While we stayed at Hahei, between us, we decided to check out Whitianga for brunch and a coffee. So 8 of us piled into two cars and off we went.
Traffic in Whitianga
The place was chocker. Cars and people everywhere you looked. There were even traffic jams !
Click on the images for Hi res or a Slideshow
Dianne and Fiona enjoying the markets
There was a nice town market happening with lots of stalls set up in a square.
Its amazing walking around and seeing some of the expressions of stall holders and people looking. I went for a walk and checked out the Marina.
Gary found a new board table !
At the markets
Whitianga’s main street
Down at the Marina
The Marina
After a look around, we all headed back to the Hahei Motorcamp for the 4pm Happy Hour while looking out over the beach.
Happy at Hahei
We were joined again by our neighbours from Canada, Eric and Mary Anne who amazed us all with what they had packed in to their trip since arriving in Christchurch just three weeks earlier.
What a fun weekend. Our old friends Mark and Tina’s eldest daughter Alisha was getting married to Tom and they had chosen The Officers Mess at Fort Takapuna as the wedding venue. A fantastic spot and where Fiona’s family had spent some years in the officers housing by Narrow Neck beach.
The roof of the old fort with the Officers Mess behind and the carpark.
Just as it says, The officers Mess has been converted into a Wedding Venue and Café and was the old Officers Mess for the Army and later used by the Navy as well. Its a lovely old building which looks out over the harbour towards Rangitoto Island.
Click on the images for Hi Res or a slideshow
Fiona’s dad Norm was CO of Fort Cautley which was then the HQ for the Army’s 3rd Battalion. There were officers and senior NCO houses from the current buildings all the way down to Narrow Neck Beach.
Narrow Neck beach. This grass is where all the officers housing was.
Fort Takapuna has a huge history. It was originally built to fend off the Russians in the 1860’s and later updated for the two world wars in case the Japanese or Germans got down here. It is now looked after by DOC and more information on it can be seen here.
Its well worth a look around and the carpark is huge, perfect for Motorhomes and Caravans.
The Old Fort
When Friday came around, Fiona and I decided we would make a weekend of it and stay in Devonport on Friday night. We earlier met our old friends Dani and Grant at the Esplanade Hotel for a few cold ones and afterwards tea at the wharf.
One of the Gun Emplacements
The old Gun Emplacements and Rangitoto
A few words of wisdom from an old fella (Gary) to the groom 🙂
Proud Dad Mark with Alisha and MC Gary doing the sounds.
All ready for the Wedding in the Officers Mess
The Officers Mess
The view across to the city
Rafe and the Fuso in the carpark. Gary later moved right next to us.
Rafe in the carpark with the Barrack buildings.
The next day was wedding day and I packed up Rafe and headed off to the venue where we had permission to stay overnight in the carpark as guests.
In the carpark
I spent the day having a really good look around the fort while Fiona was getting her hair done. There was a soccer game on at the playing field there which was fun to watch. I have no idea who was playing but it was fun to watch and I really enjoyed shooting a few piccies of it. I haven’t photographed any soccer since my days on the Herald and the Auckland Star so it was fun. Soccer is one of the hardest games to photograph as so I was pleased that I got a couple or reasonable piccies from it being as rusty as I am.
One of the better soccer piccies 🙂
The forecast rain held off so the ceremony was held outside looking out on the harbor. It was a bit of a catchup with old friends for us as Gary, Chris, Mark and Tina are all old Boatie mates along with Geoff and Bev who were also there. We were all put on Table 4! Our friends Gary and Chris were joint MC’s and they did a great job. It was nice to catch up with the extended families and old friends too, many of them had come over from Aussie for the occasion.
The Wedding Service with a view
The wedding went well, the food was great and it was a fun night. We finished the night in Rafe with “Table 4” friends for a nightcap and cups of tea.
We left Dannevirke camping ground around 10 am and after a quick top up with diesel and to the Dannevirke Supermarket, we were under way. We had just gone through Woodville when Fiona noticed a gift shop that might have some old plates to update our ones in Rafe. About 15 minutes later, Gary and Dianne came around the corner in Rosie and stopped.. They had just been through the Manawatu gorge and back after missing the turnoff :-). Fiona had just come back when they were away again.
Click on the images for Hi Res
We hadn’t gone very far when we arrived at the Tui Brewery. For those overseas, Tui is well known for the quirky billboards with clever advertising.
Fiona with the girls!
It’s also well known for their TV ads with the hot girls who are the workers so we had to get Fiona in on the act with their board with Employee of the month. With the old building covered in scaffolding, they must be giving it some love. There’s a great big carpark there so easy Motorhome parking and they look like they do great lunches. You can also do tours of the brewery too. A good place to stop.
We cruised on and stopped just outside Masterton and made our own lunch before heading on to Castlepoint. I’d booked the three of us into the Holiday Park there and they had allocated us an amazing park for three on the top of the hill looking out over the beach.
Our wee spot in the world. Rafe, Rosie and the Tracker
We were all blown away. The weather was amazing so we were going to have a great night. Click here to see the earlier post on New Year’s Eve.
The first night had gone well at Clifton Beach and it was time to go and play. 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.
Click on the images for Hi Res
Looking out towards Cape Kidnappers
We were perfectly positioned to take advantage of our primo parking place at Clifton. 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.
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.
Click on the images for Hi Res or a slideshow
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..
As you’re coming North on State Highway 1 is a new Cafe called the Woolshed. It’s about 200 metres south of Sanson on the left. It was built from the foundations and flooring of a huge house.
The Huge carpark
The building looks like it has been there forever but it is brand new.
Fiona and I were on route from Wanganui to Palmerston North so she could catch a flight back to Auckland so we diverted to try out this new cafe.
It has a massive carpark so it’s very easy to park even the biggest vehicles and their toads! While we were there, a caravanning couple popped in.
Open the sliding doors to the BBQ area
The Outside area
Outside area
It’s full of character and you would put money on it being a do up rather than a new build and has plenty of sheep and wool paraphernalia scattered around the room. There is even a couple of model full sized sheep just inside the door and a full wool press in a corner.
The inside of the cafe
Out the back there are sliding doors for full on BBQ sessions and a playhouse and other extras for the kids/grandkids. Nice coffee and although I forgot to get a piccy of it, Fiona and I went halves in a very nice and filling shepherds pie for under $10.
Looks out for it as you get close or drive through Sanson. About 200 metres south of Sanson on the left going north.
One of the trips I’ve always wanted to do while in Wellington was to drive from Lyall Bay all the way around the outside past Seatoun and Worser Bay. The buildings into the cliffs and the rustic charms of the way the houses are all set into the cliffs is amazing. It’s like a different world.
The view
When you come out the other end towards Miramar, there is the old Air Force Base and workshops. These days they’re mostly occupied by Artists and a few tradespeople. The old Senior NCO’s mess is now used by a cafe called The Chocolate Fish BBQ cafe.
At the front doorPlenty of good easy parking
The building has a Historic classification which prevents them from poking holes in it for vents etc so they’ve carefully added a clip on lean to for the kitchen which seems to work quite well for them. The rest of the building is just as it was as a mess building with a few mods for convenience.
My Pork Sandwich
One of the staff was quite a talented artist and has painted all the seats and backs of the chairs with different images which really brightens the place.
The company vehicle
Easy parking
Fiona picking her lunch
Half of Fiona’s Fish Sammy
Chair Back
Chair Back
Chair Back
Chair Back
Chair Back
Chair Back
Chair Back
A picture on the wall of how it looked earlier on..
The food is sensational and very reasonably priced and is very sandwich based but they’re a good hearty size! .. Outside, the views of the city are fantastic, there are plenty of things for kids or grandchildren to play with and best of all, really easy Motorhome friendly parking.
The view
The place oozes history and we found ourselves easily enjoying a couple of hours taking it all in.
Caroline had a really popular Celtic cafe and bar in the Whanganui City Centre but tragedy struck and it burnt to the ground. Bouncing back from adversity, she purchased the Arohomo Hotel next to the river which was for sale at the time.
Click on the images for Hi res or a slideshow
From the street
Over the course of the last few years, she has completely rebuilt the Bar and Restaurant and now Caroline’s Boatshed is one of Whanganui’s finest eating out establishments. Having quite a lot of land behind the Restaurant, with her Caretaker, Bruce, they’ve developed this into a well equipped Motorhome park complete with 30 powered sites, a dump station, showers and a washing machine.
The carpark and Caroline’s Boathouse
At $15 a night for a powered site for 1 or $25 for two, it’s very good value.
The outbuilding at the back.
For me, being right next to the river, a flat bike ride to town, it’s a magic discovery
This was a real discovery as when I first arrived, they immediately said that they allowed Certified Self Contained Motorhomers to stay overnight. A great discovery as it doesn’t say anywhere and doesn’t seem to appear on any apps that I use. .. Now we know.
Click on the images for Hi res or a slideshow
Cafe over the carpark
The Pioneers village is just outside Stratford on the southern side and is a collection of 40 plus pioneer buildings set up as a village and done very well.
Okato CottageInside Okato Cottage
Many of the buildings have come from the area and have their full history with them so it’s a great record of who did what locally and the the buildings are well setup for visitors.
A nurse a bit worse for wear
Raewyn oiling the wheels
Many of the local families have donated all sorts of furniture, clothes and their old homes to make it happen. There is also a train with carriages on a track that surrounds the entire village. Board member Raewyn was the train driver on the day and was very helpful with showing me what was there.
Plenty of parking
There is an adjoining cafe which has a great selection of food for lunches and coffee stops so a good place to stop and as I said, very easy parking.
You’ve got to hand it to the good folk of Otorohonga, they’ve certainly thought about standing out from the crowd with their public loos.
The Railway Station
I was heading towards Tauramunui to do the Forgotten Highway and as I was approaching Otorohonga, I thought I’d stop at the Railway Cafe in the Railway Station around the behind the main shops. It was closed but I noticed the loos right across the road.
The Chaps
What a hoot having all the names on the door..
The Woman’s
Something there for everyone !
Easy peasy parking
Another cafe famous for its great coffee, with very easy parking for bigger Motorhomes, which you wouldn’t know was there.
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.
Its amazing walking around and seeing some of the expressions of stall holders and people looking. I went for a walk and checked out the Marina.
Bugger It, we are off - www.buggeritweareoff.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.