of the top terraces with a view over the sea.
Before I’d even plugged in I had met my immediate neighbours also both from Auckland !
New Showers
The campground is leased from the council and about 4 years ago, the council demolished the old tin shed toilets and showers etc and built brand new concrete and really upmarket new buildings.
BBQ area
I tried out the shower and all it has is a push button which once pressed, the shower delivers the perfect pressure and temperature and automatically turns off afterwards. You can turn it off earlier I’m told by simply pressing the button again… very smart… and super clean.
Its a simple hop skip and a jump over a small park and over the sand dunes to the beach.
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Nice Grounds
The Beach
Showers
The Gannet Colony
Looking North
While I was there, there were dozens of young people catching waves and enjoying the surf.
Great surfThe Gannet Colony
Muriwai goes for miles so if its a walk you’re after, there is plenty of scope for that too! I was impressed with the camp, its facilities and the friendly hosts.
Looking NorthEnd of the Day
A nice spot and if you like the beach, the perfect place for a long weekend.
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.
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