After a great night at Wallingford Homestead, we woke up to a beautiful blue sky so I retook some of the piccies and after that we headed off done the road towards Porangahau.
Jen at Wallingford Homestead has told us a about a great Cafe where we should have lunch at but none of us could find it 🙂
We headed off down to Porangahau and then down to the beach.
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Porangahau Beach
There is a free overnight parking area there just behind the beach which was being well used but still room for more. The beach is stunning and goes for miles.
Porangahau Beach freedom camping area
Rob, Helen and Fiona went for a quick walk along the beach before Rob, Helen and Chloe left us there to head down to Cape Turnagain to see the Seals. We’d sort of lost Gary and Dianne at that point but figured they must be on the road to Herbertville somewhere.
Fiona, Helen and Rob walking along Porangahau Beach
After a cup of tea beside the campground, we headed off towards Herbertville, still looking for the mysterious cafe but happy to find anything else.
Fiona checking out the longest name in the world
We decided in the end to keep heading towards the Dannevirke Campground where we’d stayed before. It’s a magic little spot in the Dannevirke Domain run by the local council. The laundry there got a good workout as we all got the clothes cleaned up and we were ready to go again.
We had a nice catchup under awnings with a few glasses of wine. Another nice day.
Wonderwoman being Jen. She’s the one in the photo with Alfie, her dog. She’s absolutely amazing. She pretty much runs Wallingford Homestead on her own with the help of  Charlotte the chef and her helper Sue,  but it’s really all about Jen.
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Jen outside Wallingford Homestead
We had all driven down during the day from Clifton beach and we’re staying the night in the carpark after spending the evening there. Wallingford house is a special place and we were all looking forward to it.
The Tracker, Rafe and Rosie outside Wallingford
Wallingford Homestead was built in 1831 by Jen’s late husbands great great great great(not sure how many generations) grandfather JD Ormond.
Rosie, Rafe and the Tracker outside Wallingford
Jen and her late husband John moved to what was pretty much a derelict and rundown homestead 15 years or so ago and gave it some real love and turned it into what it is today. She showed us a picture of it with trees growing out it.
On 1800 acres with a full sheep farm and Truffles too, it is now 1400 square feet and comes with 14 bedrooms and numerous bathrooms.
It is used as one of the local meeting places for the locals in the area on a regular basis, the local hunt club and others too.
Not long after we arrived.. It’s still raining!
A nice old shed outside
The poolhouse and the pool
Chloe in the pool in the rain
In the poolhouse. Gary, Fiona, Dianne and Helen
In the poolhouse by the fire. Helen, Gary, Fiona and Dianne
One of the 14 bedrooms
The Kitchen
Wallingford Homestead
Gary getting the bubbly ready
Rob looking for some music
We arrived early (too early) and parked out of the way until a 70th birthday wrapped up with its 50 visitors. Around 4pm, all 7 of us were sitting in Rafe in pouring rain, having cups of tea when Jen knocked on the door and popped in to say she had prepared the poolhouse for a few drinks. The fire was going, some nice piped classical music, the pool was warm and Alfie the dog wanted to play. A great start to the day. Gary spent half an our or so entertaining Alfie with a ball before pouring some bubbly.
An hour or so later, Jen popped over and we got to enjoy this huge fire in the lounge and then into the dining room. It was just like we’d stepped into a history book with Trophy Cups and old pictures and family collectables all around us.
Helen, Fiona and Dianne enjoying the ambience and fire
Charlotte came out to carve a beast and with Jen, they presented a beautiful country home cooked meal for all of us. It was out of this world.
Us tucking in.. L to R, Helen, Fiona, Rob, Chloe, Dianne and Gary
After tea, Jen gave us a tour around this huge house. It was really something special and I felt very lucky to be invited into their home. Just a wonderful experience and Jen was just the perfect hostess.
Wallingford is about 29k’s south of Waipukarau in the central Hawkes Bay.
Rafe’s Track to Wallingford
There was no internet or cell phone reception but you can get wifi from Jen if you’re staying there.
The first night had gone well at Clifton Beach and it was time to go and play. Â After walks down the road and along the beach, it was time to get ready for a lunch that we’d booked at Elephant Hill Vineyard which is just across the road.
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Looking out towards Cape Kidnappers
We were perfectly positioned to take advantage of our primo parking place at Clifton. Â There was half an hour to go before our pre booked check in time so that was well spent checking out some really nice wines.
Dianne, Helen and Fiona walking to the vineyard.Elephant Hill Vineyard
The weather was prefect, the food beautiful, the wine fantastic, great company so what more good you ask for 🙂
A cell phone pic.. L to R, Rob, Helen, Chloe, Dianne, Me, Gary and Fiona
It is also Motorhome friendly for those who want to park there for a couple of hours while you have lunch.
Gary taking photos of the vineyard
The combination of Clifton Beach parking and Elephant Hill Vineyard.. A perfect match for when you’re in Napier.
Fiona and I arrived in Rafe at 3pm and set off up the hill to find our park. We couldn’t believe the park we’d been given for the next two nights but it would have to go down as one of the best parking spots ever. Â The image above shows Gary and Dianne enjoying the view from right in front of Rosie.
Our wee spot in the world. Rafe, Rosie and the Tracker
The view looked right out over the Castlepoint Beach and lighthouse. After meeting our immediate neighbours who very kindly gave us a some freshly caught Groper and a crayfish, Gary and Dianne arrived  in Rosie and then Rob, Helen and Chloe not long after. They were thrilled with the park too.
Nice fish bites from our neighbour cooked on the induction cooker.Ready for New Year
As it was blowing quite hard, we decided to  set up the induction cooker like you would a BBQ as there were no flames to blow around.. It did the trick nicely with the fish and later Fiona’s curry for our tea.
A great night watching the fireworks over the beach.
Diane, Gary, Fiona, Helen and Rob
Thanks you all for supporting us here and we hope you have a great year for 2017.
We set off around 10am to different parts of Taupo.
Rob, Helen and Chloe had to visit the dump station and water, we needed fuel and Gary and Dianne had to pop in briefly to see old friends on the way out. We were meeting at De Brett’s on the Napier road out where we later met and we were under way.
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The convoy in the car park
The road was in good shape and there really wasn’t much traffic to speak of. We were planning to stop at the Tarawera Cafe where there used to be a pub. You can also stay the night there as well with your CSC Motorhome.
How the Hotel was
Its interesting on a windy road how hard it gets to try and get people to overtake you. They travel along half way up your backside and when there’s an opportunity to pass and you move over for them, they sit tight. There was one car that followed Gary first and them came up behind me. It didn’t matter how easy I was making it, the bugger wouldn’t  move on !
It was good to get to Tarawera Cafe and have a nosey around and I was really looking forward to the coffee at that stage. The really windy and up and down stuff was still to come on the road.
Us in the car park at Tarawera Cafe
The view
Fishing off the beach
Looking towards Capem kidnappers
Rosie and Rafe
After half an hour or so we set off.. All very uneventful and again I was pleasantly surprised how little traffic there was.
We arrived in Napier early in the afternoon and after a quick trip to the supermarket, we headed to one our favourite spots at Clifton Beach.  Its just such a nice spot here and we keep coming back. We had a great night having a few glasses of the wet stuff and a meal out in the sun.  A great day..
After 3 days over Christmas with Alex, Sarah and our Grandchildren Ayden and Liam, and after eating and drinking far too much 🙂 , it was time to head to Taupo and start making our way down to Martinborough and Cape Palliser. We had a great Christmas with Sarah’s family parked in their driveway with Rafe.
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Son Andrew with grandson Liam during Christmas lunchGrandsons Liam and Ayden on the side of the goat pen
On the way south, we stopped at the Hamilton Car Museum where we had stayed a month or so ago with the Dethleffs Owners group rally. Â We’d parked 75 odd Motorhomes here on the first day and it looked very different today.. See the piccies below.
At the car museum for a cuppaThe empty car museum
I was a bit panicked that about what we might find in the way of Christmas Traffic but it was not to be. The traffic was pretty good.
View from the Museum during the Dethleffs do.
We were meeting up with friends from Snells Beach(North of Auckland) Rob, Helen and Chloe who had been in Taupo for Christmas, and Gary and Dianne who live in Taupo. We were spending the night at their place and then heading on in convoy to Cape Palliser over the next few weeks.
We arrived in Taupo right on the dot of 3pm and Gary and Dianne were outside helping Rob back the Tracker into position so we could park along side. They had just arrived so perfect timing.
Gary and Dianne loading Rosie
Helen, Rob and Chloe with their Tracker behind
Parked up for the night in Taupo
The view from our park of Taupo
Rosie in pre pack mode
Gary had specially tidied up his wheels as he knew I was coming 🙂 we have this thing about shiny wheels !
After settling Rafe and the Tracker down, we were off for a drink by the BBQ! .. As you do.
We last saw Gary and Dianne at the Dethleffs do at Hamilton where Gary and I were the parking attendants and Di organised the event. It was nice to see them again. It had been a while since we saw Rob, Helen and Chloe too .. Great to see them too.
We were really looking forward to getting away as we’d been stuck in Auckland with pre Christmassy catchups and events.
The Tracker and Rafe about to set off for the next part of the trip
A great fun night around the BBQ and we all crashed fairly early.
As B&Brs from Waiheke and being in the hospitality business, Brian and Carol were ready to explore NZ in their 7m A Class Burstner Viseo . They’ve sold the House at Waiheke and now moved north.
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Carol and Brian with their Burstner
I bumped into them at Rays Rest during a cup of tea and lunch stop as we swapped notes with their Burstner and Rafe. Both Dethleffs and Burstner are owned by the Hymer group in Germany and although they’re quite different, there are a few similarities.
The Living spaceThe Galley
They bought their Viseo from a dealer in Taupo in 2011 before the current importer was dealing with them. It has a 3l Fiat motor with a manual gearbox and plenty of room. Having a solar panel and LED lights makes it really easy to enjoy their freedom camping and the NZMCA parks which they’re really keen on.
They previously had a Mitzi Canter which they had had since 2005.
A great view
They’ve been all over the country in it several times and are thrilled with it. The favorite place was Lake Tekapo. .. I think Rays Rest is pretty good too 🙂
The last time we stayed at Wenderholm, we stayed in the public carpark by the beach. Although we had a great night and its a great spot,  compared to other Auckland CSC parks where Motorhomers were safely fenced off, this was somewhat of a disappointment.
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After discussing this with our veteran Auckland parks motorhoming friends, Rob and Helen, they told us that the Schischka park was THE place to go so here we were and it was fabulous.
There is a big electric gate with a digital keypad and after a 500 metre driveway it opens up to a massive grassed parking area by the water with brand new flush toilets in the middle. There are also some baches where you can stay if you don’t have your own accommodation.
Schiska house where you can stay
Schiska House from the CSC parking
The new loos
Rafe parked with the Estuary
The Puhoi Estuary
The Walk to the beach
Couldrey House
The Beach
We could only spend one night here but it is stunning. We went for a walk down a waterfront track to the beach and checked out the old Historic Couldrey House. There are new toilets there too. There are walks all over the hill there too so plenty to do and see.
The camp from the Estaury
A great place to stay and so handy to the big smoke of Auckland too.
One of Rafe’s tracking maps below.
A couple of months ago, I found out that Philips had released a portable Induction plate and they were available via our NZMCA discount from Noel Leeming.
I had to try one and since using it, I’m completely sold. Fiona loves it too. Its amazing.
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Its a bugger of a thing to photograph .. almost like a piece of black glass!!
Just recently I got really brave and decided to try to boil the water for coffee on it with our scruffy old kettle. From a cold water start, in the time it took to put coffee and pills into a cup and a tea bag in the other,  and milk in both, the kettle was whistling its head off. Even with gas, this would take all of 5 minutes or so.
Cooking a steak… cold frypan, a little oil… chuck the steak in, hit the go button and the pan is sizzling within 5 seconds !!!! .. and it tastes sensational.
Admittedly you can only use it when you’re plugged in but its neat to be able to use this instead of gas and it keeps control of the heat instantly.
The only thing you have to check is that you have pots that a magnet will stick to and it comes with a magnet so you can check your pots. The unit will scream at you if you don’t have anything on it or the pot is incorrect.
Recommended Retail is $199 from Noel Leeming  .. my discounted price was closer to $120 !! …although this was a few months ago.
While we were in a park in the north, Sculptor Nick and partner Tracy rocked in with their girls Mila and Ruby, and their Homebuilt Caravan.
They found it in a barn in Balclutha and after recladding it and modifiying their table so it could add extra beds for the girls, they’ve set off around the country for a year on the road.
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Tracy and Nick with their girls
They installed this heater as they didn’t really want the gas cooker to stay and the water is heated by the tank surrounding it.
They were not keen on going down the track of having a gas oven so they settled on a wood burner which also heats their water.
Its all insulated and warm and toasty and it was nice to see them happy and getting around NZ.
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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