Tag Archives: Nice Food

Fun with Friends in Napier

January 28, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com Leave a comment

We were sitting at Takapau on our last night there, winding down and thinking about what the next day might bring, when the tablet suddenly whistled into life. A message had come through from our friends Steve and Rosemary, saying they’d enjoyed a nice bike ride in Napier. I was sure they were still in Wellington, so it caught my attention straight away.

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Knowing we were heading to Napier the following day, I replied to let them know where we were. As it turned out, plans quickly came together and we were set to catch up with them the next day, along with Steve’s sister Helen and brother-in-law Graham. Funny how these things just fall into place.

Steve and Rosemary’s Esprit, Helen and Graham’s Cathargo. A new model they imported into NZ. ….and Rafe.

The next day we headed off through Waipukurau and into the back of Hastings, keeping an eye out for a vineyard to stop at for lunch. Being New Year’s Day, though, most places were closed, so that idea was quickly shelved. Instead, we carried on to Eriksen Park, where we met Helen and Graham and caught up with Steve and Rosemary. It was great to see everyone again, catch up properly, and enjoy a glass of wine together.

LtoR. Rosemary, Steve Fiona standing, Helen and Graham.

As Steve and Rosemary were heading off to Wellington the following day, Fiona and I decided to head into Napier in the van. We had lunch in town and then wandered back along the waterfront. The place was absolutely buzzing, lively, and full of holiday energy.

One of these is a really nice cafe except it was shut.

There was plenty happening along the foreshore, with people everywhere making the most of the sunshine.

The view out to Cap Kidnappers in the distance

After a quick stop at a local supermarket to stock up, we headed back to Eriksen Park and settled in for what would be our last night in Hawke’s Bay before heading home.

A really nice break away and, as always, far too short

Rafe’s tracker map to Eriksen NZMCA park in Napier – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

An amazing Little Town Called Takapau

January 23, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 1 Comment

…and an equally amazing little park-over-property to go with it.

At this time of year, when you ring up at short notice, you tend to hold your breath as you ask if there’s any room at the inn. This time, luck was on our side, and we managed to secure a couple of nights in Takapau.

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Lovely spot and although it rained, it was solid underneath.

Some years back, during one of the Dethleffs Owners Group gatherings I organised, I got chatting with a couple who mentioned they had once run the campground here. Their advice was simple: if you’re ever in the area, you must stay there. So, we were doing exactly as we were told 🙂

On the way through, we couldn’t help but stop at Norsewood, just north of Dannevirke. There’s an amazing woollen wear and general clothing shop there, full of beautiful jumpers and yes, I bought one. Really nice people running it too. The weather wasn’t playing ball, so we didn’t linger, but we’ve been here before and there are plenty of photos from previous visits.

When you head into a small regional town and pull into a park-over-property, you’re never quite sure what to expect. What we found here was an absolute gem, run by two wonderful people, Pauline and Russell, who couldn’t have been more welcoming or helpful.

The setup is essentially a house on a large section, with several powered sites out the front. Visitors have access to two well-appointed bathrooms inside the house, complete with showers and toilets. There is also a large communal lounge and a kitchen area, which makes it feel very relaxed and homely.

Downtown Takapau with the 4 Square on the right

Best of all, it’s only about a ten-minute walk into the centre of town, where there’s a well-stocked Four Square supermarket and an excellent fish and chip shop. Really, what more could you want??

While we were there, Fiona was keen to visit nearby Ongaonga, where she spent time as a child visiting her grandparents, who ran a small farm in the area. We had a good look around the road she remembered but couldn’t quite find the house. It turned up later on Google Maps as is always the way! The weather was a bit hit and miss with showers, but we’ve travelled through this area before in better conditions and it’s still a lovely part of the country.

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged Slideshow of Ongaonga

Ongaonga

At the Ongaonga Museum

Ongaonga

We stopped in the Ongaonga township for a cup of tea at the café and a wander around the historic buildings. It really does feel like stepping back in time. The locals have done a fantastic job preserving the town, and everything is beautifully maintained.

All up, we had a great couple of days here and really enjoyed our time with Russell and Pauline. It’s one of those memorable POPs that’s now firmly added to the must-visit-again list.

Rafe’s tracker map to Takapau and Ongaonga – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

The Clareville Bakery

January 18, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com Leave a comment

The rain had well and truly set in, and it was time to move on from Masterton as Fiona only had a small window before work called again.

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As we headed out of town detouring slightly south to hit the truck stop for diesel. Fiona started telling me about an amazing café on the northern outskirts of Carterton, only a few kilometres away. Apparently, it was not to be missed. Well, that was all the encouragement I needed.

While we were so close, it would have been rude not to stop… and what a find it turned out to be.

The Clareville Bakery was set up by the current owners in 2013 after they renovated an old church that had previously been a café. They’ve taken it to a whole new level. Having won numerous awards for their seriously scrummy breads, cakes, and pies, it’s no surprise there’s almost always a queue at the door.

I was impressed straight away by the large car park, complete with a dedicated motorhome area tucked away in the corner and even more impressed that we managed to snag a spot. Always a bonus.

Full carpark in the middle of the week 🙂

Inside, the place was buzzing despite the weather. The cabinets were packed with tempting options, and the smell alone was enough to make choosing difficult. I honestly can’t remember exactly what I had, as Fiona ordered for me while I wandered around taking photos, but I do remember it being very good!

We spent a relaxed hour or so here before heading north again, well fed and very content.

We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in this neck of the woods.

Rafe’s tracker map to Clareville Bakery – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 26

Over the Hill to Woodville

January 14, 2026 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 2 Comments

With the sun still shining, we were up and out early, heading down to the river to see the wind turbines up close.

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There are hundreds of them, and with a decent breeze blowing they were really earning their keep. The walk down is a great little trail that winds its way to the water’s edge and, once there, we sat for a while listening to the wind, watching the blades turn, and just soaking it all in.

At the top of the hill looking towards Woodville

Eventually it was time to move on, so we headed back and found the road that climbs over the hill to Woodville, passing right through the turbines. We stopped a couple of times to grab some photos — the scale of them is impressive, and the views from the top of the hill in both directions are well worth the pause. Rolling hills, wide skies, and turbines stretching as far as you can see.

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged Slideshow

At the top of the hill looking towards Woodville

Amazing Turbines

At Masterton

Downtown Masterton

At the Tui Brewery

Th lake in Queen Elizabeth Park

From the swing bridge.

Deer next to the park.

On the way through we called in at the Tui Brewery, which now welcomes motorhomes overnight as a POP and also has a dump station, always handy to know. We’ve stopped here before, but the place has had a real upgrade. More outdoor tables, a great setup, and the food was absolutely spot on.

From there we decided to head down towards Masterton. It’s only about 50-odd k’s, making it an easy run for the afternoon and a good excuse to stay at the NZMCA park and have a wander through town.

The park has a really nice layout and almost always has plenty of space. The walk into town follows the river and is a really pleasant stroll, with birds about and the water flowing quietly alongside. The final touch is a neat little swing bridge that drops you right near the centre of town.

By the time we were back it was looking like rain was on the way, so we called it a day, poured a G&T, and settled in to watch a bit of TV.

The next morning, we were up and ready to head into town for a look around. Great minds think alike as we weren’t the only ones doing the same thing.

We headed for a café opposite the supermarket and settled in for a nice cup of coffee each before wandering down the main street to check out the shops.

It’s a good shopping area, though it’s easy to see that times have been a bit tough for some of the retailers. After a decent look around town and a bite to eat, we picked up a few things at the supermarket and headed back to the park to blob out for the afternoon.

Feeding the ducks at the Park on the way back.

A lovely day in Masterton.

Rafe’s tracker map to Masterton- Armada GPS

Close to home

A Small Settlement Close to the Water – Leigh

December 8, 2025 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 2 Comments

One of the first places we ever took our motorhome, about ten years ago now was Leigh.

Back then, we were still very new to motor homing, so the plan was to head somewhere not too far from home… just in case we’d forgotten something or if anything went wrong. Of course, nothing did! Instead, we ended up discovering a fantastic little village overlooking the sea.

Looking out over the water from the wharf.

A few years later I came back while Fiona was working to see the village light itself up for their annual light-up event. It made for some great images; you can see those here.

The park before the wee storm with the conference centre and Motel units also part of the campground behind.

Entrance to the Conference-Wedding centre.

Last weekend was another one of those “unsupervised” trips while Fiona was at work. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous on the first day with hail, thunder, and strong winds in the forecast. The weather did arrive, but it was nothing to lose any sleep over.

Once the sun reappeared, I headed off for a wander through town and down to the wharf, only about a 10-minute walk. It really is a magic little place.

Scary driveway !

The Fish and Chip shop near the Camp.

Lots of colour

Really nice cabins too for friends without Motorhomes.

While I was out, I met the owner of Leigh Central who introduced himself and had a good yarn. A really friendly chap, and he mentioned there are some big improvements planned for the future.

The campground itself is fantastic, close to everything, quiet, and super relaxed. On my last night, I tried the fish and chip shop right next door to the camp… delicious and very reasonably priced.

And of course, one of the best things about Leigh: it’s so handy to Auckland. Only about 60-odd kilometres from Devonport, so it’s an easy and super convenient weekend getaway.

Another great stay in a favourite little settlement by the sea.?

Rafe’s tracker map to Leigh Central – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 25

Over the Rimutakas to High Tea

May 30, 2025 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com

After the excitement of the balloons in Greytown, we stayed on for a couple more nights, hunkering down for some bad weather that, thankfully, never really arrived. That gave us time for another wander through the shops, always a treat in Greytown!

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On the Sunday (a public holiday), we decided to check out Carterton, just 15 minutes up the road. It was pretty quiet with most shops closed, but we found a café open, perfect excuse for a coffee and something to eat. After a quick stroll along the main road and a bit of window shopping, it was time to hit the road.

Our next stop was Aston Norwood, a café, wedding venue, and garden centre on the downward run over the Rimutakas. We’d booked in for High Tea, something a bit different and very special.

For the past few months, we’ve been following a video blog by a Wellington couple, Mark and Fiona, who built a 51-metre Nordhavn and sailed it from Turkey around the Mediterranean. Fiona is now back in NZ running Aston Norwood, so we thought it would be rude not to stop by and support them!

Their Video Blog can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/@AwanuiNZ

The drive over the Rimutakas was uneventful, but I always enjoy passing through Featherston, even if it’s just a drive-through, it’s such a neat little town.

Looking over to the Garden centre at Aston Norwood

We arrived at Aston Norwood and found a good spot for Rafe in the carpark. Then it was time for High Tea: a rolling selection of delicious homemade cakes, scones, and savouries, all beautifully presented. While I’m not much of a tea drinker, the coffee was excellent!

Afterwards, we stretched our legs with a stroll through the garden centre, a lovely way to walk off some of those treats.

From Aston Norwood, we carried on over the hill to Upper Hutt, where we planned a few nights at Brewtown. Built in a former industrial area, Brewtown has transformed into a vibrant hub of craft breweries, eateries, and entertainment, all within walking distance of the main shopping area and train station, super convenient.

The Bar right behind us, we’re parked to the left.

We rolled in, plugged in, and settled Rafe into place before heading off to explore. With six or more breweries on site, each offering its own style of food and drink, there was plenty to see, taste, and enjoy.
More to come….

Rafe’s tracker map to Brewtown – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 25

Bulldozers, Boats and Balloons

May 25, 2025 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 3 Comments

There are only a few places in New Zealand where boats are launched by bulldozers, and Ngawi is probably the most iconic. About half an hour south of Martinborough, this quirky fishing village is an absolute must-see if you’ve never been.

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Before we left Martinborough, I tried several times to contact the local campground in Ngawi but never got a reply. As it turned out, the weather had shifted and with strong westerlies predicted, maybe it was for the best, it’s quite an exposed spot. Still, we decided to take a scenic detour on our way back to Greytown to check it out.

The drive south from Martinborough is beautiful. As we cruised along the coast towards Ngawi, we passed through a string of charming, slightly weathered coastal settlements. The kind of places that made me think: “This is Old NZ.”

Easy retrieval. the whole process took minutes.

Eventually, we rolled into Ngawi, and what a place it is! Picture a circular gravel beach, ringed with bulldozers lined up like soldiers, each paired with a massive fishing boat on a giant trailer with a huge drawbar. No ramps needed here, just clever Kiwi engineering making the most of what’s available.

Our grassy spot looking back towards Wellington

We found a spot to park up right on the beach in one of the grassy freedom camping areas, with views across to Wellington. Just around the corner, tucked in behind some trees, was a trailer café selling the freshest fish and chips, melt-in-your-mouth stuff! They were proud of their food, and rightly so, it was simply the best.

We sat on a bench beside Rafe, soaking up the view and enjoying lunch with a cup of coffee from the van. Pure bliss.

Afterwards, we took a wander past the bulldozers and down along the windswept beach. Such an incredible, rugged spot, unique and unforgettable.

We thought we’d carry on to the Cape Palliser Lighthouse, but a sign a few k’s down the road warned that it wasn’t suitable for long vehicles. With Rafe stretching over 8 metres (plus the bikes on the back), we decided to play it safe and turn around, heading back through Ngawi and north to Greytown.

As we made our way up the coast, the weather started to close in from the west, there were clouds building, the light shifting but we’d had the best of it.

One of the Balloons sailing off above Greytown

Back at Greytown Campground, we caught up with Ken again and parked up. As we opened the vents and settled down for a well-earned G&T, we heard a loud whoosh.

Looking up, we saw a hot air balloon rising up from the domain next door, the burners roaring as it lifted just above the trees, probably no more than 50 metres away. Then another, and another, followed, each one floating eastward over Greytown.

What an incredible end to a brilliant day.

Rafe’s tracker map to Ngawi – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 25

On the Bikes at Martinborough

May 20, 2025 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 1 Comment

Martinborough has a real vibe about it, maybe it’s the vineyards, or the easy, flat roads perfect for biking between cellar doors. Either way, it’s got charm.

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We rolled into the main square a bit early for check-in, so we popped into the local museum. A super friendly guy welcomed us at the door and gave us a tour, which turned out to be fascinating. Funny twist, he was the brother of a journalist I used to work with at The Auckland Star. Small world!

After the museum, the Martinborough Hotel (just across the road) was calling our name for lunch.

We had a quick wander around the square after lunch before heading to check in at the campground.

We’d booked a spot at the Top 10 Holiday Park, the only campground in town. After checking in, we reversed carefully into our site, just big enough at an angle so I could get the bikes off the rack. Plugged in, settled down, and ready for a great day of riding ahead. We had a couple of days’ clear weather before the next front was due.

Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow

Our bikes at Poppies in the vineyard.

Fiona all ready to get started 🙂

People enjoying themselves at Margrains

Other people at Poppies

Us tucked in for the evening.

The BBQ are in front of the showers and loos

Cabins too.

This was the VIP area.

In the main Square

In the centre of the Square getting ready for Anzac Day.

The next morning, the sun was out, so I got the bikes sorted, pumped up tyres, unpacked the gear, the works. While I was sorting the bikes stuff out, Fiona watched a Hot Air balloon sail past just behind Rafe across the sports field behind.

Last time we were here, we had a great lunch at Margrain’s, but this time we wanted to try something new. About 7–8 years ago we’d had a drink at Poppies but never made it back for a meal, I’d heard great things, so that was our lunch destination.

On the way, we stopped at Ata Rangi. I did a tasting and wow, their Chardonnay was like silk ($38 a bottle), dangerously nice! They had a top-shelf one at $70, even more refined, but we walked away with a bottle of the $38, yum!

Then it was on to Poppies. We got a table outside, under a clear blue sky in the shade. Just magic. We shared a big platter full of all sorts of goodies, followed by a shared dessert platter that was just as good. Fantastic service too, such a treat.

On the way back, we stopped in at Margrain’s for a glass of Chardonnay and a coffee. It’s such a lovely spot, overlooking the vineyard with the café perched right on the edge.

After another stroll around the square, we headed back to the campground and packed the bikes away, ready for the next day’s adventure.

A perfect day in paradise
Click on the map to enlarge

Rafe’s tracker map to Martinborough – Armada GPS

Wairarapa 25

Hunkering Down at Greytown

May 15, 2025 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com

We’d been really lucky with the weather so far, but with a front on the way and rain in the forecast, we figured it was a good time to head to Greytown and check in with Ken at the Greytown Holiday Park.

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These Caravans are effectively cabins you can stay in.

This park is a real gem, set on a council reserve and just a short walk from the heart of town. We first met Ken around six years ago, and he’s been running the place brilliantly ever since. It’s competitively priced, relaxed, and nothing ever seems to be a problem.

Ken’s new project. New Caravans for accommodation.

Ken was telling me about his new project with some replica Heritage caravans he has setup for more accommodation. They’re fully powered and look very comfortable.

The rain came and went, but with umbrellas in hand, it was easy enough to duck between the amazing little shops that line Greytown’s main street. We visited a few cafés, browsed through some boutique stores, and then popped into a gin tasting shop, as you do.

We came away with a bottle of Greytown Gin. Fiona chose a variety called Frostbite, which seems to be a local favourite. It comes in a refillable hip-flask-style tin, perfect for future visits!

Click on the Gallery below for images of Greytown.

From the Soldiers Walk

The Soldiers memorial walk

Inside looking the other way.

Ken’s new project. New Caravans for accomodation.

There’s also a great little walkway that runs along the edge of the Holiday Park, which we think is called the Soldiers Memorial Walk. It’s a lovely shortcut into the camping area, and we used it often while we were there.

We’ve had some great times at this park over the years, and after two nights we even considered staying longer. But with Martinborough vineyards and some bike riding still calling, and the weather still holding, it was time to move on.

Rafe’s tracker map to Greytown – Armada GPS

Waikato

2025 Dethleffs Get Together in Cambridge

March 11, 2025 Chris Miller - Buggeritweareoff.com 1 Comment

Cambridge has become another favourite place and with the Raceway providing such amazing facilities for an event like this. It makes it really easy to organise.

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Having a separate area to park, the Restaurant and normally a Burger shop along with the excellent Waikato River Bike Trails along the river means you can’t really go wrong 🙂

This was to be my last Rally as chief bottle washer, so it had to be a good one.

Peter and Judy’s Esprit with us behind. The two oldies!

We arrived just after midday to find Peter and Judy and Joss and Ben had already made themselves comfortable. They had left some room for us right next door 🙂

Peter and Judy’s Motorhome is a 2013 Dethleffs Esprit Low profile which was imported privately from the UK. It has the same 3 litre Iveco motor and associated running gear that we have in Rafe so it goes really well 🙂

It wasn’t long after that before everybody started arriving. Over the course of two days, we ended up with 21 Vehicles. We had quite a few more who were going to come but the over booked diary got in the way 🙂

It wasn’t long before the 4pm happy hour rolled around and with the wind whistling in the driveway, our usual spot under a big tree would have been unpleasant so we all setup up in a big area between two Motorhomes.

Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow

On the bikes – pic by Liz Tahana

Downtown Cambrideg

In the Restaurant

The Taem photo

The bike riders

Ben with his van behind at Happy Hour

some of the cars on their way to Frankton

Fiona and I had missed provisioning Rafe as we were depending on the Burger Bar, but it was closed so the only thing to do was join Peter and Judy and others for tea in Restaurant went down well as it was Steak night 🙂

The next morning was when we normally do the bike ride, and I hadn’t really organised anything, but I got our reasonably early to find many were setting up their bikes.

Liz volunteered to take the reins and lead everyone safely down the Waikato River to Tamahere and back with a stop for a cuppa on the way. Fantastic.

While they were busy doing that Fiona and I walked into downtown Cambridge with Peter and Judy for lunch and a look a general look around. 12000 steps odd! And about 3k’s round trip, good for the weight loss program 🙂

We had a few hours after that to catch up with everyone and swap notes on our vehicles.

Happy hour came around again along with the team photo and it was nice to be able to introduce the Richard to everyone.

Richard is keen to arrange the next event in the Wairarapa so we’re really looking forward to that. Richard has lots of experience in organising things and people so I sure next year’s event will be one not to miss!

Click on the Gallery below to see enlarged Happy Hour photos.

Happy hour Saturday

Ben with his van behind at Happy Hour

Happy Hour on Saturday

After the happy hour and photo, we all headed to the restaurant and had a great night there. Great food, great service and good company, what more could you want 🙂

In the morning, we were greeted with the arrivals of some Hot Rods and Motorbikes who briefly met in the carpark then headed off towards Frankton while we were saying goodbye to everyone before we headed for home.

The bikes on Sunday morning setting off for Frankton

A fantastic weekend and it went really well.

Rafe’s tracker map to Cambridge Raceway – Armada GPS

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.

	Phyl Binney on An amazing Little Town Called…
	freelygeneral1a93899… on Over the Hill to Woodville
	Warmenhj on Over the Hill to Woodville
	Kath Ingram on Heading South for the New Year

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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.