This is one of those real gems. We’ve stayed here a few times now and it although the facilities are a bit rustic, they’re clean, they work, its a reasonable price and they’re nice people.
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The parking out the back.. early morning
We checked in at the hotel and after parking Rafe, we were pleasantly surprised to see it was pretty dry given the rain the area had been getting. The secret was that there is a good layer of scoria under the grass where you park. There was a couple of ruts from earlier people but they were easily avoided and it was easy peasy.
After having a look at the Coromandel Mining Museum up the road a wee bit, we went for another walk into Coromandel town for a look around for an hour or so and then wandered back. The shops were open yippee! The Mining Museum is run by volunteers and it is well worth a look at it.. really interesting with a lot of images of early Coromandel. I even found a list of the rules of being a Teacher in the 1870’s… quite funny looking at it now but they were deadly serious.
Coromandel Hotel
After getting back to the Hotel, we went for a drink in the Hotel and later had a meal there.
The Ablutions
The food is something else.. We both had Pork Belly and it was amazing. I even sent a happy snap off my phone to a mate in Taupo and he agreed by long distance.
The Pork Belly Yummmm!
Great hospitality, the food is fantastic and its an easy walk to town.
Rafe’s Tracker map to the Coromandel Hotel – Armada GPS
This is one of those places that you will remember for being super slick.
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This site was originally developed a few years ago by a chap who was really into Jetsprinting and set up the whole back area with a lake with obstacles for his hobby. I think since then it has changed hands and the new owners have developed the campground and Cafe. The lake is still there behind the campground area which is nicely set out with toilets and showers at one side. Plenty of powered sites to service them all and hop, skip and jump to the Flat Hills Café right next door.
Where the Jetsprinting used to be
We pulled into the massive carpark just a few k’s north of Hunterville and checked in at the Café. The lady there couldn’t have been more obliging and gave us a map showing where everything was.
After we’d ordered a coffee each and bought something to snack on, she explained that if we ordered tea and paid for it then (it was about 3.30pm then), we could specify a delivery time to the Motorhome at tea time. The options were 5pm , 6pm or 7pm. Wow I thought, I haven’t ever come across this before.
Inside the Cafe
We quickly ordered a meal each and after our coffee’s and a look around went back to Rafe.
Friendly Donkey
Our meals arrived right on the dot of 6pm and they were nice and hot and good food. A knock on the door and in it came. We washed the dishes and returned them in the morning.
The campground is on State Highway 1 and directly over the main road is the main trunk line to Wellington so you do hear the odd train and truck going past but at $22 Campsaver prices, its still really good value.
Nice parking
Its a great place for kids being well fenced with a great playground and plenty of farm animals for them to see.
The play area
Nice people, great value and very easy access and parking.
Rafe’s Tracker map to Flat Hills Cafe – Armada GPS
Yep it was really sunny. I was a bit anxious coming into Wellington as the city is not famous for its abundance of parking for Motorhomes at a sensible price.
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Plenty of Room
As we came over the Rimutaka’s, I thought we’d give the Petone Workingman Clubs parking a shot and see if we could fluke a powered site. When we arrived, we were in luck!
Flags at Half mast for the Duke
They have recently increased the price to $20 with or without power but with power, I think that is pretty reasonable and the food and facilities are just the best. The parking area is quite big with room for about 15-20 off Caravans and Motorhomes with a gap. There are only 4 powered sites all bunched together around a corner fence. You have to be quick to get a powered site 🙂
I went to sign in and we went in to have a drink and some tea. We’re members of a club in the south island so were able to use that for the bar. Great food at great prices. Nice to see the dancing on the floor too while people waited for their dinner.
Fiona at the BarDancing in the club
The next day we walked around to the Ava train station and caught a train into Wellington.
In the cityNice waterfront
The train system in Wellington is so slick. Why can Wellington do this and Auckland can’t!
The Ava Railway station
15 minutes or so from Petone and we’re in the center of Wellington enjoying lunch at a French café not far from the railway station. We walked downtown to the waterfront area which is really nicely done with cafes everywhere and plenty of seating and relaxing space for the office workers. Lots of runners and people exercising in their lunch breaks, its great to see.
Fiona indicated shopping was on the agenda so it was time for me to slowly walk back to the train and head back to Rafe. Fiona arrived about an hour later and it was time to head back into the club for dinner.
The next morning, Fiona wanted to catch up with an old friend from Devonport now living in Upper Hutt so she caught the train up there and I went for a walk around Petone, just a block away.
Its a neat place Wellington and it was nice that over the 3 nights we were there, we didn’t have anything but sunshine and sometimes a little cloud.
I love what the clubs are doing with them making their parking available to us to stay and its a great place to have a meal or a drink too and at great prices.
Another one of those towns that we keep coming back to. The food and shopping is good, the real estate prices like everywhere else have skyrocketed but it is still a lovely little town.
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The Sun is out
We checked in at the local campground as we’ve stayed there a few times before and the manager Ken can’t do enough for you. It is also a Winter Campsaver site so that makes it very cost effective in the off season. Nice showers and toilets and nice flat sites with big high hedges to protect against the famous Wairarapa winds. There is also a swimming pool next door run by the council which you can use in the hot months.
Ken was very welcoming and basically is was park wherever you like. We settled Rafe and plugged in and went for a walk into town and started at the french Café for a coffee before moving on to the pub.
That night when we got back, we met our new neighbours Michelle and Patrick from Wanganui and other neighbours Karen and Ian who have recently sold their award winning Olive Grove. Juno Olives. Really nice people who we spent a lot of time with over the next few days.
Play Area
The next day, we took Rafe to Martinborough to have lunch at one of our favourite Vineyards, Margrains. The Chardonnay is fantastic as is the food.
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Margrains Vineyard
Martinborough shops
Fiona in Martinborough
The Sun is out
Play Area
The Reception and toilet and Showers
Historic Cottage
We started in the main square at a Café in the corner and from there walked around the square to check out the shops. Fiona took a shine to a dress shop there and ended up buying a nice black dress and a wooden necklace to go with it which looks good. We then moved on to Margrains and the slow cooked Pork Belly they do has never tasted better. Nice to wash it down with a great Chardy!
The Pub in town
We headed back to the Greytown Campground to catch up with our neighbours.
On our last day in Greytown we were going to bike up a trail 10 k’s or so to a historic railway station just out of town but we got to the other end of Greytown and it started to pour with rain so a change to plan B. ..
We spent the rest of the day walking through the shops and later had a fantastic communal meal in Michelle and Patrick’s awning with our neat neighbours.
One of our favourite spots in the Hawkes Bay has to be Clifton Reserve. With Toilets and Rubbish recycling and right on the most amazing beach, it can’t be beaten and its a gold coin donation.
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Looking towards Napier
We’ve stayed here quite a few times and it is always fabulous. This time we were here so we could bike along to the Te Awanga Vineyard which was a few K’s down the road to have lunch. A perfect way to start a great day.
Great view
After settling down Rafe and getting the bikes down, we were off and heading down some great bike tracks towards the vineyard. Their driveway would probably be nearly a k long through the vineyards but its very easy and a lovely ride.
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Solitary Guitar
Great view at Te Awhanga
Fiona with her new Cider
Nice evening
Sundown
Parking in a bike rack not far from where we would eat, we were given a table which looked out over the vineyard towards Cape Kidnappers which was great.
Great spot
We must have spent several hours here eating pizza, drinking Chardonnay and Cider before we headed back to Rafe at Clifton. A fantastic spot and very reasonably priced. There are two other vineyards there too which we’ve been to as well. Clearwater and Elephant Hill. All are very good with different levels of food and pricing.
Sheltered
Arriving back at Clifton, it was starting to fill up but there was plenty of room for all.
I’d only just got to the top of the drive when out popped Dick to welcome us to his property and to show us where to park. He was just the same as I remembered him a few years ago. Big smiles and a happy guy.
The Trees have gone
When we were last here the place was a thriving Orchard with Apples. As Dick had retired some years ago, he had leased out the area for others to run it but for whatever reason it was not successful and the trees were removed so there is now lots of room for Caravans and Motorhomes.
After we settled down Rafe and opened vents and plugged in and whatnot, we set off on the bikes into Havelock shops about 7k’s away. We got there in time to enjoy a coffee at a cafe and Fiona had a quick squizz at the shops there before we headed back to Rafe. Neither of us are too thrilled about riding on 100k country roads with little or no bike space so we decided that we would not do that again.
Downtown Havelock
Fiona was keen to catch up with a long lost cousin who lives in Havelock so she rang Ann, her cousin who popped around with her husband Ian for an hour or so which was neat.
Fiona and I have both had our DNA done and this was a DNA match on Fiona’s side of the family who we hadn’t met so it was all clever stuff.
The PavilionTennis anyone
Fiona showed her the family photo album which I had on my ipad. Great to meet the cousins especially from a part of the family you haven’t met and nice for Ann to see some of her cousins in the photo album.
Flat parking
A lovely park with a shower and toilet and very good value and handy to Havelock and many vineyards.. just watch that traffic if you’re on bikes.
Rafe’s Tracker map to Dick and Ellies Parking – Armada GPS
Our friends from Christchurch, Rory and Henny were in town for the NZMCA AGM Rally with their friends from New Plymouth so it was a must for me to catch up with them as they had seen Fiona during a shopping trip, but I had missed them.
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Downtown Rotorua!
Rory and Henny and I met years ago when I was away on a blog hunting expedition on my own and we bumped into each other in Coromandel of all places. It turns out that Rory used to buy ice creams from my Grandfathers General Store in Diamond Harbour when he was a small boy. Later we worked out that he also knows some of my other cousins in Christchurch too.. small world 🙂
The UCC on the left and Rory and Henny’s new Burstner on the right
While parked down by the waterfront in a carpark, I thought I saw Rory and Henny roaring round the corner next to me and when I rang a few minutes later, it turned out it was them. They were heading for the supermarket and we arranged to meet after that.
Rory decided that we’d head over the a bigger carpark where we could comfortably fit three Motorhomes in while we had lunch without upsetting the car parkers.
Nice view
Rory had a plan and setup his near new Burstner Lyseo with Tony and Sheri from New Plymouth, with an area in between where could put out chairs and tables out for a bit a knees up for lunch.
It was really nice seeing them both again and also meeting their friends Tony and Sheri and their UCC Mercedes based Motorhome.
Lunch with a great view and there were lots of Motorhomes there, possibly having a break from the rally.
Having helped park a couple of these Rallies, they are a BIG job for the volunteers who put these together and with this one, Neal and his parking team kept the bar high with their direction and parking skills.
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Chief parker Neal with his 3m stick
This year like last year, the parking costs were covered by Covi organisers along with a free bus service which ran in a cycle every half an hour or so… it worked beautifully. There was also a storage area at the Show where you could securely store any goodies purchased and pick them up on the way back on the bus… a great idea.
Plenty of white Motorhomes
I’m not sure how many people were at the Rally but a general estimate I would say it was at least 500 vehicles on the first day all beautifully parked by Neal and his team from the Waikato group with Counties pitching in too as a joint parking effort.. well done guys.
My little place in the world
The best part for me at these events was catching up with friends I haven’t seen for a while who have come for the show.
A great effort and well done to all those Volunteers.
Rafe’s Tracker map to the show Motorhome parking – Armada GPS
With the Covid scare stopping our Anniversary weekend trip dead in its tracks, we headed off to Pauanui for the weekend to catch up with family and friends with our bikes on the back.
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Fantastic Beach
Its a great place for bikes as its all pretty flat and as most of the locals there use bikes to get around, they seem pretty tolerant and used to seeing them on the road.
We checked in at our favourite place for parking there, the Pauanui Sports Club. The Pauanui Club have been offering parking for NZMCA’rs for a few years now and doing a great job of it.
Looking good
The first day we were there, there was a knock at the door in the morning and it was our grandson Ayden who had biked around to say hello. We were later joined by his Dad, Alex and brother Liam.
Alex teeing off
The mini golf course next door was the place to be which was also busy with the long weekend. Granny Fiona went along too. 8 yr old Liam found a water trap within a few strokes of his club. As it was quite hot, he was in no hurry to get out either 🙂
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Liam cooling off !
Liam fishing his ball out of the water 🙂
Fiona and Alex
Ayden at the mini golf
Fiona and Liam at the mini golf
Off to buy a slushy after with Granny.
We had been invited out to tea with one of Fiona’s old school friends Janette and her husband Evan. Always nice to see them so we were off on our bikes to their place for a great night.
Busy busy
The next day we spent meeting the neighbours. Paul and Ruth on one side from Auckland and Peter and Wendy from Tauranga on the other. Small world stuff too. It turns out I’d met one of Peter and Wendy’s good friends involved with the Motorhome industry who we met again later in the weekend. I also used to work with Paul’s brother in Auckland 30 plus years or so ago in the newspaper industry..
We took the boys to the village to get some lunch.
We finished off here by having fish and chips with the grandkids around at their place. A nice weekend.
I’ve been a great supporter of the Pauanui Club. They’ve been great supporters of the NZMCA and its members and provide a great facility. It is run with little human intervention meaning, no booking, no sites are marked out.
Due to its popularity now, I think time has come for the sites to be marked out and a limit placed on the numbers like the NZMCA sites.
Over the weekend, we ended up having 14 vans in there with only half having some reasonable fire gaps between them.
An extra one out by the Airfield
The general thought here was that it would be a good idea that the club put some “below lawn mower height” pegs in to define some sites and make sure that everyone is kept safe. Cheap and easy and it can continue to be run as it is.
Busy busy busy
Its a fantastic place to stay with great people and long may it continue.
Nice to get away for the long weekend and catch up with everyone at a great spot.
Kiwi North which is about 5k’s out of Whangarei on the road from Dargaville is also the home of the Whangarei Museum and many of the local clubs with an amazing collection of things that clubs have.. Stationery Engines, Medical Museum, Radio operators, Cars and Tractors, Railway enthusiasts and the list goes on.
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One of the Kiwis – pic supplied
The big attraction though is the Kiwi house where you can get up close with them. This is the first time Fiona and I had ever seen one this close and with one of the volunteers close by telling us all about them was amazing.
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Octagonal Chapel
Car ethusiasts
Stationery Engines
Niagara Lifeboat being restored.
Another well know homestead
Ride on minature trains.
They are actively involved with a Kiwi breeding program to try and stop the decline in their numbers and their modern Kiwi House makes it so easy to see them right up close. We were inches away from them!
A Nugget in the museum found in Hukerenui
The park is also currently refurbishing the Clark Homestead along with an amazing Octagonal shaped Chapel and other outbuildings.
There is the old Kauri Train station and the old Whangarei Woman’s Gaol there too.
Whangarei Woman’s Gaol
To make it easier for NZMCA’rs who would like to check it out, they also have parking for up to 4 vans with power, toilets and showers for just $15. There is also a discount for access to the Kiwis and the Museum for NZMCA’rs too!
The parking for Motorhomes
I’ve popped in here before but this was Fiona’s first time and its a great place with plenty to see and do.
Every Kiwi should do this and with international visitors being hard to come by due to Covid, make sure you pop in next time you’re up that way 🙂
After having a look at the Coromandel Mining Museum up the road a wee bit, we went for another walk into Coromandel town for a look around for an hour or so and then wandered back. The shops were open yippee! The Mining Museum is run by volunteers and it is well worth a look at it.. really interesting with a lot of images of early Coromandel. I even found a list of the rules of being a Teacher in the 1870’s… quite funny looking at it now but they were deadly serious.
Great hospitality, the food is fantastic and its an easy walk to town.
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