We were up early on Good Friday in an attempt to beat the traffic heading north. Transit NZ had opened the road over the Bryndrwyns just for easter. By 9am we were filling up at the Whangarei Caltex truck stop!
After a trip out to the coast to see if we could squeeze into a pop out there, we decided to keep going North and stopped in at The Kaikohe A&P and Equestrian centre.
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Oodles of room
I stayed here years ago and its extremely good value on asphalt with plenty of powered sites with Toilets showers and a laundry. Just down the road is Ngawha Springs Hot Pools. Kaikohe is just 5 k’s or so away. Amazing!
The check in box used to be an old red Telephone box which is still here but barely red anymore but replaced with a small shed. The Laundry had an old washing machine and wringer is now replaced by a modern automagical machine so big improvements.
Ye olde Telephone box with cabin
A lovely quiet spot and a great place for 24 hours while we got our ongoing itinerary sorted 🙂
A local with their horse
There was lots of comings and goings and our neighbours from Matamata were telling us that they are having an Equestrian celebration in the hall the next night which they are setting up for.
Toilets, showers, Laundry and Dump Station !
A lovely safe, cost-effective spot for a day or three and nice people too.
Rafe’s tracker map to the Kaikohe A&P and Equestrian centre – Armada GPS
It was Saturday morning, and it was time for a bike ride!
At our Dethleffs Rally at the Happy Hour the evening before, we had sorted out somewhere to go so it was all on! The bikes were organised and led by Tony and Neal, 14 of us headed down through Cambridge towards the river and the start of the Trail.
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Our park at the Raceway
Some were heading all the way to Hamilton Gardens, some going to Tamahere to a Coffee Shop and others to the Velodrome.
The Bike group as we left
The Te Awa trail is all pretty new still but what an amazing setup. Because I went as far as Tamahere (40k round trip), I didn’t get to see all the flashest boardwalks over the river .. next time!
Amazing engineering
We left Cambridge at 10am and it took about 2.5 hours to do the round trip including a good stop for lunch 🙂 Very easy though on an electric bike.
I’d stupidly left my bike keys behind so couldn’t get my bike off the rack on the back of Rafe. The Kryptonite lock and cable is a force to be reckoned with, so it wasn’t even worth thinking about the grinder.
John very kindly lent me Kirsty’s bike as she wasn’t riding. The bike is fantastic but has an older electric system with a Turbo function which is a bit scary if you’re not used to it 🙂
The short version: I was about halfway along the trail when I came around a corner, but the turbo kept running quite a bit… ending with a full lock up of the brakes sideways into these massive retaining poles onto my shoulder.
Looking down to the river
Chris was just behind me and immediately stopped and said something like “that might hurt” 🙂 Initially it didn’t really. Back on the horse and we were off again 🙂
A stop half way
We were about halfway so by the time we got to the cafe; with my recently acquired sore ribs, I was looking forward to a rest.
On the way back
Although 14 started with us, several split off into different groups to go on to Hamilton Gardens or to the Velodrome.
Our crew on the way back
After about 20 minutes or so, we headed back to the Raceway… a lot of fun and a nice ride with good company. Thanks again to John and Kirsty for the use of their bike. A great day and a fantastic place to ride.
Steve biking backLooking down to the river
You can stay at The Cambridge Raceway if you’re a member of the NZMCA for just $10 a night so an easy base for the trail and you can go as far as you like in either direction.
We had been lucky dodging the worst of what was the storm Hale but the tail was alive and well.
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The iconic Lord of the Rings Isite centre in Matamata -iphone image
We decided to cut the trip a bit early and head for home via “somewhere in the Waikato”. Fiona wasn’t keen on Te Aroha as there had been some earthquakes there so that narrowed things down a bit.
It was pouring with rain with some big easterly puffs of wind and generally pretty unpleasant.
Great parking
I found getting through Tauranga with its Motorway system changes is always a mission and twice before I’d missed the turnoff to get to the Kaimais before Mt Maunganui and today we did it again. This time we followed a motorhome in front to see if he knew another way through, but it ended up being a case of the blind leading the blind and 15 minutes or so later, we were back where we started. We eventually found a tollway though to the Kaimais and were away laughing.
By the time we got across the Kaimai road, we were ready to call it quits and my immediate thought were Matamata for a late lunch and then Firth Tower… nice and close and since it has been about 6 years since we’ve been there, we were well overdue for another visit.
Firth Tower
It’s a great place and now run by the Matamata Historical Society has changed a lot since our last visit. It’s well worth looking at our last visit as we the pictures I took back then had the benefit of some good weather 🙂
Some of the neat buildings from around the district
The Motorhome Parking is now marked out and with more Powered sites and a complete overhaul of the loos, it’s a great spot for overnighting. It was also blowing dogs off chains, but we were well sheltered behind some big hedges and trees.
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In the McCaw House
In the McCaw House
The school
A corrugate Iron Roller
Firth Tower
In the tower
As I’ve said, the remnants of the storm were still with us, and it looked a bit grim but check out the pictures for an overview. Check out our previous visit 6 or so years ago for some sunshine in the images 🙂
Looking down through the mirk from the tower.
A great spot to stay and good value for $15 per vehicle including power and access to loos and really nice people too.
Rafe’s Tracker map to The Firth Tower – Armada GPS
It was New Year’s Eve. We left the Hawkes Bay Golf club reasonably early so we could find a good spot at Eriksen Park. It was busy but there were plenty of gaps.
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The Dethleff corner. Steve and Rosemary’s Esprit, Rafe and Ian and Erik’s Esprit.
We’d only driven about halfway into the park when we spotted an older Dethleffs Esprit with some big gaps alongside, so I parked alongside and Steve next to us. Easy.
Busy at Eriksen Park
After we’d opened vents and settled in, off came the bikes and the four of us set off to Napier for lunch. It was nice to see some of the old cars cruising the streets.
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The Dethleff Corner
Rosemary feeling the cold on New Year’s Eve.
Steve bat the Wine Bar
Rosemary and Fiona at the Wine Bar
Setlling down for lunch
The wine bar.. amazing place
We then went to the famous Masonic Hotel for a drink but after less than ½ hour, we were told they were closing so we moved to this amazing wine bar just down the road that Steve knew about, where we were entertained by really good German host who really looked after us.
At Napier shops about to have lunch. Steve, Fiona and Rosemary. Check out the car going past.On the way back to Eriksen into the gale !
At least an hour went by, maybe more 🙂 and we set off back to Eriksen on our bikes along the waterfront. The easterly wind had really got up, so the electric assistance was cranked to the max 🙂
Ian, Rosemary, Steve, Fiona and Erik enjoying a New Years eve Happy Hour.
The owners of the older Esprit came back in their Toad, and we went over and met them. Nice guys from up by Kaitaia, Eric and Ian. They later came over and joined us for a New Year’s Eve drink.
Bliss
After tea, we sat outside while it got a bit cooler and waited for the fireworks.
A really good day on the bikes again with friends.
One of the major strategies of this trip was to drive across the Gentle Annie Road from Taihape to Napier. Fiona spent several years as a youngster living in Waiouru and did several trips across this road with her family to see her Grandparents who lived in Ongonga. It was then a gravel road which took some 5 hours, and in a Triumph Herald, that would have been fun!
The first things we did when we arrived in Taihape was to stop at our favourite Cafe Brown Sugar Cafe.
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Plenty of space for their events. Toilets/showers on the left.
Fiona wanted to have a bit of a nosey around the town while took Rafe up the hill to the Gumtree Holiday Park which was an easy walk away.
Gumtree was originally setup as an area where Eve and her builder husband could have Eve’s Dance Studio, her husband’s workshop and room for their friends to stay. As time went on, they had some small events with their friends who bought Caravans, so they decided to go all out and set up the area for Motorhomes and caravans to stay. The end of the workshop houses a well setup Toilet and Shower facility and there.
Parked in the corner to get the breeze. The Taihape Airfield is just over the gully behind those big trees.
On arrival I was told to park anywhere on one of the 12 or so powered sites around the fence line and Eve would pop down and give me all the info I needed. Very easy.
It was really hot, so I chose to park in a corner where a nice breeze was coming across the gully nearby. I was the only one there at that time but by the end of the day there were 6 or so mostly Caravans popped in for the night.
Others came later
It’s a great spot and an easy walk down to the town.
Even though Taihape is only a small town, it is not blessed with lots of options for Motorhomes so it’s nice to know there was a nice camp with a reasonable tariff and friendly face within easy reach of the town.
Rafe’s Tracker map to the Gumtree Holiday Park – Armada – GPS
What a pleasant surprise finding the Tokoroa Club parking area.
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Excellent parking
Nicely partitioned away from the normal parking area with 6 powered sites.
The Bowling club next door
It is extremely good value for $10 and they’re really friendly people too.
Massive carpark with the Motorhome parking behind.
Their carparks are huge but at the back of their main carpark are the Motorhome / Caravan parks.
We arrived early in the afternoon, plugged in, opened the vents and went into the bar for a nice cold Gin and Tonic and paid for the park at the same time.
There was a storm due!
They do meals as well but you do need to be a member of a Club to be able to use the indoor areas.
The Club
A great spot for an overnight break.
Rafe’s Tracker map to the Tokoroa Club – Armada – GPS
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.
A true labour of love .. Dave and Maria bought the Post office building some years ago and have restored what was originally the Eltham Post Office with the Telegraph area upstairs, is now a luxury B&B.
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Dave is a retired Photojournalist and worked with me at the Herald in the late 1970’s. David has also provided some images to the Hospice Taranaki Auction happening on the 24th September.
Dave outside the B&B
I was in New Plymouth staying at Ninia Park over so it was an easy trip in Rafe to pop in to see Dave after 40 something years since we’ve seen each other. Unfortunately, Dave’s wife Maria was away in Sydney catching up with friends and family so I get to meet her.
Historical Neighbourhood
I found Dave water blasting some Mould of one of the sheltered walls at the back and we adjourned into the kitchen for a good catchup over a cup of tea.
The main Helena Suite
Later I got a tour of the building which is amazing. They’ve certainly been busy!
Lots of old period things add to the charm
The upstairs has been converted into their private flat but in a thorough Way 🙂 .. as you would expect from these two!
Dave outside the Post Office.
If you want to sample this beauty and have a night away from your Motorhome or Caravan in one of Taranaki’s small towns, check out their website here.
Rafe parked outside with the Post office behindLovely old Building
It was lovely to see Dave again after all these years. As I said to him, he still looks the same 🙂
The weather was good, there was a beach only a few yards away and the town was only 10 minutes walk.
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Rafe at Raglan
We were looking to get out of the traffic but not too far away.. Raglan won the day. It has been a while since we were last here but it has an atmosphere all of its own. Very like Waiheke Island with some of the similar arty but down to earth shops.
Kids enjoying BadmintonOur neighbours from Hamilton and Tauranga enjoying the sun.
When my son Drew found out we were heading to Raglan, he said we had to go to Orca so I booked in online and its a magic spot. We went for lunch and the food was fantastic and it was very reasonable with a great view too.
The view out of the main streetThe Historic Raglan Pub
After lunch we headed back to Rafe at the Raglan Holiday Park and then later onto the beach.
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Sundown
The Hamilton family on the beach
The view out of the main street
In the centre of town
The Historic Raglan Pub
There was a family from Hamilton with their youngest doing hand stands and flips on the sand while they enjoyed a glass of wine and watched the sun go down. Just magic.
Amazing Sunset
We were looking forward to the next day, Watching the rugby and then checking out the town.
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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