How does the song go? “Well, I’ve never been to Spain”! this was our first time to Colville and what a neat little place. I’d only been here a few minutes when I checked in to the General Store and the lovely person serving recognised me from having the Camera… we worked out it must have been in Coromandel.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
Lovely spot
This is the home of a newish POP Hereford N a Pickle. Great name! It is basically a fairly upmarket Cafe with lots of outdoor dining and lots of Motorhome parking in a rural area.
Colville Parking
There are some outdoor loos close to the Motorhome parking and a few minutes up the road is the General Store. Just along from the town is Colville Bay/beach which is a fairly shingly beach with some sand.
Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow
Downtown Colville
The Cafe and outdoor area
Entrance to Cafe
The Outdoor Dining
Character Loos
Post Office
Oamaru Bay where we stopped for a swim
Omaaru Bay
We parked Rafe and checked in for a Coffee and a Scone each.
General Store
There is also a Tennis court in the middle of the town as well if you’ve got your racquets with you.
Tennis anyone?
After a couple of hours, we headed back towards Coromandel and stopped at Oamaru Bay for a swim. The water was almost tepid. Just lovely.
General Store
We headed back to the Pub and again we decided the food deserved another sampling. this time it was Pork Belly for me and a Seafood Sensation that was unbelievable.
We let Kaiaua reasonably early and started heading over towards Thames and onwards up the coast to Coromandel. After stopping at Kopu for fuel and the Supermarket for some last-minute provisions, were off up the coast.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
The sun was shining, and the wind had dropped off nicely but there still a few puffs.
The Pub
After about 40 minutes of easy driving, we stopped briefly at the Mania seafood shop for some Oysters and other amazing seafood.
The Coromandel Hotel has a very small Motorhome facility at the back which is just delightful. Don’t come here though if you’re expecting flash loos and showers! While they’re quite functional, they would best be described as very Rustic 🙂 Their business though is selling Meals and Drink, and they do this very well. The food is sensational. The Gin and Tonics are great too 🙂
A Great Bar in Coromandel
After checking in and setting up Rafe, plugging in and opening vents, we set off to downtown Coromandel which is only 10 minutes or so walk.
Coromandel shops
After a Coffee and a look at some of the shops, we slowly headed back to the pub and checked in for Tea. The food was something else… see the images below. I had a Roast Pork and Fiona had a Seafood Chowder. Sensational.
One of the handiest new additions in the NZMCA parks has been Kaiaua. Its close enough to Auckland to escape the city and bunk down for a sprint somewhere further on with fantastic eating opportunities.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
Looking back from the bridgeGreat parking
We were heading to Coromandel but with forecast 80k westerlies that day, we thought we’d delay it a day and sit tight. We haven’t been to Coromandel for ages, so we were both really looking forward to going. It was to be the next day.
The sun came out but was still windy.
We arrived in Kaiaua around midday, pleasantly surprised that the holiday traffic wasn’t too bad.
Great FoodKaiaua Pub
The first thing to do was check out the Bayview Hotel. It’s my understanding that the chef that was at Fleurs in Moeraki has started working here so that’s exciting. We kept things simple and shared a pizza which was fantastic. Later in the day, we couldn’t resist the fantastic Fish and Chips at the Kaiaua Fish shop next door.
Backed on to the pub 🙂
After generally loafing around at the park and a walk around the marina, I caught up with part of the Dethleffs Owners Group, Andrew and Pip also in the park. Nice to see them.
We left Turangi early and headed up the side of the lake as Fiona was really looking forward to “doing the shops” in Taupo. We’ve met several people over the last few weeks have given us different views of the changes at Taupo and none of them are all that flash so we were a bit unsure of what we might find.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
Along the waterfront at Rotorua
Driving along the Taupo waterfront and hour or so later, there were thousands of people enjoying the sun and the lakefront and it looked fantastic. I got to the end of the waterfront to the town and suddenly out of the blue was right-hand bend into the back of the town.
Late afternoon at Ngongotaha NZMCA park
How to get to the day Motorhome parking on the other side of town easily. Too hard I thought with all the people, so we decided we’d skip Taupo and head straight for Rotorua.
Busy busy
An hour or so later, we were at Ngongotaha plugging ourselves in and getting ready for our first bike ride into Rotorua down the bike trail. We’ve done this before too but it’s always different and new things to see and do. Fiona’s favourite French Cafe was closed due to the silly season, so we had a lovely Cafe lunch just by the waterfront before biking up to a well know baby shop to look for some clothes for my year-old grandson.
Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow
Along the waterfront
Ohinemutu
The Trail into town
Eat St
Pleasant day
Late afternoon at Ngongotaha
We had two nights there and after another night at the Ngongotaha park and some more riding around the waterfront, we packed up and headed back to Auckland.The park is looking good and is always busy which is good to see. It’s so handy to town too.
With all the trips we’ve done over the last 10 years or so up State Highway 1, I thought it would make a nice change to head across to Ohakune and check out the other side.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
The Ohakune Club
We arrived in the middle of the day and with the door to the Ohakune club shut, we walked into the town for a look around. We checked into a Bar there for a sly Gin and Tonic while watching people come and go, and bought some of Ohakune’s famous Eclairs to take back to Rafe…. and they didn’t disappoint 🙂
Downtown Ohakune
Later, we checked into the club and bought a drink at the bar. While we were having tea, we met some nice people at the next table who it turned out, grew up in Devonport! They also owned a house in Devonport too, in Roslyn Tce.. “What number?”, asks Fiona. The reply was .. jeepers that’s our old house that we sold four years or so ago.
The back lawn Ohakune Club
It turns out that Rob and Jane bought it as a bit of a wreck as it hadn’t had anyone living in it for a few years. I had scrim on the walls, no light fittings and no taps on the plumbing! It was also smaller at the back and downstairs.
Amazing… it then turned out that we both knew someone from Taupo where they now live who parked in our driveway once… crazy 🙂
We spent another very pleasant half hour or so more with them before heading back through the rain to Rafe.
We’ve popped in here a few times over the years with friends Dianne and Gary. I even had visions of buying a building here, but it wasn’t to be but fun dreaming and talking about it 🙂
Argyle Hotel in Hunterville
After leaving Wanganui, we headed across the back of Marton and stopped in Hunterville for lunch. Hunterville is another one of those towns you tend to whizz through on your way somewhere. All the cafes here seemed to be going gang busters which was nice to see.
Parked at Mangaweka.. those cliffs!
After an hour or so here, we cruised up the road a bit to Mangaweka. Since we were last here, they’ve built a new bridge for vehicles which has taken a chunk of the campground, but I think from memory, its actually easier to get into now with a new access road.
The new Road bridge.
We parked Rafe and plugged in and then walked over the bridge to Awastone to pay for the night and have a cup of coffee.
Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow
The Village in Hunteville
Close to nature
enjoying the water
Parked at Mangaweka.. those cliffs !
The old bridge, now pedestrian only
People camped on the grass by the river.
Awastone is the full featured, big brother campground, owned by the same people across the bridge.
Awastone over the road
After that we cruised back to Rafe to check out all the people playing in the river. The place was pretty busy with people opting to park right down by the river with their Caravans and Motorhomes. It’s a lovely spot
We met the people next to us too … nice people. One lot of their way home from Auckland to Nelson and some others who used be locals come back to their old stamping ground.
Hot and wet!
We only had time for one night here this time, but it was lovely to be here and see those amazing cliffs again. The chap who used to live here was telling me that every time a plane flies over the cliffs, bits fall out of them so that wasn’t good news. It seems they quite soft.
This is an amazing place setup by Nigel Ogle in an old disused Dairy Factory on the outskirts of Hawera.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
One of the smaller Diorama’s in the Cafe
Nigel has put this together from scratch including making all the characters and models and the attention to detail is absolutely stunning.
It is split into several sections and the last time we were here, we only had time to do one section (several hours). This time we were going to try one of the ones we missed last time, being the Traders and Whalers.
Click on the Gallery below to see an Enlarged Slideshow
In the mower section
The shop
After parking and checking in, we set off to the Traders and Whalers section where we guided through some fairly dimly lit tunnels with some amazing life-sized dioramas with hugely detailed people with flax, rifles, boats and everything to do with early NZ.
Parking area
We were then led to a big underground cave like area with a moat and a 20 odd person boat. With some others, we got into it and were taken through an amazing area of sound, light and more life-sized dioramas of early New Zealand showing early Maoris trading flax and Muskets with settlers. So well done. I believe it was a collaborative effort with Weta Workshop, so I wasn’t able to photograph any of it. Just amazing and a must see.
Trading
After that we went through to see some smaller displays of early whaling and trading then onto the Cafe for a really nice coffee. They have an amazing selection of traditional cakes, and we chose a couple of beauties.
In the Tractor area
Across the road is very easy Motorhome parking on a big patch of grass next to the car parking.
As I said a must see if you’re in the area.
Rafe’s tracker map to Tawhiti Museum and onto Wanganui – Armada GPS
As we left Mokau, we were invited along with Steve and Rosemary to stay at Greg and Shona’s place in New Plymouth. They are also part of the Dethleffs Owners team and Graeme and Shirley were going to be there too.
Us on the left in front, Steve and Rosemary’s Esprit GT behind and to the right, Greg and Shona’s Advantage.
I was a wee bit nervous after repairing part of my Chassis at the back which gets scraped occasionally on high forecourts and driveways as there was a huge camber at the end of the driveway, but no damage was done 🙂
It was lovely to catch up with Greg and Shona and it was very kind of them to put us all up in their driveway with power too! We had a fantastic dinner together and a lovely night in the driveway.
In the morning we all set off in different directions. Fiona and I set off to New Plymouth city to see the famous Len Lye Gallery and have some lunch and Fiona was keen to see some shops 🙂
The Len Lye centre with the White Swan behind.
Our next destination was all about New Years eve 🙂
The reflection of the White Swan hotel in the Len Lye centre
Thanks again guys for having us in your driveway and thanks for a great night. It was great to see Graeme and Shirley again too.
After almost a month of sitting in one spot, it was time to blow out the cobwebs with a quick trip away for the weekend. Fiona was keen to go to the markets at Mangawhai so Mangawhai it was.
Click on any Image to Enlarge
Looking out over the Estuary
We found a great wee pop up on the hill above the village close to the markets. Colin has a house up behind the shops and provides power and water and a great view. It is also a very easy walk to the shops.
Looking out at DuskThe view from Rafe in Mangawhai
We arrived there about 7:30 odd on the Friday night and slotted in on a compacted grass are looking right out over the estuary.
Click on the Gallery to see an Enlarged Slideshow
Us up on the hill
The Pie Caravan !
The Entrance to Bennets Chocolate Shop
The outside of bennetts
The popular shop in Mangawhai.. Sausages in bread 🙂
A new shopping centre
Cove Restaurant where we had lunch
The view down to the Village
The next morning, we woke up to a sunny day and after getting organised walked down to the village and the markets at the primary school. It’s a great atmosphere with everyone having fun and getting into the swing of it.
Arriving at the Markets
The great find for me was a caravan there selling these amazing pies. The owner was a real foodie who used to run a local restaurant and now make the pies and sell them locally. The coffee was something else too. I had a Lamb and Mint pie, and Fiona had a Curried Fish. both amazing!
At the Bennetts Coffee shopBennetts Chocolates
After this we walked back to the main shops from the school and after a coffee and a visit to Bennetts Chocolates (who could resist!) we stopped in for lunch at the Cove restaurant.
Cove Restaurant where we had lunch
Then it was back to Rafe. A great day of Sunshine, Great Food and Coffee in a lovely spot.
The school holidays had rolled around, and our son Alex had two business trips to both Wellington and New York so it was down to Fiona and I to entertain the two boys. Ayden 14, and Liam 11.
Click on any image to enlarge
Ngongotaha looking a little dreary on the first day.
Our oldest son Drew and his partner Jenna and their 10 month old son Archie were going to meet us in Rotorua later and were staying in a boutique Hotel in Rotorua town.
The three cuzzies, Ayden, Archie and Liam by the waterfront.
Our first thought was to stay at the Speedway track which is somewhere I’ve never stayed before or Ngongotaha NZMCA park. Fiona had the idea that she would follow us down in the car so we could run around down there more easily.
We were off. Ayden sat in the copilots’ seat and Liam came down with Fiona a wee bit behind.
Liam and Ayden with the Hopscotch
We arrived in Rotorua early in the afternoon with passing showers so after checking out the Speedway which looked amazing, I decided against staying there only due to the power being 3 pin plug. Our 10 amp adapter is not weatherproof and the only spare 16 amp weather protected plug meant crossing some fairly boggy ground, so it was off to Ngongotaha.
I was pleasantly surprised that there were plenty of powered sites still free given it was school holidays and the park was quite busy. We plugged in and settled down until Fiona and Liam arrived in the car an hour or so later.
Down on the waterfront
It didn’t take long for the boys to check out the park and they quickly found the hopscotch right next to the powered parks. Later that day we headed into town to the park by the waterfront for the boys to run around.
Click on the Gallery below for enlarged images at the Waterfront
The amusement fair on the waterfront.
Down on the waterfront
The boys in the playground
Ayden and Liam on a swing.
People on the waterfront
Down on the waterfront
Andrew and Jenna texted so it was off to see them at their hotel and then we walked to the Lone Star for a meal. I haven’t been here for a while, so it was a quick reminder on how big the meals are there 🙂
Drews HUGE pork ribs at the Lone Star !
The next day after some more Hopscotch, we caught up again with Drew, Jenna and Archie.
Liam, Ayden, Archie with granny Fiona at the French cafe
After a nice lunch at Fiona’s favourite French cafe, we drove up to the Paradise Valley Animal Park for the boys, all three of them!
Ayden having fun with a DonkeyLiam feeding a Goat
They really enjoyed it and saw the Lions being fed which was amazing. The slabs of meat get thrown over about a 30 metre high French surrounding the enclosure 🙂
Click on the Gallery below for enlarged images of the Animal Park
Liam feeding a deer at the Animal Park
Trout at the Anima Park
Archie in his pushchair
Jenna, Archie, Drew and Liam in the background with a llama
Jenna, Archie, Ayden and Drew with the Llamas
Liam with a Goat
Ayden having fun with a Donkey
The happy Lion after a feed
There was a fair / amusement arcade setup on the fields behind the waterfront park, so we took the boys there. Ayden had broken his thumb playing rugby and was in cast so that reduced the Funtime activities for him which was a shame. Liam had a go at the dodgems and Ayden settled for some candy floss.
Liam on the Dodgems
The next morning, we were meeting Drew, Jenna and Archie at the Gondolas so that Liam could have a go on the Luge. He had a great time while we waited for him with cups of coffee in the Cafe.
Liam, Archie, Drew and Jenna on the Gondola.
Both boys came back with me in Rafe and we caught up with Fiona at Tirau.
Liam on the ride back up.
It was a fun few days and they really enjoyed it and it was a nice change for us too. Here is a look at a previous trip to Rotorua with the boys.
Rafe’s tracker map to Ngongotaha NZMCA park – 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.
Bugger It, we are off - www.buggeritweareoff.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.