Profile
Julian Roots
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
Jacksons Retreat Campervan Holiday Park
This camp deserves to be high up in the must stop lists.
At the entrance to Arthurs pass it is ideally located between the two coasts. The amenities block is as good as anything we tried, the showers are truly quality hotel standard. The camp is however up for sale. Hopefully someone with a like mind will take it on and continue the good work.
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North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Napier ▷
Kennedy Park Resort Napier
Typical Top 10 site.
Clean well maintained with good facilities. Very quiet dispite being in the middle of the suburbs. Very large site which I can imagine gets hectic in high season. Good but a little soulless.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Hahei ▷
Hahei Beach Resort
We paid extra for the sea front pitch which was a very short walk to the beach...and what a beach!!
A picture perfect sub tropical pacific cove which was simply jaw dropping. The facilities were clean and tidy and were also spread about the site which was handy. Excellent reception.
Hi Julia. A huge thank you from the Team for taking the time to respond so positively. The Beach is gorgeous all year round. We look forward to seeing you again on your next big Kiwi Adventure.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Dargaville ▷
Kauri Coast TOP 10 Holiday Park
This was our first experience of New Zealand campsites and what a start.
Beautiful location surrounded by forest and river. Excellent spotless communal facilities.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
New Zealand Frontiers
We chose this firm following a recommendation from friends.
This is the only campervan company we have used in NZ so can only rate the experience in isolation. The owner Kenrick does not simply rent you a van he is personally involved in helping get the most out of your holiday, providing an astonishing amount of information on his website and face to face, booking tickets with discounts and making recommendations. We found his customer service and aproachability to be faultless. Would whole heartedly use this company again and unreservedly recommend New Zealand Frontiers to anyone.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Franz Josef ▷
Rainforest Retreat
Ideally situated next to the township.
Parked up in a Rain Forest..amazing...views up to snow capped mountains. Amenities were functional and clean. Showers no more than ok. Some noise issues with drunken young uns at the camp centre but overall an interesting site
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Hahei ▷
Cathedral Cove Walk
Steaming hot day but well worth the sweat.
Cathedral Cove is as good as the books say it is and at fairly low tide you can flirt with the surf and walk through the arch to the standalone rock on the other side.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Miranda ▷
Miranda Tasman Holiday Parks
Excellent park with very good facilities especially for children.
V friendly staff told us there might be a mosquito problem but we had none. Best fish and chips ever in Miranda village just up the road.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Wellington Cable Car
Not cheap but a terrific way to get your bearings.
Botanic gardens and observatory at the top. Cracking view across the bay towards South Island. Excellent at night as well.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
The Redwoods
The Redwood forest is a must when visiting Rotorua.
Beautiful, tranquil and free. The visitor centre is an excellent facility with lovely wood turned utensils using local wood and craftsmen.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Buller Gorge ▷
Buller Gorge Swingbridge
Not cheap but worth the visit.
Buller gorge is spectacular and the overnight storm meant we could not do the jet boating, but the bridge is good fun and the zip wire coming back over the gorge is even better.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Waiteti Trout Stream Holiday Park
Terrific small independent.
This is what is possible outside of the top tens. Clean as a whistle, right on the trout stream, could fish out of the van door it was that close. Short walk to the lake. Excellent cooking and shower facilities and first class reception.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Interislander Ferry
Efficient operation, we had two beautiful crossings which added to the atmosphere.
Fabulous view of the sound and Picton is a surprisingly pretty harbour. Possibilty that the terminal will be moved to the pacific coast to protect the sound.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Murchison Motorhome Park
Lovely setting in a bowl surrounded by wooded mountains next to the Buller River.
Large and well equipped amenities block with brand new showers. First taste of sandflies though!!
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Museum of New Zealand
Spectacular free Museum.
terrific building and marvellous displays including giant squid in formaldehyde. Would have liked more time here but had to catch the ferry.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Havelock ▷
Smiths Farm Holiday Park
Very pleasant and slightly quirky, amenities block was well equipped but a bit small for the size of the camp.
I imagine this could be problematic in high season. So much better than the generic Top 10's
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Turangi ▷
Tongariro River Rafting
Sensational stuff, we were complete novices but felt totally at ease on the water, excellent equipment and safety input.
We went down in two rafts piloted by Mike and Hudson, real quality guys who loved to joke and banter but were also serious about the safety and experience for everyone, they were also concerned about a very inexperienced group of four following behind and more than once stopped to help out. Food was laid on after the trip and no one left the base until well after 6. Great day, fabulous river, super people running this venture.
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North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Gisborne ▷
Eastwoodhill Arboretum
Pleasant stop off if you are passing, not sure I would go a long way out of the way to visit this.
It is a long way off the beaten track. Strange also to be visiting a collection from the Northern hemisphere, having just come from the Northern hemisphere. Still a very pleasant walk in the woods. Visitor centre was excellent and you there is overnight accomodation available as well. The huge ball of marble suspended by water pressure was fascinating.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Paihia ▷
Twin Pines Tourist Park
Good quality park, excellent kitchen and good shower facilities and nice spot to park up.
Also within spitting distance of Paihia and bay of Islands which is its biggest asset.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Franz Josef ▷
Glacier Country Helicopters
This trip was on our bucket list and we weren't disappointed.
Franz Joseph township appears to simply serve the heliport which is a hive of activity. Not sure exactly why we chose this firm but certainly glad we did. Excellent front of house and safety talk. Reasonably modern helicopter and knowledgeable pilot. We chose the longer trip around Mt Cook and then landing on Fox glacier. This was a definite highlight of our holiday and although expensive on the face of it, it was a truly priceless experience.
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North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Gisborne ▷
Gisborne Showgrounds Park Motorcamp
The camping area was fairly spartan and uninspiring however the amenities block was fantastic.
Superb facilities. Although the showers were by pay meter they were amongst the best that we used across New Zealand.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Paihia ▷
Day in the Bay Scenic Cruise
Fabulous trip on a beautiful day in the bay of Islands.
Saw loads of Dolphins and had plenty of time in the water. Knowledgable and experienced crew who were also great fun (floppy and graham). Had excellent tour of the Bay which is a truly fabulous spot.