We were very lucky to be invited along to the opening of the new Sandspit Marina, hosted by the Sandspit Yacht club. Rob and Helens friend, Bruce who is Commodore of the Yacht club and along with his wife Glenys and their team, they did a great job of hosting several hundred people for drinks and nibbles at the opening.
The scene
The Marina has taken a few years to come together so it must been pleasing to get it open for all those involved. It also provides 130 berths for those at nearby Kawau Island and Yacht club members for their boats.
The official tent
While we were there, I bumped into my old Classic Yacht owner friend, Steve who had his boat pulled out on the hard stand at Sandspit. It was really nice to catch up and good to hear the CYA Classic Register which I started with fellow launchie Alan, is in good hands as Steve has taken this on for this years edition.
The Marina
A great do and a nice Marina and great asset for boaties in the region. Well done Bruce and team and thanks for having us at the opening.
Its not quite what it sounds like. I’ve just had an implant in one of my front teeth and it’s amazing how groggy and dozy you can feel for days afterwards from all the rocket fuel that’s loaded into your veins. All for a good cause of course 🙂
To keep things simple and because it was wet and rainy, we thought we’d try the Parakai Hot Springs park near Helensville. As it was reasonably close and we thought a nice blob out spot with the pools.
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A bit wet but nice park environment
The lady at the counter was great fun and after telling me that Fiona was a senior, and we had a good giggle at that, she gave us all the info we needed and we headed off to our parking spot.
Because it has been so wet, they only had 7 concreted parking spots for motor homes but there are a lot more for when it’s dry.
It’s well set up with a big toilet and kitchen block in the middle and some permanent caravans down at the other end. Every second parking spot has a rubbish bin and tap. The bin was emptied every morning. There is also a security man parked in the corner.
A Dethleffs XLI at the end with us next to it. Eric and Lyns Hymer second from the right.
After parking, we set off to have a swim. Two big pools, one outdoor which is cooler and a nice hot one indoors. There were lots of people there swimming and also enjoying food from the on site cafe.
The entrance to the pools and where you pay for the campground.
People enjoying the indoor pool
The indoor pool
The slide
The cooler outdoor pool
Playground for the kids (or grandkids)
A chap on a plinth
Camping
Some of the permanent caravans
The toilet/shower and kitchen block
On getting back to Rafe, we met our neighbours Eric and Lyn from Orewa with their C class Hymer and their friends from Warkworth. You don’t see many of these Hymers around. Their one came from the UK originally. Nice little van. I joined them in between rain showers on one of the barbeque tables for a cold one.
On the second night we met neighbours on the other side in their near new Dethleffs XLI. Ian and Lynne have sold their house, bought the van and are fulltiming! Way to go! They came over to Rafe and we solved the worlds problems for an hour or two, as you do.
Fiona enjoying they heat (Cell ph pic)
I have to say it’s definitely a nice close option for my favourite hot pool park at Miranda.
It’s not quite as flash as Miranda but its clean, tidy and perfectly functional. We didn’t see it at its best as there was rain, thunder and high winds but a very pleasant place to stay. At $28 a night, I think its pretty good value and power is free for NZMCA members.(included in the $28)
After a weekend of babysitting our grandsons, we spent a night at a place we’ve never really parked at before at Gulf Harbour.
Having seen Gulf Harbour one weekend at its worst where everyone was parked between inches of each other. No 3 metre gaps at all, that was the end for me for parking there overnight.
On the way back from Ardmore, I dropped Fiona off in the city as she had missed the train from Papakura to meet her sister from Waiheke, for a girlie lunch and fun in the shops.
Heading north, I went straight for Fairway Bay thinking its either going to be chocker block in which case I’d go to Shakespeare park or it’ll be great. There are only 6 parks there but at $10 with power its a great spot with the parking on a shell base over clay.
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Today was going to be a great day. There was heaps of room and only a 5th wheeler there. It turns out it was his first night out with it and he was a very happy chap.
I went for a walk around to where the Hobbs Bay Market is held every week just behind the parking. There is a Restaurant / Bar there too and lots of big boats.
Some nice boats here
Hobbs Bay Market venue
Later getting back to Rafe, I got a phone call from Fiona to say that she had seen her sister and was catching the Gulf Harbour Ferry up to join me. While that was happening, Kim and Ali from Motueka parked up in their Nissan Civilian bus. They have taken a year off and are touring the country and having some fun.
Rafe with the wee communal area in the middle.
Not long after they had arrived, Kim had decided to check his Oil and water and as he checked the water, he dropped his radiator cap down into his engine. It was sitting on a ledge in the bottom of the radiator but you couldn’t see it, feel it or reach down there to get it.
Stressful ! I found a couple of tools in my kit and after half an hour or so of going no where, it was time to ring the AA man.
From the carpark. Nicely fenced off.
I went and picked up Fiona from the ferry on the other side of the harbour and returned to our park. Ali and Kim came over for a cold one or three. The AA man arrived about 15 minutes later and after putting a magnet down to where he thought it would be, he fished it out within minutes of his arrival. Isn’t it great to have an expert on hand when you need them 🙂
With the stress gone, it was time for one more to celebrate. A great night in a nice spot right next to the water. Great value and the chap that runs the marina parking is great to deal with too.
A very happy Kim ready for Northland
Ali and Kim are heading up north today while we came home to do our GST and do some washing !!
Dethleffs NZ’s Jonas Ng has just returned after a week or two in Germany catching up with Dethleffs and Frankia to see whats coming soon with the new models.
While he was there, he visited the Hymer Museum and took these amazing piccies of Dethleffs first caravan.
He also found an early motorhome.. that’s coming soon.
While we had the car at Otamuri Bay, we thought it would be rude to not use it for a look around the area.
Fiona walking on the Whananaki Bridge
We headed back over the hill to Whananake North so we could answer texts and emails and the set off on foot to check out the Whananaki foot bridge which connects the southern shore of the estuary to the northern shore.
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Fiona on the Whananaki Bridge with the school on the other side.
I had to stoop to hold the hand rail where I felt the need and it takes about 20 odd minutes to cross it. It would be fun for the school kids in a blow to get to Whananake North School!
The Whananaki Bridge
Moureeses Bay
Moureseeses Bay
An interesting crossing so after that we headed back to Otamuri bay and beyond. The seal stopped on the road just past the Doc camp and a rather twisty, windy road takes you straight up and straight down again to a bunch of surf beaches.
Surfing at Moureeses Bay
We stopped at Moureeses Bay where some surfies were having fun. Another stunning Northland Beach which you would never know was there.
Fiona arrived at Waipu just after 11 from Auckland so we set off for Whananaki . We’d never been there before and were looking forward to it. Fiona followed in the Qashqai and after a quick stop at the dump station in Whangarei, we were off. The turnoff is just after Hikirangi and from there it 20 odd k’s of a really windy road in parts.
Coming in to Whanakake
As we came into Whananaki, it was a sight to behold. What a lovely place. It is largely populated with amazing little baches but there is a Camping Ground there.We were heading to the DOC park in Otamuri bay over the hill.
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Otamuri. The camp is behind the treesOtamuri .. off peak !
It’s a huge park right on the beach with all the usual DOC non smelly long drop loos but not much else but a beautiful spot.After all the rain we have had, the sun was out and for the middle of June, it was quite hot and very pleasant.
I went for a drive back over the hill in the car to get some piccies of Whananakiand a walk on the beach for a look around.
Whananake from the top of the hill
Whananaki Baches
Whananaki Baches
Whananaki Baches
The beach at Otamuri
Otamuri Bay
Otamuri bay
We sat out in the sun with a cold one, with some cheese and crackers and after tea in the Mitzi, retired to Rafe to watch some rugby.
Us enjoying the sunset at Otamuri – Cell ph pic
No cellular coverage so no internet. We got to talk to each other 😃 But a fantastic spot to stay.
I headed to Uretiti Doc camp armed with my NZMCA Doc pass which is in its last month, to meet up with Gary and Chris who had been there for a few nights strategically hiding behind a big bush from the north easterlies. There was almost enough room for Rafe too but the winds were dying off and it was really about the rain now.
Gary with the Mitzi and Rafe
Stuck inside due to the rain, we spent the afternoon watching an amazing Tv series done by the Norwegians set in the Second World War about the Heavy Water factory on Netflix. It was so good that we had to keep watching it and ended up watching the whole series!
The Netspeed speed test at Uretiti Download: 24.42 Mbps
Upload: 2.45 Mbps
Ping: 49 ms
Connection Type: Wi-Fi
Server: Wanaka
There were a few good puffs overnight but it generally settled down and by the morning it was just a drizzly, dreary light rain.
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Uretiti Beach .. Chris on the beach, which way?
In a moment of madness, we decided to go for a walk on the beach but got as far as the sand and decided it was indeed a silly idea so headed back to dry off.
Chris escaping back to the Vans to get out of the rain.
It was nice to catch up with Gary and Chris. They had a few things to do in their new hometown of Ruakaka where their house is rented out and then we were going to catch up again in Waipu where I headed and parked at the Caledonian park.
Due to the rain, I thought the grass was quite soft so I parked on the gravel.
Later in the day, we walked into town and enjoyed a great meal at the Indian restaurant. Chris reckoned it was one of the best meals she’d had! Fiona and I have been there a few times and it has always been good.
Waipu main street – cell ph pic
As we returned to the park, we met James from Castor Bay who had just squeezed his 11m bus through the main gate and parked on the grass. I was impressed. 1 because he’d parked on the grass with 8 tons and 2, he’d squeezed through the gate in a big bus in the dark! Well done that man🤓.Two other smaller vans parked there too and nobody had any problems.
The main entrance from the road was all chopped up and muddy so getting to the parking was the real problem but we were happy on the gravel just for a night and it was nice to have some power too.
With nothing happening in my diary for a few days, Fiona suggested I head north and catch up with our old Boating, and now Motorhome friends, Chris and Gary Parkes.
Fiona will join us with the car at the end of the week.
They’ve cashed up and are now full timing in their Mitzi Fuso, Ci Munro truck for the next wee while and seem to be really enjoying it.
The remains of the weather that hit Sydney’s beaches was, due to hit Northland so I thought I’d try a campground away from the gale north easterlies hitting our coast.
I arrived in Paparoa, on the road to Dargaville mid afternoon and checked in to the Paparoa Holiday Park.
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The view of the camp from the entrance.
This park was built from a paddock by the current owners and is all gravel with lots of small trees and cabins which offer good protection from the wind and rain. On my own, it cost $15 which is extremely good value with power.
Kitchen
Rafe in the corner
Small cabins
General Store
The river with the shops in the background
Part of the redeveloped Landing
The area redeveloped and now called the Landing. The National Bank building in the middle.
I got the bike of the back and went for a toodle into the Paparoa village for a look around. The Pub is just around the corner and the village is loaded with history. There is a river which comes up from the Kaipara which was used to get supplies up for the locals and dragged up a bank by wires from the boats. The old National Bank building is built into the shape of the corner which is interesting too.
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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