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Inez Cavallaro
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Orewa Beach Holiday Park
Wow! I’ve camped all over America and have never been in a park this clean.
It was IMMACULATE! Kitchen was spotless. Bathrooms were well appointed and CLEAN. Water pressure was twice what I get at home and super hot. No mildewed shower curtains that have been hanging for years. No hair stuck to the walls and clogging the drains. No smelly water that you press your eyes and lips closed and hold your breath for while you shower. No feeling dirtier somehow, when you get out then when you went in.
And you can’t ask for a more beautiful view. Beach access is a two minute walk from your site. If that.
The guy at reception was so friendly and accommodating.
I can’t say enough good things about this place!
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Affordable Willowhaven Holiday Park
Stayed here last night.
The owners were lovely and accommodating and gave great recommendations of what to do and what to avoid (overpriced tourist traps).
If you’re going in and out late at night they give you a key card for access. I like this because it means you don’t have randoms coming in and out. Nice and quiet.
Appreciated that the kitchen was unlocked 24/7 as our camper power wasn’t working and we had to put all of our food in the fridge and freezer. The kitchen was quite small, but had two sinks and a boiling water dispenser. Also a fridge and chest freezer.
And what a view! If I can figure out how to add pics to my review I will. Perfect spot to watch the sun rise over Lake Rotorua. Gorgeous black swans come right up to the banks!
And affordable is right: $30 for a powered spot for 2. This was in September, so shoulder season, but everywhere else we’ve stayed has been running $46-50+ per night. That can be hard to swallow when you’re coming in late in the evening and have to be out by 10. $30 NZD is a fair price.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tikitere ▷
Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa
We got a deal through GrabOne ($45/person instead of $75).
We arrived, checked in & were sent up to where our "spa attendant" would take care of us. She told us our time in the mud baths was limited to 20 minutes, but we could spend as much time as we wanted in the hot springs. That was it. This is important to note.
The mud baths were awesome. It's a bit more like muddy water than the thick mud I was afraid of. The showers on the outside of the building were A+. Fantastic water pressure.
We showered & headed over to the hot springs & my fiance accidentally splashed a little water getting into the hot springs & I could feel mascara mixed with water dripping into my eye. I tried to wipe it away.
Huge mistake. In wiping my mascara off, I got the water from my hands in my eyes. It felt like someone had set my eyes on fire. An older gentleman who worked there saw me & said, "Oh my god, your eyes!"
I got water from the water cooler & washed my eyes out. I got out & went to the outdoor shower & washed off. I jumped into the cold plunge pool & held my face under with my eyes open. All of these suggestions were made by the man working there. I was miserable. Finally I gave up & went to shower again & get some eye drops from the office.
I put a whole tube of eye drops in each eye. Nothing. My eyes are pouring tears & my nose is dripping.
We get to the Redwoods Tree Walk & the girl behind the counter asks what's the matter. I tell her, "We just went to Hell's Gate. It would really be worth the 5 seconds it would take them to tell you, 'Hey, just make sure you don't get the hot springs water in your eyes.'"
"They didn't take you through the health and safety briefing? I used to work there & there was a whole list of safety things we had to go through with you."
"Nope. They just said don't stay in the mud pools more than 20 mins."
"Oh wow. That's bad. Yeah, there's a whole protocol they're supposed to take you through."