After a fantastic couple of nights in Coromandel, we packed up and headed over the hill toward Whitianga. With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, we weren’t quite sure how busy things would get during the “silly season.”
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Hot and Sunny!The Beach
Our first stop was at the main beach, where Fiona decided to stretch her legs with a walk along the promenade into town and back. After soaking in the views, we made our way to the NZMCA park.
The Whitianga NZMCA park when we arrived. By the next day it was chocka.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t as packed as we’d feared. The park was only about 30% full when we arrived, but by the next day—New Year’s Eve, it was full to the brim! The vibe was great, though, with lots of friendly folks around, and the bonus. Being right next to the airfield meant we got to enjoy some incredible aerial displays from several warbirds flown in from Ardmore. It was absolutely fantastic!
Close to the airfield
On our second day, we wandered into town for lunch. Whitianga was buzzing with energy, but not overwhelming.
We spent some time in the shade under the umbrellas while having lunch on the left.
We enjoyed a delicious meal on the main street and took our time exploring the shops. The heat was in full swing, so we took regular breaks to sit in the shade and people-watch. It was one of those perfect summer afternoons.
On the way back, we popped into Woolworths for a few supplies before heading back to the truck. The rest of the day was pure bliss chilling out with some music, enjoying the lively atmosphere, and watching the world go by at the now very busy park
I’ve been meaning to pop in here for years but because we have several friends near here, it never seems to work out.
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We left Colins POP early in the morning in Mangawhai and cruised over the hill past Langs Beach and onto Waipu Cove. It really is a stunning little spot well served by a great Restaurant, a Dairy and a Fish and Chip shop.
Our neighbours at Waipu
We checked into the Waipu Cove campground with a very smiley Jemma on the front desk. You know its always going to go well when you get greeted like that 🙂 She was very helpful and pointed us to a parking spot right behind the sandhills by the beach.
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Looking up towards Ruakaka
Great showers and nice ablution blocks.
Lots of space with big parks.
After settling down Rafe, opening vents and plugging in and finding out where everything was, we checked out the beach and then, decided to walk down to the Cove Restaurant (same organisation as in Mangawhai and very good!)
Back towards the Cove
They gave us an amazing, shared platter with bits of everything starting with Oysters and Pork belly… just fantastic and as we couldn’t do full meals, just perfect along with a Gin and a Chardy 🙂
Fiona walking up the beach.
A well spent couple of hours here and we crossed the road and walked back to the campground along the beach and through the sandhills. Just a wonderful spot.
Waipu campground. oodles of room.
A few brave souls were in the water and although I did twitch for a swim, by the time I was ready to get in, the clouds rolled in, so it didn’t happen 🙂
Fantastic beach
After an afternoon of chatting with others and sitting on the beach, we walked just outside the campground gates to get Fish and Chips.
Looking back from the sandhill, you can see Rafe in the corner of the hedge.
Another Fantastic day, not doing a lot but great weather generally, nice people and a lovely spot.
Our spot at Waipu Cove.. you can see the sandhills behind.
We’ll be back here, it’s all just so easy and that beach!
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
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
Fiona’s cousin Iain has been coming here for years, every holiday break and he calls it his “Happy Place” and I heard somone else call it this too… and its all true 🙂
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A Happy Place
Kaiteriteri is just a magic place in the world and with an off season deal for NZMCA members at $98 a week, it truly is happy time sitting there amongst other nice NZMCA’rs looking at the beach literally in front of your front bumper!
Long termers in the middle rows
We’d just stopped and parked in front of the reception and I was walking in to check in when I met Selwyn and Lynda. This was before I’d even checked in ! They were off on a walk over to Little Kaiteriteri via a lookout on a track through the bush. They showed me how to get there so we could do it to. What a welcome !
Close to the water
The receptionist was amazing too. She insisted that if we weren’t happy with the site, I could shift which we did later.
Huge
Its a huge campground with muliple ammenties blocks. In winter, they cut costs by closing all but one block. There are more than 400 powered sites and several cottages. They even have their own small supermarket and nearby are several bars and restaurants to suit all tastes . A very well setup campground.
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Plenty of space
Looking down the back
Little Kaiteriteri from up by the lookout
In the bay
Flash beachside apartments upstairs. Supermarket downstairs with hot bread!
Some of the cabins
After checking in on a brilliantly fine day, we went for a walk up to the lookout at one end of the beach and Fiona carried on to Little Kaiteriteri for more exercise. That afternoon, we sat around the beach and checked out the camp.
Fiona at the lookout
Later in the day, we met up again with Selwyn and Lynda who were only parked two away from us so we commandeered an empty barbeque table and enjoyed an hour of laughs and something cold with them. They hadn’t come that far as they lived in Motueka or “Mot” as its known locally. This to me gives you some idea of how good they think it is at Kaiteriteri when they could be anywhere.
Looking down from the lookout
The next day, we took off in Rafe over to the next bay around Marahau. It is a really bendy, twisty road and we averaged probably 30 k all the way there. Interesting though to see and it is another lovely bay. From here you can go right up into the Abel Tasman Park. We headed back on another easier road and stopped for a cup of tea at the charming coffee shop in Riwaka.
The last 2 of our Bugger it We Are Off series books were launched last week. All four are now on Amazon as Kindles EBooks.
To celebrate this, I’ve got the Napier Art deco book available for free for the next 4 days from today (US time) – Tomorrow NZ Time
From 1st August (US time), this book will be available for free for 5 days. …..Click here
I’ve got them available in the Epub format as well for Ipads but haven’t got a Mac which you need to upload to the iTunes store.. I’ll find a way!
These publications are all based on this Blog.
I’m not expecting them to be best sellers but if someone out there finds a couple of things of interest in there, it was worth doing.
As a Photojournalist of some 25 plus years and a Commercial Photographer for another 20, these books are all about the images. We went to some amazing places giving me the opportunity to get some great images.
Bugger it we are off to the Pinnacles in a convoy is about meeting Motorhome friends in Taupo NZ (central North Island) and heading in our three Motorhomes down to the Pinnacles at the bottom of the North Island.
We travel through the Hawkes Bay wine region on the way, go to a UB40 concert, survive a raging storm and enjoy a great meal in an old style Country Lodge. Lots of fun and some great images.
Bugger it we are off to Europe in an Old Hymer is based on our two week trip to the UK to pick up an old Classic Hymer Motorhome and then following our Motorhome friends through the Chunnel and over 5 weeks explore central Europe with bikes.
There were lots of adventures and lots of laughs. A truly memorable experience.
Bugger it we are off to the South Island of NZ is about our three month trip in our own Dethleffs Globe 4 around the beautiful South Island of New Zealand.
We met lots of neat people, caught up with some friends and relatives, stayed in some amazing places and had a great time.
To see more about these books and links to buy, see our Book Page
Fiona and I had both taken 6 months off for a trip to Europe and to go around the South Island and we were really looking forward to it..
After getting back from Europe in early August and with our house still rented out, we immediately went to Taupo to pick up Rafe who was being cared for in Gary’s shed by Gary’s neighbour Chris… kind chaps that they are !
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Welding on the feet
We returned to Auckland to get a few things done like drop down steadies on Rafe and a couple of other things and then we were off.
Rafe and Ian and Lynda’s XLI
We left Auckland and first stop was Taupo with Gary and Dianne, who we’d been around Europe with and other Motorhome friends Ian and Lynda. A few nights there, a night in Mangaweka, then to Wellington to catch up with my son Alex who commutes from Auckland, then onto the ferry and the adventure began.
Dianne picking the girls up for a tiki tour around Taupo
The highlights:
Best Park over property (POP) – Peski’s in Geraldine where we spent nearly two weeks.
Nice parking
Best free Parking – Lowburn on the lake front.. a week of perfect weather helped here 🙂
The View
Best NZMCA park – probably a tie between Tekapo and Ranfurly. Tekapo is stunning amongst the pine trees right on the lake and Ranfurly, dead flat with a dump station next door, rubbish and water and right in the middle of town !
Amongst the pines with Ray and Margaret on the right
From the back. A nice stained glass window on the back. Note the opening wooden windows.
I’ll let the Image Gallery below tell the story of the trip. Click on the Gallery below for a Slideshow.
Rafe at the Mangaweka Campground
The bridge
Entering the Tory Channel. North Island behind
Rafe with the handbrake on with people getting off at Picton.
Looking across towards Nelson with the snow on the tops of the hills
Some extras with the daffodils
Dogs exercising their owners.
I can feel a drink coming on
The famous Restaurant over the water.
Looking down the main street with the Old St Peters Church and the Windmill behind. The Windmill was in the main street of Nelson for many years.
Fiona on the Bristol Freighter
The Bristol Freighter
The port and the shops
Late afternoon in the sun
Looking down from the lookout
A Happy Place
Nice sign
The Moutere Inn
Dusk looking down Reeftons main street with the old lights lighting the street.
The Hut
The Bearded Miners. Gavin, Peter and Mark
People collecting Driftwood down by the Greymouth Breakwater
ith rafe outside that famous Hotel
The Jetty down at Lake Mahinapua
The Bar. Amazing working cash register
Fiona with the fire at the Empire
Up in the Historic Gold area
The Franz Josef Glacier. See if you can spot a Helicopter
Rafe at Hawea
The amazing dump station with the grates in the ground at Queenstown
Queenstown with Jacks Point on the right
Queenstown waterfront
Fiona and Jessa at Q’town
Fiona checking out the Fairlight Railway Station
A Train at the Station
Inside the carriage – Lumsden
The Texaco Tanker Invercargill
Later Fords
Fiona in the café done up as a 50’s Kitchen
Colac Bay
Curio bay looking towards the campground
The park setup – Lawrence
One of the Roxburgh pubs
A sluicing lake behind the park _ Roxburgh.
Close to the bike trail – Roxburgh
Fiona nearly at Roxburgh
Roxburgh bridge
Clyde Dam
A view over Clyde
The old Hotel
The road through the vineyard through the Kawarau Gorge
The kawerau River from the road
Jessa checking out a Pinot Gris at Mt Rosa
Lunch at the historic Gibbston Valley Tavern
The Ophir Bridge
The Function Centre – Omakau
The front of the Hotel
Starting off at Ranfurly Railway Station
Fiona arriving at Wedderburn
Once the tea rooms, now a museum.
The Dunedin Railway Station
Along the Platform
The Taieri train
In the Railway Station
The Pergola with a peep of Dunedin at the end.
Outside the ballroom
Waimate Markets
The main street at Rush hour 😉 Waimate
The Oamaru Wharf
Plenty of room
Sue (Peskis) with her new Letterbox
The gardens at Peskis
Fiona checking out the Hats
Cheers at Geraldine
Where’s Rafe
One of the performing groups
Fiona with her great auntie Jeannie’s Morris
The interior of Johns truck
Fiona with the Cadburys Chocolate
Lake Tekapo late on our first day
Love the different layers in the colour
The Stone Church with the tourists
Happy Hour with all our visitors at Tekapo. Cell pic
A bridge across the river
Great camping
Across Lake McGregor
Our neighbours Jim and Lynley back at the NZMCA park
At Omakau
The first Tunnel
On the way back to Omakau
Nice !
A Miners hut
On the way to the Stamper Battery
Fiona gold panning
Under the mountains
Rafe in front of the house plugged in. The visitors area on the very left.
The boat club down by the NZMCA park
Parked behind the Gate in Cromwell
Ross is a great character.. the birthday boy.
The pools at Hamner
Fiona enjoying the heat.
Look at all that water.
Fiona at the market – Nelson
The Church cafe – Richmond
The bar at the cellar Door
Lots of Motorhomes on the deck
Mt Ruapehu
Ian and Gary with all the polishing toys!
We met some wonderful people along the way and had some nice 5pm catchups in some fantastic places.
Fiona on the bike ride on the way back to Lowburn alongside lake Dunstan
The weather was superb. Fiona reckons we only had 1 wet day in the South Island! I reckon it was 3 but the weather really looked after us, if anything it was quite hot with a record breaking 33C in Cromwell on the day we decided to do a bike ride from Lowburn to the Historic Precinct and back !
The Historic Precinct
The difference in Fuel prices between the different parts of NZ was quite noticeable with the highest I saw at $1.48 a litre for diesel around Hanmer and the lowest $1.19 in Cromwell. We filled up in Takanini before we left at $.98 a litre! As Fiona says though Hay Ho.. when in Rome !
Happy Hour at Peski’s
One of the things that really surprised me as we went around was how many people recognised us from this Blog and who made themselves known. It was fantastic to meet you and to hear your feedback. We’re fast approaching 400,000 views which is amazing in less than 2 years!
We’re back in Auckland with our feet up for a bit before we set off again.
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.
The vibe was great, though, with lots of friendly folks around, and the bonus. Being right next to the airfield meant we got to enjoy some incredible aerial displays from several warbirds flown in from Ardmore. It was absolutely fantastic!
On the way back, we popped into Woolworths for a few supplies before heading back to the truck. The rest of the day was pure bliss chilling out with some music, enjoying the lively atmosphere, and watching the world go by at the now very busy park
Bugger It, we are off - www.buggeritweareoff.com 
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