Punakaiki – Mcmillan Road Freedom Campi

A peaceful wee gem just off the main road and right by the beach — what more could you want? Okay, maybe a toilet… and a bin... but hey, it’s pack in, pack out here, so bring your own everything (including patience if the sea is stormy like it was for us).

We came for the weekend with grand ideas of catching a fish or two, but the ocean had other plans — wild, rough, and definitely not in the mood to share. Instead, we spent our time being thoroughly entertained by the local wekas.

Maggie set herself up in the long grass under a big dock leaf, doing her best impression of a jungle cat while watching the wekas patrol the area like they owned the place. It was quite the show — wekas strutting around, Maggie crouched like she’s on National Geographic.

There’s a stunning cave system if you walk right along the beach. We didn’t do it this time (too blustery!), but we’ve been before — it’s absolutely worth the walk when the weather behaves.

We had two neighbours the first night, four the next. We imagine it’d be packed in summer — just a gravel area beside the beach, but a very popular one.

Stormy seas, nosy wekas, and a cat in stealth mode... honestly, not a bad way to spend a weekend!Read more