One of the iconic Hotels around and just out of Auckland is this wonderful old historic pub. It also has a huge carpark where you can stay overnight in your Motorhome or Caravan.
The Parking area
While I was in this neck of the woods, I thought I’d pop in and check it out.
How the first settlers arrived.
Puhoi started out having three Hotels after emigrants from Europe all wanted to be in on the business. Eventually one bought the others out and the current Puhoi Hotel which was built in 1879 became the communities premier place to socialise.
It has been owned by the same family since 1962.
At the bar
I love old buildings and this one has the charm and grace to go with it. The bar is decked out with every Knick knack you can imagine. It just reeks of character.
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General store
Across the road
You can stay the night in the hotel too if you have friends without their own accommodation. The parking for Motorhomes is just across the road.
I went for a brief walk around the village, and it is like time stood still. The old buildings look like they would have been 100 odd years ago.
We set off early on the Friday morning thinking there might be a bit of early Labour weekend traffic, but it wasn’t to be, and we made it to Coromandel in pretty good time.
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Steve Gibson took this amazing shot with his drone. Coromandel shops are off to the left.
The Frankia Owners group organiser Brian Maginness, had invited me along to meet some of the group. Many of them were ex Dethleff owners so it was nice to see them again. They’re a good bunch and I’ve always admired the Frankia Motorhomes so we were really looking forward to it.
Brian had booked out the entire Park over property at Acres which is almost right in the middle of Coromandel town. Run by Pauline and Ron as part of their property in a separate area complete with power and a bathroom, it is spectacular, and we’ll definitely be back to see them again.
Late on Friday afternoon, a few gathered outside Rafe and Happy Hour was on.
I met Russell and Lorraine who were originally from New Plymouth where I had just come from the photo Auction for Hospice.
It turns out that Russell spent a lot of his working life as a Linotype operator at the Daily News in New Plymouth so knew many of my press photographer friends who were involved in the Auction as they had also worked at the Daily News. Small world stuff.
It was really nice reminiscing about the old technology with the lead bars, slugs on the page (letters/paragraphs for the press) Great stuff.
Outside the gate
I also caught up with Peter and Heather who have adult children a similar age to our own and have lived close to us in Devonport for a long time. They’ve recently just got started with their near new Frankia Platin. Lovely to see them enjoying their new Motorhome.
My old friend from Devonport, Peter.
After the happy hour was finished, we all headed up to one of the restaurants in the main street of Coromandel about 5 minutes’ walk away. A great night and everyone had fun.
The next morning, it was each to their own. Some went bike riding, some walked up the back through the bush, we went for a walk through town and after lunch, walked back slowly to the camp to catch up with our neighbours in their Motorhomes.
Off for a Bike ride
Happy Hour rolled around and after this, I set up a team piccy and moved the group, so our Dethleffs was out of the background 🙂
The Team
That night’s tea was at my favourite restaurant in Coromandel, The Star and Garter. The meal I had was massive and Peter who was sitting next to me, watched me struggle through it. It was so nice.
I wasn’t going to waste any of it. 🙂 A nice meal as always and at a reasonable price. Another great night.
Star and Garter on the left looking up the main street.
We all ambled back to the park and crashed.
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a Happy hour getting started.
The Star and Garter
The old historic loos.
Provisioning in Coromandel
The next day, many left. The rally was over but Fiona and I along with several others had enjoyed the park and the others company so much, we weren’t quite ready to go home 🙂
a Happy hour getting started.
A fantastic gathering… Well organised Brian and thank you to you all for making us both welcome.
It is in Bell Block and just 10 minutes from downtown New Plymouth so its handy too.
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Handy to the Happy Hour Pavilion
Just as the first Covid lockdown came on last year, Kevin and Lynda’s Tamarillo crop and others like it, were devastated by a bug that badly damaged their crop. A real tragedy. They had several neighbours who also got struck by the same bad luck.
Not to be outdone and being clever Motor homers themselves, they turned their small farm into a lovely big Motorhome and Caravan Park over property and it is a huge success!
Kevin and LyndaGetting Busy
Keeping the big shelter belts that surrounded their Tamarillos, they’ve added a nice new Happy Hour facility with an outside deck.
Holes in the Shelter Belt
While I was there, there were a few windy days but being surrounded by the shelter belts, you wouldn’t have known!!
I was originally only going to stay a night but there is such a great atmosphere and a sense of community that I ended up being there for 5 days! There are 8 powered sites and some hard stand parking, but it is so sheltered.
Happy Chat
Kevin and Lynda are both very good musicians and several of the people who stay there regularly are too.
Suzy TKevin and LyndaClose to the Music
On the day I arrived, they had a small concert for an hour or two with their semi-trailer in the next paddock, fantastic. Kevin has setup it up with a neat sound system and what looks like a bit of a “Green room” at the end of the stage. Suzy T as she’s known, was on the keyboards and vocals. She’s a great singer and was staying in her Caravan just across from me.
Between where I was parked next to the Happy Hour Pavilion and the Stage, there was a huge row of shelterbelt trees but in one corner, there was a neatly cut out doorway through the trees… very clever.
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Kevin, Lynda and Suzy T
Kevin and Lynda
Suzy T
Cloe to the Music
Holes in the Shelter Belt
On Guard
My neighbours sorting out an electrical issue
Kevin also helped me sort out a small problem I had with a missing screw in my under-engine cover which was hanging down. All done in a few minutes!
On Guard
A fantastic group of people encouraged by great hosts. Thanks again for having me.
Rafe’s Tracker map to Ninia Park over – Armada GPS
Another great weather day was there to greet us as we rose to leave Reefton to go to Richmond.
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The grand entrance
We were gagging for a coffee by the time we approached the Nelson area. There is a nice wee place at Kohatu called the Flat Rock Café where we’ve stopped several times before.
Easy parking for big vehicles and a good coffee so we stopped there for half an hour or so before we carried on towards the Nelson Racecourse in Richmond.
Rafe parked under the trees
At $20 a night with power, water, rubbish, toilets showers and laundry its very affordable and in a nice spot.
Relaxing in the sun
After parking, opening vents and settling down, we went for a 20 minute walk into Richmond to have a nosey around the shops and a coffee. Last time we were here, they had half the main street all ripped up and it was impossible to get anywhere. It was nice to see it all finished and it looks good too.
A happy James with his car
The next day, we met our neighbour James who was on his own in his Motorhome. We were keen to visit upper Moutere and when James found this out, he asked us if we could take him up to Woodstock so he could retrieve his car. He was getting it fitted with an A frame and going to tow it behind his Motorhome. There is no public transport or any other way for him to get his car.
We’ve never been to Woodstock and it wasn’t far out of our way so we were off with James to get his car.
We took a wrong turn and for a moment we weren’t sure that James knew where his car was as he wasn’t familiar with the area but after retracing our steps for a few k’s, James recognised where we were and we found his car. It’s so easy to get lost up there as we found when we tried to get from there to Upper Moutere without the GPS.
The Moutere River at WoodstockMy chatty friends at Woodstock
After we dropped James off, I found a bridge that crossed the Motueka River that flows through the Woodstock valley. After parking in a gravel pit so I could get some pictures of the river from the bridge, there were two cyclists coming the other way and I got chatting to them. They were local Caravanners who regularly did 30 odd k’s every few days around the area. We must have chatted for about 20 minutes about all sorts.. lovely couple.
It was time to head to Upper Moutere for lunch. This is when we got lost !
One of the nice things about these small towns is its usually pretty easy to get a park.. there was one big park left when we got there and we sort of fitted in it 🙂 See the pic.
The main drag at Upper MoutereThe old Post Office
We headed for the old Post Office which now sells Fancy pickles and breads and also has a very talented Jeweler making some amazing stuff. She used to work in the UK but returned home to NZ after winning a bunch of awards for her work.
The Oldest pub in NZ
After this we headed for the oldest Pub in NZ, the Moutere Inn. We came here a few years ago so we knew the food was good and it didn’t disappoint!
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The grand entrance
Rafe parked under the trees
The main straight
The Moutere River at Woodstock
The main drag at Upper Moutere
Moutere Inn
I had Nachos with Bacon and Cheese .. Wow and Fiona had a Seafood Chowder.. washed down with a local cider made less than a few paddocks away 🙂
Amazing Nacho lunch
After this we headed back to the Racecourse.
We were sitting in Rafe enjoying a cup of tea when there was knock on the door. It was James with a nice bottle of Scottish Gin he’d bought for us for taking up to Woodstock. We were bowled over as he had offered us money for diesel which we’d turned down.
If you’re reading this James.. a really nice surprise! a big thank you mate and it was lovely to meet you and be able to help you out.
Rafe’s Tracker map to Richmond – Armada GPSRafe’s Tracker map to Woodstock / Upper Moutere – Armada GPS
A big chunk of my family came from Oxford so its probably no surprise that we like it here.
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We popped into the cemetery to check on my grandparents.
The last time we were here, we popped in at the Museum and there was a few notable relatives who were in some displays in the Museum. They’ve done a wonderful job of expanding the Museum and adding to the collections.
Great pub
We called in a the Rustic Hotel at the end of the main st in Oxford. For $20 they provide powered parking behind the hotel. They also provide a nice meal to with it.
The Stairwell complete with the old phone
One of the chaps I was talking to who was a regular turned out to be a crane driver who did the lifting required for a cousins house not far down the road in Rangiora. Small world!
The Back parking area
We dropped in after parking Rafe and met some really interesting people at the bar and had a good look around. It was a fun afternoon and very reasonable parking.
An amazing old building with a very friendly helpful publican Ross, in a neat town.
Our old friends Ross and Karen were always the people to visit here whenever we were in Cromwell, but they recently moved to a lovely home in Dunedin to be closer to their family. It was lovely to see them on the way down.
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The Historic Precinct
Gary and Dianne with Ian were in town in their Motorhomes so we were keen to catch up with them at the Cromwell Town and Country club where they had been staying. They had been in the South Island together doing the Alps to Ocean bike trail, amongst other things so it was good to see them and hear their news.
Parked with our almost Lake view site at the Cromwell Town and Country Club. LtoR Rafe, Ian’s XLI and Gary and Dianne’s Niesmann and Bichoff
The Cromwell Heritage Precinct Farmers Market starts at 9am so it was an early rise at Creeksyde in Queenstown to get through the Kawerau Gorge (60k) and be settled to join them in Cromwell and walk down to the Market. Fiona LOVES markets so I knew things would be grim if I was late 🙂
The Historic Precinct
We got to Cromwell just in time with minutes to spare and we all headed off down to the Heritage area. After having a look around we settled down at the Tables by the lake to enjoy a coffee and a bun and who should rock it through the gate but old boatie friend Mark who was staying in Wanaka with Tina and his brother in law.. small world stuff.. nice to see him too.
The Crew, LtoR Ian, Fiona, Gary and Dianne
After walking back to the Motorhomes and later in the day, we set out in Gary and Dianne’s toad(car) and looked for somewhere nice to have a vineyard lunch but with Covid and everything we struggled to find somewhere to go. We ended up at a really nice place that we been to before on the edge of Lake Dunstan called the Stoaker Room .. fantastic ..nice food and I can’t remember which Chardonnay I had but I remember it was a goodie.. Fiona had a nice G&T.
Great Outlook
After a drink back at our Motorhomes at the Town and Country Club, we hit the hay. I’ve always enjoyed our time at Cromwell. Love the history and the atmosphere there.
This fine establishment was created by Murray Boyd over the course of three years.
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Murray at the Bar
Murray descends from a long line of early settlers of the area from Ireland and has done wonders with his creation from scratch of an early Irish Hotel, complete with the mud hut look. Its an amazing achievement and to top it off has also created a Motorhome and Caravan park along with some amazing gardens.
There’s a mountain range there somewhere
We popped in here on an earlier trip south and spent a couple of days here waiting out some very dreary Kaikoura weather but had fun here all the same.
The Gardens
The weather this time wasn’t much better but with a great Irish welcome from Murray, a nice Gin for Fiona and a Chardonnay for Moi, we were very happy.
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Good parking
The Parking
The Gardens
The main bar area with the History on the walls
Amazing fireplace
Looking around with the family history on the walls, you really get a sense of what a huge job he’s done and its a great spot to stay. They also do a lot of events here.. great spot.
The main bar area with the History on the walls
The last time we were here, the weather was slightly nicer.. check it out here.
I haven’t been able to get away recently so here is a post that was first published July last year.. fantastic campground which is also participating in the NZMCA Campsaver scheme.. enjoy.
From the moment I stepped out of Rafe at Ruakaka Holiday Park, everything about this place is HUGE. There are more than 260 powered sites and the camp is spread out over 13 hectares. The camp is divided into several regions each having their own ablution blocks.
The land that it sits on and its layout and the views are absolutely sensational. Everywhere I looked I could see nice images.
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My view
It also is a participant in the NZMCA’s Camp saver program and owner Anne-Marie says it is working well for them. They also do off peak weekly stays too.
On the waterfront
I was interested to see their information sheet included how to park within your site to ensure that everyone has 3 metres separation. I think this is good news as many Holiday Parks parking is far to close for fire safety.
Great parking
I was a bit lucky to get one of the waterfront sites facing out to Marsden Point and Bream Head even though it was pretty exposed to the easterly nasties that came through, it was really nice to wake up to a great view when the weather played the game.
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On the other side of the peninsular
My view
A bit gloomy then
The weather wasn’t that flash with an amazing thunder and lightning storm coming through with showers before and after but there was enough fine weather to get some nice images.
And just around the corner
This campground though has it all.. the views and the sites are spectacular with great facilities.
Ruakaka Beach is just down the road and there is a Bird Sanctuary to walk through too.
I’ve always wanted to find out about a POP that was reputed to be really popular on the Waharau coast and thought maybe now is the time.
Just north of Kaiaua and the famous Rays Rest, it is the perfect place to spend a few days if you wanted some of the nice things like power and a toilet.
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Lots of parking spots
I rang Andrew, the owner of the Pop and asked if they were open .It was all good so off I went. I spent two days there and it was just bliss.
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The Beach over the road.
The Seal on the rock
Shags not happy
The Creek
The Copper
Shower Tree
Classic Loo
Andrew’s parents purchased the 200 acres of scrub in the 60’s and then had to turn it into a farm.
Rod, the campground manager’s office is in the truck
There is a small Kauri forest on the back of the farm which you can walk up to. The bigger Kauris have all been milled decades ago but its a nice reminder of what was once there.
The camp is a classic with a small stream running most of the way around one side. There are 4 powered, graveled sites, all on different levels plus some unpowered on grass sites.
The levels of parking
The loo is a classic recycled corrugated iron shed but it all works. One of the most popular items here is an old copper for heating the water for showers. With plenty of firewood on hand, you light the fire, heat the water, put in a 20 litre container (provided) and there is a winch for winding it up a tree. That’s the shower mixer with some cold water to get the right temperature. You can also use the hot water in a private shower over a bath setup if you’d prefer. A great setup! and apparently it is really popular.
Almost directly across the road is a beach on the edge of the Firth of Thames looking straight out to the Coromandel Peninsular.. just bliss.
The Seal on the rock
After parking Rafe and checking out the Camp area and being followed everywhere by a very friendly chook, I went for a walk down to the beach.
Dusk at the beach
While I was just watching the antics of the Shags sitting on the rocks, there was some movement in the water nearby. It was a Seal who climbed up on the rock ruining the Shag’s day 🙂 He was now King of the Castle.. Andrew told me later that he’s been coming to the beach for years every year since he was a pup.
There aren’t too many places left in this world where you can get a powered site for 2 for $12 and with a big welcoming smile. A lovely spot, great hosts and a fantastic place to go if you just want to do very little.
Rafe’s tracker map to Kauri View Farm – Armada GPS
Heading for our next stop in Waihi with Ayden and Liam in the back, we stopped just out of Tokoroa when someone spotted a Subway store, the boys favourite 🙂
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At the Goldfields Park
From here we cruised on up to the Waihi Goldfields Railway. A great place to stay and they’ve really tidied it up since we were last here.
Waihi Station
Its the perfect stop as we could take the boys on the Train to Waikino and then later meet their Dad Alex at Ngatea where he would take them to Pauanui.
Grandsons Ayden and Liam with Fiona
I was a wee bit concerned as it was getting late in the day and you can’t really book parks here but there was plenty of room.
Leaving Waihi
The next morning, we went over to the station and got our tickets and were ready for the ride to Waikino. The boys were quite excited and had a lot of fun encouraging the drivers alongside the railway to toot their horns.
Toot that horn
They liked the Taniwha too by the track on the way. After a 20 minute Ice cream stop, we were on our way back to Waihi. If we had more time, we would have taken them over the river to the Victoria Barracks and the Museum .. next time. We did come here a few years ago and biked the trails right to Karangahake. That can be seen here and the Windows walk is well worth doing, see that here.
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All Aboard
Boys waiting for the train
Crossing the highway
Toots away
When we got back to Rafe, we realised how much progress Alex was making from Auckland so we needed to get cracking ! After a quick look at the big Waihi Mine hole, we set off towards Ngatea.
Checking out the Taniwha
The Goldfields Railway parking has improved dramatically. They seemed to have levelled it slightly and clearly labelled the parking but generally, it all looks great and for $15 a powered site per vehicle, it can’t be beaten.
Rafe’s Tracker map to the Goldfields Railway – Armada GPS
While I was in this neck of the woods, I thought I’d pop in and check it out.
I went for a brief walk around the village, and it is like time stood still. The old buildings look like they would have been 100 odd years ago.
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