Matata to Koromiko and Home

 13 April – Drove east to the great beach camp on Matata. Paul tried his hand at surf casting while we watched, read and enjoyed the view of the sea and Whakaari/White Island on the horizon belching steam.

14 April – Drove towards Edgecumbe and onto the “30” to Lake Rotoma to find the camping spot closed because of flooding. Carried on to Lake Rotorua and headed around the north side to Hamurana and stopped by the lakes edge. Had lunch but decided it was not the greatest place to overnight. Contacted a POP very close by and drove onto a sloping paddock with two flat areas to camp. Great views across the lake with the city of Rotorua in the distance. Hens running around us and hopping into the campers.

15 April – Breakfast outside enjoying the view before carefully backing back down the hill. A very short drive to the large NZMCA park at Ngongataha. In a garage we found the beautifully restored Number 1 house truck.

 Val and I cycled along bike paths to the Rotorua water front, the Government Historic Bath House and the Kuirau Thermal area. On our way back my chain link broke. We walked and scooted to a bike shop where they fixed the problem. A 25km trip!

16 April – Drove back into the city so that Lynne and Paul could see the sites. Another short drive to Lake Okareka where we camped in a DOC reserve with great views over this small lake. In the afternoon we walked a great bush track back to Boyes Beach.

17 April – Drove out of Lake Okareka, back thru Rotorua and across the volcanic plateau to Taupo. We parked L & P’s van at the NZMCA park and took our van into Taupo. Walked along the water front and the shops returning for lunch at a cafe. Back to the camp which holds about 200 vans.

18 April – Around the east side of Lake Taupo to Turangi. We shopped and our camp for the night is a rundown place but has free private hot water pools. It drizzled off on on all day.

19 April – Drove into the Tongariro National Park and up towards Mt Ruapehu and the Château for our camp at Whakapapa. As we were early, we walked the track to the Taranaki Falls. Low cloud spoiling our view of the mountains but caught a glimpse of Ngauruhoe.

20 April – A short walk up the Ridge Track for a view of the mountains but still cloudy. We packed our lunch and set off up the track to the Silica Rapids where we had lunch before crossing the face of Ruapehu to join up to the ski road and back to our camp. Unfortunately the Château is closed with little hope of ever opening again!!

21 April - Still cloudy with no mountain views. We drove up the ski field for a look in thick fog. Back thru Whakapapa for another short walk to the Tawhai Falls before driving out of the National Park, thru Ohakune to Waiouru and the Army Museum. Very interesting. Taihape for lunch and a POP at Makio Farm on the banks of the Rangitikei River. A great place with dogs and farm stuff everywhere. We walked down to the suspension bridge across the river. Drinks outside under the awnings as rain set in.

22 April – Rained most of the night and on our drive to the coast at Tangimoana and a small waterlogged camp! Donned our jackets and walked in the drizzle to the beach. Ended up dodging huge puddles and even removed our shoes to get across a creek. Lots to dry out!

23 April – Slightly better today weather-wise but still some drizzle. South thru Foxton and stopped for the night at a POP in Waikanae. A walk to the beach returning via some lagoons with houses around them.

24 April – Filled in some time at the Paraparaumu beach watching the waves before driving to the Plimmerton NZMCA Park. We will be here for two nights and go into Wellington City tomorrow. A quick walk to the train station in a cold southerly. Ferries cancelled today. Hopeful it will be OK on Wednesday!!

25 April – Walked to the train station and used our Gold Card for a free trip into the city. Walked up to Phoebe’s student accommodation where she showed us around. We all wandered the city to the Cable Car and again our Gold Card got us to the top. Lunch at a great restaurant at the top, back down to the city, and a walk to Parliament and the Beehive. We farewelled Phoebe and caught the train back to our camp. A great day with fine weather.

26 April – No delaying text from Bluebridge, so we drove to their terminal and were promptly load on to the ferry. A great smooth crossing despite the grim rough seas forecasted. We arrived in Picton 1/2 hour early and drove back to the camp at Koromiko where we had celebratory drinks. Some much for the bad weather forecasts!!! Another waste of “Sea legs”! Driving back to Kaiapoi tomorrow. We will publish this tonight.

New Plymouth to Mt Maunganui

 1 April – New Plymouth. Strong wind and rough seas with rain. Paul and I walked down to the boat harbour below us and around the shops and bars/restaurants. Heavy rain set in again in the evening.

2 April – Sunny this morning. We drove to Pukekura Park and walked past the cricket ground into the gardens, fountain, and waterfall thru to the Bowl of Brooklyn.

 Drove to Rotomana Lake and walked to the Te Rewa Rewa bridge. The mountain was covered with cloud and there is scaffold up as they are painting the bridge. We continued up Mt Taranaki and met Rodney, Judith, Noel and Rose, (friends from Inglewood) for lunch at the Volcanoview Restaurant. A good catch up with them. Down and on to the Stratford Show Grounds for the night.

3 April – Shopped, and watched the Stratford Glockenspiel Clock do its Romeo and Juliet thing before dumping and starting the Forgotten World Highway. Fascinating country. We stopped at Whangamomona camp for the night and walked down to the pub for a drink. The publican was closing up but served us drinks thru the window on the veranda. Walked the town (2 minutes max) and went into Dolly Grays shop (hand made stuff). It rained early evening.

4 April – Beautiful morning as we continued on the Forgotten World Highway, over saddles and even thru a tunnel. We headed up Mt Damper and walked a track to the Damper Falls.

We had checked with Dolly Gray who assured us that the road thru to Tongaporutu was ok, some gravel and a very steep decent. At Tongaporutu we found a spot with great views on the river mouth. After lunch, at low tide, we walked around to the Three Sisters, pinnacles of rock left behind when the cliffs had eroded. A great sunset.

5 April – A nice walk this morning along the river bank before setting off to Marakopa stopping off at Waikawau Beach where there is a tunnel thru to the beach dug by the farmers as access to the ships. As ships sank in the rough sea the whole thing was a waste of time! 

A long drive thru winding and sometimes gravel roads to Marokopa where we stayed on a farm with a lovely couple and their 4 kids.

6 April – Some drizzle as we drove up to the Marakopa Falls. A great sight, and then on to the Piri Piri Caves, worth a visit and finally to the Mangapohue Natural Bridge. We were held up for about 1/2 hour at road works before going thru Waitomo and on to Otorohanga. Suddenly there were people everywhere, a contrast to the last few days! We are camped at an NZMCA park.

7 April – Thru to Kawhia, a lovely harbour town, where we will stay for a couple of nights as it is Easter. We walked to the small town and wharf, watched the locals fishing and jumping off the wharf and had an ice-cream. After lunch we walked as far as we could ending up at the marae. Val felt crook in the evening.

8 April – Beautiful morning with Val back to full health. Breakfast outside. We walked back to the town as there was a market on. Turned out to be the Maori Women’s League in the hall. Nothing there! Back at our camp we took our chairs down to the waterfront for a read and lunch. BBQ sausages etc for dinner and a few extra drinks to celebrate our half trip.

9 April – A slow trip out of Kawhia stopping for views of the harbour and the Waikato river.

 Coffee at Te Awamutu and overnighting in a strange POP in Putaruru. All ok though. A walk around the closed town but sampled some cheese at the only place open.

10 April – Decided to detour thru Tirau and got caught up in the Easter Monday traffic returning to Auckland. There is a clock shop in this town which fascinated Paul. Over the Kaimai’s to Tauranga and our beach front camp site at Mount Maunganui. Gary Bodger picked us up and drove us to their new home in a retirement village, where we explored and then had drinks and a great dinner.

11 April – Lynne and Paul walked around the mount while Val and I climbed to the top. Great views. After lunch and a rest, we walked the length of the main beach. It started raining at 4:00pm and turned nasty with even hail before before settling down later in the night.

12 April – Raining off and on in the morning. We took Seddon’s camper to town to shop. Gary will pick us up again for dinner with Glen, Tania and their girls.