Otago

Our next stop (cheers to the NZMCA App) was Taieri Mouth, where the Taieri River spills out into the Pacific. We took a gamble on a POP site run by a delightfully quirky local who lives right on the reserve. His place—complete with an abandoned house now claimed by rats, and a collection of well-loved (read: falling apart) commercial fishing boats and vehicles—had plenty of character. He hooked us up to power for a small donation, and along with his cute dog Charlie, made it a memorable stay. The beach walks alone made it worthwhile.
Next was Dunedin—my old uni stomping ground. The NZMCA park there was fantastic, so we settled in for three nights and caught up with my childhood friend Cathy (we go all the way back to Pukekohe!) and her husband Paul. Such a lovely full-circle moment.
We also discovered Waikouaiti Golf Course—perched above the ocean with stunning views and an equally good beach for walking.
But the absolute highlight? Moeraki. We stayed at Red Barn by the Sea, an excellent POP with flat gravel sites and power for just $15 (perfect timing—our batteries were struggling!). It was only a short stroll to the famous Moeraki Boulders and the café. The beach was breathtaking, the boulders incredible, and I managed to snap some of my favourite photos of the trip.
While we were there, we visited the Moeraki Lighthouse, spotted seals and their pups, explored some caves on a bushwalk, and topped it all off with lunch at the Moeraki Tavern.
Definitely one of my favourite stops so far.Read more