Bill
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village ▷
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
This feels tricky after reading some of the other reviews.
It's certainly an interesting walk, past craters and pools between the volcanoes. And it's got lots of great views. The track is amazingly well maintained with lots (lots!) of wooden steps and boardwalks. That's maybe a big positive but it also means it feels pretty sanitised for much of the way. You're either pleased with that or disappointed. There are quite a few short harder steeper sections near the top. Even on 1 November it was quite busy, especially at the beginning, with the start resembling a small airport drop off zone. Sunny to begin and end, fair amount of cloud around Tongarino at the top but Ngauruhoe was clear with snow on the peak. Cold on top, quite windy, but walking trousers, a couple of base layers and a windproof were fine. I'm reasonably used to walking in the mountains and this took 4 1/2 hours plus stops. If I'm honest then if you're used to doing day mountain walks I'd only recommend this on a sunny day outside the main season. And well worth going exceedingly early (sunrise!) or late, maybe 11 or 12, to avoid the crowds. If, on the other hand you're not used to walking too far or high then as the other reviews tell you this is probably a great challenge. I also used the shuttle with Tracey at nationalparkshuttles.com who was excellent. She insisted on turning up just to meet me at the end even though she should have waited for a bigger group to arrive.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Kawhia ▷
Kawhia Camping Ground
Lovely site, lovely man.
Stayed a couple of nights in early November. Very peaceful, just 3 or 4 other vans and 1 cabin in use. Facilities are great - no they're not brand new but everything works extremely well and the manager is gradually upgrading the site. He's one of the world's helpful people. Wifi is free and works well. Nice beaches and walks around. Kawhia has a general store, cafe, hotel/pub, fish shop, this time of year it closes early - if it opens at all - so go there for the country not the nightlife
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North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Waipukurau ▷
Te Paerahi Beach
Excellent free camping behind the dunes on a 3 mile beach with a sand spit.
Very beautiful. Clean fluch toilets and drinking water. a small grassy area (maybe 10 vans) and a few spots under the trees. In late October had the beach pretty much to ourselves early Saturday morning but by 11 it was a motorcycle race track. Fun for them, miserable for the rest of the world. 10/10 for the site, 0/10 for the bikers. Don't forget to let the council know you're there and encourage them to keep the site for others - just phone to say thanks, the least we can all do after paying nothing.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Picton / Marlborough Sounds ▷
Whatamango Bay Campsite
What you'd hope for from a low cost DOC site.
Nice open area next to the sound with a bit of bush for privacy. Very flat, flush toilets, wonderfully peaceful, close to Picton.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Havelock ▷
Pelorus Bridge Campground
Lovely site in a lovely place.
Deep pools in the river for swimming, not too keen in October though. Unpowered sites are along the river, just pick your own spot so feels nice and informal. Extremely clean facilities and hot showers. Some nice bush walks around, not spectacular but nice to do. Waterfalls are quite small but pleasant, Trig K walk is through the bush but a very good view West at the top.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Old Macdonalds Farm and Holiday Park
Nice site nice folk.
Very spacious - over 400m from reception to the main powered campervan site area. Very big plots, all facilities clean, functional and very well sorted. Good info on Abel Tasman water taxis with free pick up from the site. Felt peaceful and quite in late October, maybe 10 or 15% full.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Paraparaumu ▷
Paekakariki Holiday Park
Nice coastal site.
Stayed in a powered campervan mid October. Very organised - you don't get to choose your spot, but the plots are pretty large and it was very quiet. Nice park between the site and the beach.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Picton / Marlborough Sounds ▷
Mistletoe Bay Eco Village Campground
Excellent site run by very nice people.
Mid October was quiet. That's not always true so worth checking. There's a flattish area near the sea or a few more spaces up a slope where we went. Very peaceful. Good facilities, showers were fine, price entirely reasonable for where it is. Some good glow worms nearby. The Onahau walk has great views on the way up and wonderful views at the top.
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village ▷
Discovery Lodge
Good organised site near the crossing and main walks.
There's very little else around so this is really very useful and complaints about the price seem a bit unreasonable. Fairly big and well organised site. We stayed in a powered van, pleanty of space and freedom to choose where, good facilities. They happily arranged shuttles and searched for my wife on the site when I tried to phone her from the crossing