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Chester Martin
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Ohakune ▷
Mangawhero Campsite
Really nice camp spot, facilities are basic, just a clean long drop, water and a few benches.
But beware (particularly cyclists like myself) this isn't the exact location, it is about 1.5k further away from town, so nipping to town is a bit more of a chore.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Tauranga ▷
Tauranga Tourist Park
The location is a bit away from everything, unless I was missing something.
Kitchen was clean but cold similar story with the showers. The lady on the desk was most helpful though and really friendly, not bad for a 1 night stop. I would probably continue on to the mountain side if I was stopping in Tauranga again.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Rotorua Tasman Holiday Parks
Absolutely awesome camp site, the staff were really welcoming and friendly, even the security guard that came to evict us from the TV room at 10:30 put a smile on our faces (Maori looking guy, the other
big guy was a tad miserable). The hot pools were top notch, like a mini Polynesian Spa. There are 2 shower blocks, the larger of the 2 is perfect, really warm powerful showers, the smaller 1 I didn't bother with. Kitchens are absolutely spotless, modern and stylish as are the TV rooms, 1 of which has a sweet gas fire with log effect and a massive TV on the wall. Could have stayed here all week, worth every penny.
Thanks for the review Chester. You must have come during winter with the Fire so im glad you got to enjoy that and hopefully we may see you back again sometime.
Thanks
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Waiotapu ▷
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools Campground
You come here for the hot pools really, the camp site is just some where to park up and spend the night so you can get back in the pools again in the morning.
The kitchen is a bit dingy but they keep it fairly clean, toilets aren't the best you will have encountered but OK. The pools are probably our best experience of thermal bathing, they pipe fresh water in daily from the stream which is well worth a walk along to see where it all comes from, a real wonder of nature.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Tauranga ▷
McLaren Falls Camping Area
For a basic camp site the shower block is amazing, really hot powerful showers.
The toilets were clean and they provide sinks for washing up too. Not sure if there was a dump station or water tap for filling up but for 11nzd each or whatever it was we were more than happy. The glow worm track was pretty awesome, walk it when it's pitch black for best effect (torches required) and the falls/dam you would of seen on the way in was worth a look at, we walked up the dry river bed, it's pretty eerie when you get to the dam wall, the history of the dam/power station can be found in the information centre.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Taupo TOP 10 Holiday Park
It was pretty cold, wet and miserable when we went which tainted the experience a bit.
The site was really clean, good showers, TV room is comfy once you've run the heater for a bit. There is also a hot pool which was covered over and looked pretty closed so we didn't use it. Considering it was so miserable we had a good stay. Also if you stay here check out the hot stream further along Spa Road at Thermal Park, you can go down in your swimmers for a dip.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Hahei ▷
Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
A top end Top 10 campsite, the staff were friendly and welcoming.
The site is tidy and well laid out. The kitchen and TV rooms are clean and stylish. Hot water beach is a bit of a let down if you don't land it just right, we went in an afternoon and it was swamped with people, this is the middle of winter. We decided to give it another go at 6am and it was well worth it, just 1 other local guy who had already dug the hole, we sat out watching the sun rise with waves crashing down in front of us.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Tauranga ▷
Mount / Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park
Clean campsite in a really good location, the kitchen was pretty cold and the TV is in a ridiculous place.
You get discount off the hot pools next door which is definitely worth a visit.
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Ohakune ▷
Mangawhero Campsite
The shower block is absolutely amazing, just what you need after a day on the slopes or trails.
Kitchen and TV room is a bit behind what we have had from most other Top 10 camp sites but it has a bit of character. Maybe a good base for skiing or a 1 night stop, not so much for a week of family camping.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Thames ▷
Lamp Town
Wasn't really what we were expecting, we did just collect the camper and head straight for the 1st site on Rankers after it had gone dark.
Small gravel car park and you get a key to a building with a fridge, wall mounted water boiler, toilet, pay shower, sofas and a TV (this is all kept very clean). Good for the very reason the name implies I guess, I probably wouldn't put it on my list of places to stop unless I was traveling for a year or I was in the situation I was in.