Winter Holiday in New Zealand - North Island by Camper Van

On July 26th we picked up our Opollo Camper in Auckland and headed South. On our three week holiday at last. Our route took us to Wellington via New Plymouth and West of Mt Egmont then back to Auckland via Wanganui Stratford, Taumarunui, Tokaanu, Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga, and Katikati.

We had lots of interesting stops and side trips throughout.
Highlights were:

• Mt Messenger Bush views at the tunnel on the way to Mokau and New Plymouth.

• Mt Egmont

• New Plymouth Coastal Walkway and bridge

• Paritutu Rock - New Plymouth

• Cape Egmont Historic Lighthouse

• Kaupokonui Beach

• Turuturumokai Historic Pa Reserve - Hawera

• Hawera Water Tower - No photo

 

• Waiinu Beach

• Wanganui - Durie Hill Elevator and Tower War Memorial and Historic buildings.

• Foxton Windmill and Flax Stripping Museum.

• Paraparaumu - Southwards Car Museum.

 

• Wellington - Cable Car, Zeelandia, Pencarrow Head Lighthouses. South coast to Owhiro Bay.

• Stratford - Glockenspiel

• Dawsons Falls & Wilkies Pools on Mt Egmont

• The Forgotten Highway - State Highway 43 to Whangamomona and on to Taumarunui. Beautiful old growth bush reserves. Whangamomona Pub.

• Tokaanu - Hot pools. Free camp at the boat club.

• Orakie Korako Geothermal Park.

• Waiotapu - Free geothermal mud pool on Waiotapu Loop Road.

• Rotorua - Top 10 Campground with thermal pools. A walk through Kurau Park.

• Whakatane - Kiwi Boy sculpture. Kapu Te Rangi Historic Reserve and lookouts.

• Waihi - Historic Ti Tree Cafe Eatery

• Of course we liked our Van