A favourite free parking spot for many.. on the coast north of Miranda.
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Lovely spot
This was probably one of our first parking spots when we first bought our Motorhome 8 or so years ago. Its handy to Auckland, its free and its easy.
Easy parking
If you want shops, museums and pubs, you don’t go to Rays Rest. This where peace and quiet happens with the odd sound of a vehicle whizzing past at 80 odd K.
Flying Kites .. perfect spotRafe on the edge
It’s a lovely spot to sit on a deck chair on the edge of the sand outside your Motorhome and watch the clouds go by.
People enjoying the sun
Its been a while since we were here and it was redeveloped by a big storm since our last visit but it still looks much the same. Just as good as it was.
Looking across to Thames
Well recommended if you live in Auckland, are finding diesel expensive and can’t decide where to go for a night or two.
The next morning, we got fuel, filled up an LPG bottle which ran out and we were off up through the gorge towards Opotiki. I was quite looking forward to the drive as it is years since we’ve done this. It is actually quite a good road despite the potholes.
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Just over 2 hours later, we found ourselves coming into Opotiki where we stopped for something to eat and then onto Island View Holiday Park. It’s called that but due to the weather building up, you simply couldn’t see White Island at all through the murk.
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Volley Ball
Soaking it in
Great watching the waves
We’ve been to this park before just prior to one of the Covid lockdowns and being off season, it was $20 for two (Campsaver). There was no one else here!
Wild !
With it being top of the silly season, almost all of the Campgrounds in the Bay had cranked their prices to make the most of the demand and this park was no exception. We saw it as a treat for a couple of days. We’d done well over the previous week or so all good!
The Pool
The weather was closing in with wind and rain warnings and we were only just behind the sand dunes. A few went for a swim in the wild waters down by the surf club, but most went for the safer option in the camp pool.
The vibe was amazing with everyone having fun. There is a bike trail along behind the dunes but peters out both ways which confused a few people.
Spoilt for choice
The camp is well setup with multiple toilet and shower blocks, but it was just nice sitting down on the sand watching the waves crash and in a funny way, quite therapeutic 🙂
We stayed a couple of nights to hunker down for the worst of the weather that wasn’t as bad as predicted.
Nice people, a nice setup but now that I’m a pensioner, I might keep our next visit to off peak 🙂
On New Year’s Day we said goodbye to Steve and Rosemary. They were heading down towards Carterton.
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We were well overdue for a trip to Gisborne as it has been 7 years since our last visit!
We headed off via the coast up past Wairoa which seemed to go on forever. The forecast bad weather had arrived and was settling in.
We found a neat little Fish shop just by the turnoff to Mahia Peninsula which had the best Fish and Chips I’ve tasted for a long time then we headed off again up towards Gisborne.
The park
The new NZMCA park in Gisborne is a beauty right over the road from the beach. With the weather the way it was it was no real surprise to see a couple of cruise ships anchored off the coast.
Fiona checking out the cruise ships
The next day we spent the morning catching up with the Laundry, bedding and all. It was nice to have a everything clean again. After that we headed off to find a nice Cafe for some lunch and got some more groceries while we were right next to a 4 Square.
Waikanae BeachFiona on the beach
The new park is a cracker with the beach right over the road.
Well done to the local crew for the Garden Art, it looks great.
This is one of those places that you’ll keep coming back to. It is just magic and there’s a ferry to Kawau too.
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Just Bliss
I arrived early in the afternoon and got myself setup in a corner spot but then realised that under some huge trees, there would be no TV signal.
First thing on the waterfrontLooking over towards the ferry wharf
It’s a fairly casual arrangement, “Park wherever you like except the waterfront spots which are booked for a whole bunch of Ozzies in their Britz vans”. I was only 10 steps away anyway so that was fine:-)
The Ozzies on the water
It was warm, there were people out kayaking in the camps free Kayaks and people out swimming.
The Ozzies catching upKayaking fun
I went for a walk across to the Sandpit Yacht club later for tea and sat out on the deck with a nice glass of chardonnay. Very civilised I thought but such a nice spot and the food was fantastic too.
At the Yacht club
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You can stay in this.
Close to the water
The Ozzies on the water
Snakes and Ladders
The Boardwalk across thye mangroves to the Yacht club.
At the Yacht club
First thing on the waterfront
Later it was time to head back for a shower in the fantastic newish ablutions block.
Some of the history
There used to be a whole bunch of pretend historic shops around the office area which all seem to have gone which is a shame.. one of the features of this camp but still a great spot to stay all the same.
It has been a wee while since we’ve been here at what used to be called Pinewoods. We used to come here quite often as it was close and a nice break away without driving too far. With the cost of diesel being what it is, I thought it was time for a visit!
The weather wasn’t perfect as a whole week of unsettled weather was due a few days away, but it was stinking hot.
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The new parking area looking out towards the beach.
I checked in at the office and found that the old parking area with the very clean and tidy but basically in a bachy style building was not the first-choice area. They’ve now got a new very swish new parking area in an area that used to be a paddock you walked through to get to the beach.
It is set out with a big wide concrete driveway in a half circle arrangement with concrete parking bays running off that. A neat setup as it doesn’t matter where you’re parked, there is an easy angle to back in.
This also comes with a swish new facilities block, a kitchen, along with several showers and toilets.
The entrance
The kids a play area has been souped up too with the addition of a flying fox and other gear too.
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Looking out from the creek to the beach.
The original camping area.
The entrance
Some of the old baches
Looking out to Orewa from the rocks
I always remembered this place for its big concrete table tennis table. Easily one of the best around.
The amazing table tennis table.
Once I had Rafe settled, I walked over the park for a look around. The bachs all dotted over the hill and as I understand it are still all managed by a collective board. At the top there is also the famous Jacobs Ladder which is a set of steps going down the cliff although there is a sign saying you shouldn’t go down due to the erosion on the cliff.
The original camping area.
Funny who you meet in strange places. After I took the photo of the new area and posted it on my own Facebook page, a friend Adele was saying what a nice motorhome her friend Gordon had in the foreground, so I went over to meet him. Having been the owner of several Dethleffs, I’m certain we’ve met before, but it was nice to meet him again.
The Beach
Back to the campground. Across the new campground is a locked bridge behind the surf club to cross the creek to the beach The creek surrounds the campground on three sides. It’s nice to be parked so close to the beach and not far from the big smoke for fuel!
With one week to go until the Hospice Taranaki News Photo Auction, I set off to New Plymouth a bit early to have a nosey around the mountain. Mt Egmont.
Click on any Image to enlarge.As I got closer to Mokau, on the coast I thought I’d stop at the Seaview Holiday Park right on the beach which had views down to Mt Egmont.
Bright Colours!
It’s a typical west coast beach complete with Black Sand and the wild water. The ruggedness is what makes it though.
The Beach looking towards New Plymouth
I checked in and was given a park right behind the sandhill facing the beach but still protected from any wind that might come up. Great parking!
One of the many baches along the coast
It’s one of those real old original Kiwi family parks with nice bright colours on slightly older cabins.
One of the Ablution blocks
The ablution blocks are covered in murals… nicely done.
Looking through the campgroundRafe with the beach behindMt Egmont on the right
I went for a wander around the park and then along the beach. Lovely spot!
After enjoying a great All Blacks win in the Raglan Holiday Park, we headed into town over the walk bridge to check out the shops. First stop was a Café for a coffee and then we walked about 1k across to the wharf and Silo area.
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Raglan personifiedThe Historic RaglanNeat shops
We last visited this area years ago with friends Dianne and Gary from Taupo so check that post out for more photos of this area.
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The Beach by the camp
The Bridge to town
Raglan Jetty
Lunchtime
Neat Shops
The Historic Raglan
The main street
The view out of the main street
The Raglan Wharf
Raglan personified
Sundown
Since then, one of the Silos has been converted into what looks to be some very nice rentable Apartments.
The Silos
Its a busy area with a fantastic Fish and Chip shop on the outer end of the wharf along with some pottery and Leather shops. Fiona bought herself a new Leather Hand Bag where we enjoyed a really nice chat with the shopkeeper. I complimented her on her lovely London accent before she told me she was from Perth ! Oops .. but she did have a nice English Accent so no harm done 🙂
The Raglan WharfCafe opposite Raglan Wharf
After a coffee in a new (to us) Café opposite the wharf, we headed back to the town and Rafe.
Sundown
An amazing little town and not far from Auckland with the current Diesel prices as they are.
Glancing through my iPad recently, I came across a rather sad posting of a friend who had been battling a Melanoma for the last 10 years but finally lost the race. They had recently moved out of Auckland to Papamoa to enjoy their retirement by the sea.
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Hear those waves
When we found out the funeral was on and where, it was time to jump into Rafe and pop down to Papamoa to the funeral. Leaving Auckland early to beat the traffic, I found myself around the back of Hamilton by 9:20 in the morning. By 11:30 I was cruising into Papamoa after crossing the Kaimai’s. What a huge difference that new motorway makes by passing Hamilton.
Wild!
After checking into the Tasman Holiday Park in Papamoa, and settling Rafe down by the sea and after a cup of coffee, I called a Taxi to take me to the venue which was on the other side of Papamoa.
After the funeral, one of our old boating friends who also came down dropped me back at the entrance to the Holiday Park.
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Fantastic Beach
Nice new cabins
Nice new ablutions block
The camp has a lot of permanent Caravans all with their laid out decks and additions and I’m sure the place absolutely pumps in summer. The area where I was next to the sea was about 1/3rd full but it was pretty windy, cold and miserable with waves crashing in. Very handy to the beach which was probably less than 50 metres away.
I took the camera for a walk and it was wild with the sea absolutely raging.
Fantastic BeachSome of the new beachfront chalets.
The ablution block looked almost new and was spotless. For the shoppers, its really handy to downtown Papamoa with a huge shopping centre right across the road.
Dusk at Papamoa -cellphone pic
The forecast for the morning was evil with thunderstorms forecast and high winds. When I woke up at 7, I thought I’d get up and get going given it was pretty exposed on grass and the clouds over Tauranga looked positively evil. It rained but I think the worst of it went offshore.
Its a wee bit off the beaten track but being here is just magic. The weather was perfect too.
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Bream Head in the distance
It was the middle of the week and with Fiona at work, I thought somewhere nice in the sun would be nice. I last came here several years ago and post Covid, the only real thing that has changed is the trees have grown but I gather there are some big changes coming.
Chatting to one of the managers, they have a massive amount of unpowered sites which people don’t seem to want as much so they are powering a large bunch of them up. Some of the cabins are apparently well past their use by date but they seemed ok to me.
Great view from these Caravans
The camp is dominated a bit by long term Caravans but there is plenty of room for Motorhomes and more with the new powered upgrades to sites.
Some tenters popped in.The view from one of the Units
The kitchen and lounge facilities are really good and there are several ablutions blocks.
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Some tenters popped in.
The feature though is that amazing beach.
I went out there not long after I arrived and the sense of peace and quiet is just amazing. I sat out there for an hour or so before heading back as I’d forgotten to take a hat but its just beautiful.
I did the same the next day with a hat 🙂 and its glorious.
Looking back to the camp from the beach
The nights were starting to get colder so there was only me and a couple of others in the campground so there was room for Africa. I bet it gets busy in the summer though.
We seem to get the short straw when it comes to getting great weather in Dunedin but we struck the jackpot this time. It was perfect.
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Ross, Fiona and Karen at St Clair for tea.
Before we left Geraldine, I rang our old friends from Devonport, Ross and Karen who have recently moved after a long time in Cromwell to Dunedin. We hadn’t seen them since Ross’s birthday party a few years ago so we were looking forward to catching up.
Nice parking
We made a beeline for Dunedin Holiday Park which was doing a off peak discounted deal and was right next to St Kilda beach. It was also not far to Ross and Karen in Dunedin South.
From the top of the sandhill between the camp and the beach. City in background left.
After settling down, Ross and Karen arrived with their son Cam, and we enjoyed a catchup reunion drink on the picnic table outside Rafe. Wonderful to see them all.
Looking down to St Clair
They had arranged for us to go to tea at a nice Beachfront Café in St Clair which is basically the other end of a long beach from where we were. After a couple of very nice pizzas, they took us around to show us their house. A nicely renovated villa with all the mod cons.. perfect for them. Their two adult kids and grandchildren live not far away.
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St Kilda
Nice parking
From the top of the sandhill between the camp and the beach.
Nice branding 🙂
Nice parking at Gore
The next day, we were heading to Gore and we decided to stay at the Town and Country club.
Early morning at Gore
They have an amazing setup with a brick toilet, shower and laundry setup with separate secure parking with plenty of powered sites around the perimeter of a graveled all weather parking area… all for $20. If you are a Clubs NZ member, they also do meals and have a well setup bar area. Fantastic.
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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