Category Archives: Wairarapa 26

The 2026 Dethleffs Get Together – Part 2

March 4, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com Leave a comment

We were into the last full day of catching up with everyone, and it kicked off with a visit at the far end of the carpark from the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, who arrived with a line-up of amazing motorbikes.

Click on any Image to enlarge.

They were a big attraction, and after plenty of admiring and chatting, about six energetic souls headed off on their push bikes to explore the area properly.

After that, there was the usual relaxed carpark catch-up session. Fiona headed into town for a walk while I wandered into the Coach House Museum again. It really is very well done, with some fascinating displays. There’s even a buggy you can sit in and “travel” around the city via a large TV screen. It is much better than it sounds!

The blacksmith’s shop was another highlight, with a whole series of live machines that start up at the push of a button to demonstrate how parts of a coach wheel were made. Very clever, and great to see it all working.

On the way out, I had a lovely chat with a couple at reception who were also Army people. He had previously been a Beefeater in the UK and was an incredible source of information about military medals. I could have stood there talking for ages.

Later in the afternoon, we regrouped for our daily debrief before heading into town together for dinner at Murray’s Irish Bar. The food was fantastic and very reasonably priced, and there were quite a few keen to properly test the Guinness! It was a great night, and a bit later than planned we all wandered back to the museum under the evening sky.

A great day in a neat little town.

The next morning, we gathered one last time for a farewell coffee before everyone headed off in different directions. It had been a wonderful catch-up, with lots of familiar faces and plenty of laughs. Well done to Richard and Carol for organising such a well-run event in a terrific location.

Fiona and I headed towards Marton to pick up SH1 and travel north via Taihape. Just before midday, we pulled into our favourite café in Taihape — and who should arrive but our next-door neighbours from Devonport. A complete surprise. We enjoyed an easy lunch and coffee together before getting ready to move on.

As we were leaving, I thought I heard my name. Sure enough, it was Peter and Charmaine, who had been parked right beside us at the event. Peter had heard that SH1 north was closed due to a serious accident, so suddenly our tidy travel plans were up in the air.

Fiona went for a wander around Taihape while we went back into the café to figure out our options. In the end, we decided to head just up the road to the Taihape Golf Club and stay the night, then reassess in the morning.

We’d only just parked up, opened a few vents, and poured the coffee when Peter heard that the road north had reopened. So, off we went again! By then it was about 3pm, but we still had enough time to make it to Taupō, where we stayed at the Taupo Racecourse.

Our first visit to the Taupo NZMCA park at the Racecourse

I was slightly disappointed we didn’t get to stay at the golf course after all, but it was nice to be on the homeward stretch, and we got to have our first night in Taupo Racecourse. All in all, a fabulous weekend.

Thanks again to Richard and Carol for putting together such a great event

Rallies, Wairarapa 26

Cruising to the 2026 Dethleffs Get Together

March 3, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 4 Comments

I was really looking forward to this one. After about five years of being chief bottle washer organising these events, it was nice to simply turn up and enjoy it. Richard and Carol were now in charge, and they had a reputation for being well organised having run a few of these before, so I knew we were in good hands.

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We stopped in at Turangi on the way down and parked up in the corner. The sun was shining, and we were already starting to slip into party mode.

The next morning, after topping up with diesel, we headed down the Desert Road towards Waiouru.

Being from a staunch Army family, you can’t drive through Waiouru without popping into the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa and café. I always love the signs along the Desert Road: “If your kids are giving you trouble, drop them off here” and “Stop for Rations.” Very clever.

A bit further down the road we stopped at Hunterville. What an amazing little town. There’s been a fantastic community effort to help the local publican rebuild the Argyle Hotel on the corner. Spare bedrooms have been converted into boutique retail shops, each accessed from a new verandah facing SH1. What a brilliant way to regenerate business and bring life back into the building. We also heard it’s soon to be set up as a Park Over Property for motorhomes.

After coffee and cake, we were back on the road towards Feilding, arriving at our park by the Coach House Museum just after 2pm. Richard and Carol were there, along with several other Dethleffs motorhomers we knew. It was shaping up to be a fun few days.

The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up, and later we all sat in the sun with a few drinks in hand and plenty of laughs. Richard and Carol had everything sorted: name tags, brochures, and lots of information about things to see and do in the area.

Watching these drivers back these trailers in was something else..

Top of the list was visiting the museum, only a few steps away and we also discovered the Feilding stock sales were happening just over the road.

Click on the Gallery below to see an enlarged Slideshow

Cambridge

Hunterville

Saleyards in Fielding

Fielding Square

At The Market

Saleyards Auction

The next morning, we wandered across to the saleyards. They were huge. I was seriously impressed by the skill of the stock truck drivers backing their big truck-and-trailer units into tight spots in one smooth move without blinking.

With the sales due to start in about an hour, we headed into the market in the square. After bumping into Brendon and Helen from our group, we decided to try a well-recommended café called the The Rosebowl Cafe just off the square. With so many options, we certainly weren’t going hungry. We met a few more from our group there, then all wandered back towards the saleyards together.

What an amazing operation. With so many animals involved, it could easily be a logistical nightmare but it ran like a well-oiled machine. Watching and listening to the auctioneers and their assistants was fascinating as the sales rolled along.

After an hour or so, we drifted back to the museum and our motorhomes.

At 4pm, we gathered in a room at the end of the museum for a glass of something and a debrief of the day’s adventures.

A fantastic day in Feilding and a great start to what was shaping up to be a memorable get-together.

Rafe’s tracker map to the Coach House Museum – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

Fun with Friends in Napier

January 28, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com

We were sitting at Takapau on our last night there, winding down and thinking about what the next day might bring, when the tablet suddenly whistled into life. A message had come through from our friends Steve and Rosemary, saying they’d enjoyed a nice bike ride in Napier. I was sure they were still in Wellington, so it caught my attention straight away.

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Knowing we were heading to Napier the following day, I replied to let them know where we were. As it turned out, plans quickly came together and we were set to catch up with them the next day, along with Steve’s sister Helen and brother-in-law Graham. Funny how these things just fall into place.

Steve and Rosemary’s Esprit, Helen and Graham’s Cathargo. A new model they imported into NZ. ….and Rafe.

The next day we headed off through Waipukurau and into the back of Hastings, keeping an eye out for a vineyard to stop at for lunch. Being New Year’s Day, though, most places were closed, so that idea was quickly shelved. Instead, we carried on to Eriksen Park, where we met Helen and Graham and caught up with Steve and Rosemary. It was great to see everyone again, catch up properly, and enjoy a glass of wine together.

LtoR. Rosemary, Steve Fiona standing, Helen and Graham.

As Steve and Rosemary were heading off to Wellington the following day, Fiona and I decided to head into Napier in the van. We had lunch in town and then wandered back along the waterfront. The place was absolutely buzzing, lively, and full of holiday energy.

One of these is a really nice cafe except it was shut.

There was plenty happening along the foreshore, with people everywhere making the most of the sunshine.

The view out to Cap Kidnappers in the distance

After a quick stop at a local supermarket to stock up, we headed back to Eriksen Park and settled in for what would be our last night in Hawke’s Bay before heading home.

A really nice break away and, as always, far too short

Rafe’s tracker map to Eriksen NZMCA park in Napier – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

An amazing Little Town Called Takapau

January 23, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 2 Comments

…and an equally amazing little park-over-property to go with it.

At this time of year, when you ring up at short notice, you tend to hold your breath as you ask if there’s any room at the inn. This time, luck was on our side, and we managed to secure a couple of nights in Takapau.

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Lovely spot and although it rained, it was solid underneath.

Some years back, during one of the Dethleffs Owners Group gatherings I organised, I got chatting with a couple who mentioned they had once run the campground here. Their advice was simple: if you’re ever in the area, you must stay there. So, we were doing exactly as we were told 🙂

On the way through, we couldn’t help but stop at Norsewood, just north of Dannevirke. There’s an amazing woollen wear and general clothing shop there, full of beautiful jumpers and yes, I bought one. Really nice people running it too. The weather wasn’t playing ball, so we didn’t linger, but we’ve been here before and there are plenty of photos from previous visits.

When you head into a small regional town and pull into a park-over-property, you’re never quite sure what to expect. What we found here was an absolute gem, run by two wonderful people, Pauline and Russell, who couldn’t have been more welcoming or helpful.

The setup is essentially a house on a large section, with several powered sites out the front. Visitors have access to two well-appointed bathrooms inside the house, complete with showers and toilets. There is also a large communal lounge and a kitchen area, which makes it feel very relaxed and homely.

Downtown Takapau with the 4 Square on the right

Best of all, it’s only about a ten-minute walk into the centre of town, where there’s a well-stocked Four Square supermarket and an excellent fish and chip shop. Really, what more could you want??

While we were there, Fiona was keen to visit nearby Ongaonga, where she spent time as a child visiting her grandparents, who ran a small farm in the area. We had a good look around the road she remembered but couldn’t quite find the house. It turned up later on Google Maps as is always the way! The weather was a bit hit and miss with showers, but we’ve travelled through this area before in better conditions and it’s still a lovely part of the country.

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged Slideshow of Ongaonga

Ongaonga

At the Ongaonga Museum

Ongaonga

We stopped in the Ongaonga township for a cup of tea at the café and a wander around the historic buildings. It really does feel like stepping back in time. The locals have done a fantastic job preserving the town, and everything is beautifully maintained.

All up, we had a great couple of days here and really enjoyed our time with Russell and Pauline. It’s one of those memorable POPs that’s now firmly added to the must-visit-again list.

Rafe’s tracker map to Takapau and Ongaonga – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

The Clareville Bakery

January 18, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com

The rain had well and truly set in, and it was time to move on from Masterton as Fiona only had a small window before work called again.

Click on any Image to enlarge

As we headed out of town detouring slightly south to hit the truck stop for diesel. Fiona started telling me about an amazing café on the northern outskirts of Carterton, only a few kilometres away. Apparently, it was not to be missed. Well, that was all the encouragement I needed.

While we were so close, it would have been rude not to stop… and what a find it turned out to be.

The Clareville Bakery was set up by the current owners in 2013 after they renovated an old church that had previously been a café. They’ve taken it to a whole new level. Having won numerous awards for their seriously scrummy breads, cakes, and pies, it’s no surprise there’s almost always a queue at the door.

I was impressed straight away by the large car park, complete with a dedicated motorhome area tucked away in the corner and even more impressed that we managed to snag a spot. Always a bonus.

Full carpark in the middle of the week 🙂

Inside, the place was buzzing despite the weather. The cabinets were packed with tempting options, and the smell alone was enough to make choosing difficult. I honestly can’t remember exactly what I had, as Fiona ordered for me while I wandered around taking photos, but I do remember it being very good!

We spent a relaxed hour or so here before heading north again, well fed and very content.

We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in this neck of the woods.

Rafe’s tracker map to Clareville Bakery – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

Over the Hill to Woodville

January 14, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 2 Comments

With the sun still shining, we were up and out early, heading down to the river to see the wind turbines up close.

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There are hundreds of them, and with a decent breeze blowing they were really earning their keep. The walk down is a great little trail that winds its way to the water’s edge and, once there, we sat for a while listening to the wind, watching the blades turn, and just soaking it all in.

At the top of the hill looking towards Woodville

Eventually it was time to move on, so we headed back and found the road that climbs over the hill to Woodville, passing right through the turbines. We stopped a couple of times to grab some photos — the scale of them is impressive, and the views from the top of the hill in both directions are well worth the pause. Rolling hills, wide skies, and turbines stretching as far as you can see.

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged Slideshow

At the top of the hill looking towards Woodville

Amazing Turbines

At Masterton

Downtown Masterton

At the Tui Brewery

Th lake in Queen Elizabeth Park

From the swing bridge.

Deer next to the park.

On the way through we called in at the Tui Brewery, which now welcomes motorhomes overnight as a POP and also has a dump station, always handy to know. We’ve stopped here before, but the place has had a real upgrade. More outdoor tables, a great setup, and the food was absolutely spot on.

From there we decided to head down towards Masterton. It’s only about 50-odd k’s, making it an easy run for the afternoon and a good excuse to stay at the NZMCA park and have a wander through town.

The park has a really nice layout and almost always has plenty of space. The walk into town follows the river and is a really pleasant stroll, with birds about and the water flowing quietly alongside. The final touch is a neat little swing bridge that drops you right near the centre of town.

By the time we were back it was looking like rain was on the way, so we called it a day, poured a G&T, and settled in to watch a bit of TV.

The next morning, we were up and ready to head into town for a look around. Great minds think alike as we weren’t the only ones doing the same thing.

We headed for a café opposite the supermarket and settled in for a nice cup of coffee each before wandering down the main street to check out the shops.

It’s a good shopping area, though it’s easy to see that times have been a bit tough for some of the retailers. After a decent look around town and a bite to eat, we picked up a few things at the supermarket and headed back to the park to blob out for the afternoon.

Feeding the ducks at the Park on the way back.

A lovely day in Masterton.

Rafe’s tracker map to Masterton- Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

Heading South for the New Year

January 10, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 1 Comment

Happy New Year! It’s 2026 and we’re heading off southwards. We’re winging it a bit this time as the weather isn’t expected to be too flash, and we’re keen to check out some new places along the way.

Click on any Image to Enlarge

We headed off early after Christmas, leaving at 6am to beat the Southern Motorway traffic and it worked perfectly. The traffic was calm and sedate, the sun was shining, and it felt like we were off to a great start.

Our plan was to head towards Turangi, with the GPS telling us we’d arrive before lunch. We stopped briefly at Tirau for a cuppa and a slice of cake, then about 20 minutes later we were back on the road.

Later in the morning we arrived at the NZMCA park in Turangi. It was only about 25% full, so not busy at all. We settled in and, naturally, it was time for another cup of tea. Out came our trusty old kettle but shock horror, a screw had come off the handle. We both agreed that could get a bit dangerous once it heated up.

Luckily, there was a hardware shop just around the corner. Sure enough, they had what we needed, so kettle crisis averted.

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged Slideshow

At Taupo for lunch on the way down.

My favourite place to stop for a jumper

The Turbines keepin eye on us.

Somewhere to rest on the way to the river

The walk down to the river

Down by the river

A little rain fell overnight, which cooled the air nicely. In the morning, after our hardware shop visit, we headed off down the Desert Road towards Waiouru, stopping in Taihape for another cuppa and cake. We’ve stopped at the Brown Sugar Cafe a few times over the years and it’s always a good choice. There’s great motorhome parking almost outside, right next to the famous gumboot throwing area.

After a nice lunch in a busy little café, we continued on towards Ashurst, travelling through Utiku and coming out near Palmerston North.

From there we headed on to the lovely Ashurst Domain. It’s largely unmanned but very reasonably priced, and power was included, which was a nice treat.

The domain is beautifully laid out under big trees, right next to the river, with the large wind turbines doing their thing on the hills across the water. We were very lucky to have the help of a regular camper next door who showed us where everything was fantastic.

The place was pretty busy, being an in-demand spot, and it’s super handy to everything, only about five minutes from town. All in all, a great place to stay.

Rafe’s tracker map to Ashurst – Armada GPS

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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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.