Tuesday 12 July
We didn't take any photos this day, so you will just have to read the words instead.
The campervan pickup was a 45 minute drive in the opposite direction of where we were heading, so it meant an early start for us drivers, leaving at 7 am to pick up the campervans then return home to pack and collect the others. But getting ready always takes longer than expected, and by the time we had loaded up the vans it was already after midday.
Our first stop was lunch at Orewa, a beach-side town less than 30 minutes north of home. We parked on the side of the road and tried out the van's kitchen to make the sammies -- not bad.
Mama had a clear plan of the campsites we were aiming to get to each night, and our first night, at just over 200 km from home, was Kai Iwi Lakes. The driving went smoothly, passing through Warkworth, Wellsford and Dargaville, before evening came and I had to drive the final stretch in the dark.
Kai Iwi Lakes camp ground, on the shore of Lake Taharoa, is in two parts -- Pine Beach and Promenade Point. The camp office, along with the more advanced facilities, is at the Pine Beach section, and we went there first to pay our $30 for the night. But Promenade Point, on the other side of the lake, supposedly has the better views (and no electricity, kitchen or showers).
Arriving at Promenade Point in the dark, we couldn't see much, but we did manage to see our friends' van already parked near some swings. That seemed as good a place as any to stay for the night, so, without having a clue where the lake might be, we parked and the kids tried out the swings.
Wednesday 13 July
The next morning, we were up at sunrise,
and realised how close to the lake we had parked.
After breakfast, more swing-time, and a very pleasant walk around the area, we packed up and headed off. Our one-morning impression of Kai Iwi Lakes is that it is a very beautiful area, and it would be a great place to stay for several days to do some walks. The camping grounds were peacefully quiet during the time we were there.
Our aim for this day was to get to Ahipara Holiday Park, 162 km away, near Kaitaia. But we had a couple of important things to do along the way.
First up was, of course, Waipoua Forest, where Tane Mahuta, New Zealand's largest known living kauri tree, lives. And here we are with the Lord of the Forest himself:
After lunch in our campervan parked near Tane Mahuta, we headed to Opononi, to see Opo's statue (the old stone statue has been moved and replaced by this replica):
And then it was just driving to get to our next camp site before it was too dark. Ahipara Holiday Park, at $58, was the most expensive of the camp grounds we stayed at. It was also the place we liked the least. While it was close to 90 Mile Beach, the camping ground itself wasn't very scenic. It was also crowded and cramped, and seemed to have a more young-partying-backpacker style to it. Just call us old and boring family-types now.
That night it rained heavily, and one of the windows in the campervan leaked pretty badly, wetting our bed. But turning the van around with the window away from the wind, and parking it on a slight slope to let the water run the other way, seemed to do the trick.
Thursday 14 July
After packing up and checking out, we drove the few minutes to 90 Mile Beach. It was wild and windy:
Then it was off up to Cape Reinga, 130 km away, stopping for lunch at Houhora.
This was the third time time I had been to Cape Reinga. The first was as a child, while the second time was with Mama 12 years ago when we were newly together and I was trying to show off my country. Things are even better up there now; they have really done a good job with the paths and plants.
Mama had thought that we could spend the night at Spirits Bay, but with darkness fast approaching we decided to go to the nearer Tapotupotu Campsite. It was a good choice. At $18 it was the cheapest of our campsites. It was also very peaceful.
Friday 15 July
Next morning, we were up before dawn, aiming to get back to Cape Reinga to see the sunrise. And while we got there just in time, it was a little cloudy.
After breakfast at Cape Reinga, we headed back south, needing to drive 220 km to Waitangi.
But first, a quick stop to wander up a few mounds of sand at Te Paki,
and then down again,
for a play in the river before lunch.
On the way to Waitangi, we stopped off at Kerikeri, to see New Zealand's oldest building, Kemp House (built in 1820),
and New Zealand's oldest stone building, the Stone Store:
Then once again it was a race with the sun to get to our campsite before dark. We got to the Falls Motel and Waterfront Campground ($56), just a short drive from the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, just in time.
It was also a short walk from a pretty decent fish and chip takeaway shop, and we had our traditional once-a-year-when-we-go-campervanning fish and chip dinner.
Saturday 16 July
The next morning we woke up to this:
We then spent most of the rest of the day at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, including watching the cultural show and going on the guided tour of the grounds. It was definitely well worth it. The cultural performance was slick and funny and very entertaining (has anyone else spotted that one of the cultural performers has a traditional tongue piercing?). And the guided tour was not so much a guided tour, but an entertaining and very informative lecture on a very important part of New Zealand's history (I was so busy listening to our guide that most of the time I was looking at the ground trying to take in what he said and not noticing where we were walking).
Afterwards, we did our own family educational tour:
Mama said she would like to have been Mrs Busby, with the grounds and views. Mulan is being her six children:
This seems to be our new tradition at important landmarks:
And then it was time to drive 100 km to our final camp site for this holiday, Uretiti ($32).
Sunday 17 July
The next morning we played at the beach,
before driving the 120 km home.
The total cost of the holiday was $1130:
$673 for the campervan hire
$230 for the diesel, tax and tolls
$194 for the campsites
$9 for the LPG
$24 for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds entry
I think we will call it a homeschooling expense.
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