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P&S Adventures on the road
  • Stella Richards
  • Stella Richards

P&S Adventures on the road

A 1287-day adventure by Stella Read more
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  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Nzmca park cromwell

    May 10–13, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Not the best nzmca park, in the dry ground would be very dusty in the wet muddy. Max of 10 vans at this spot, locals walk through to lake dunston, there dogs all running free, not good in our book.

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    AlexNdra nzmca park

    May 14–15, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Alexander NZMCA Park. We spent just one night at this park. Gravel area with an old fridge for sign-in. Badminton across the road. Local ice skating rink where you're able to shower. And there's also toilets there. We didn't use these facilities. We were going to head to Butcher's Gully. As we were told by the custodian, it's a great freedom spot. Unlimited stay. We went for a drive out there with our van. We weren't 100% sure which entrance. So we decided, because the entries were quite rough, to turn around and head back towards Clutha.Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Burton creek reserve clyde

    May 15–18, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Three lovely nights in Clyde, at the Burton Creek Recreation Reserve. Right next to the Clyde Dam. What a beautiful spot. When the river, was flat like a lake, the reflection was amazing. This camp you can stay three nights. There is no rubbish, so it's pack in, pack out. Wireless Nation works great here. Very, very peaceful, even though there is a big blower type thing across the road. Something I guess to do with the dam. Maggie enjoyed the spot also, had a nibble at grass, and went for a lovely walk.Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Lowburn freedom

    May 17–21, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Lowburn — what a stunning spot to stay!
    Right on the edge of Lake Dunstan, with reflections dancing on the water from the trees and surrounding hills. This morning we were treated to low cloud drifting across the lake — absolutely magical.

    We’ve had some beautiful weather here again. The freedom camping area is super handy, with toilets available and loads of space for vehicles of all sizes. There are plenty of rubbish bins, too, and they’re emptied early each morning — big thumbs up for that!

    Such a peaceful, scenic stop. Highly recommend.
    Thanks for watching and following along on our journey!    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Cameron Flat doc camp

    May 23–Jun 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Just spent 9 nights at Cameron Flat DOC camp – because when you find a spot with snow on the peaks, a view worth waking up to, and enough space to swing a solar panel, why rush? ❄️⛺️

    It got proper chilly at night – even Maggie decided sleeping on our heads was preferable to her usual spot. Nothing says “cosy” like waking up with a paw in your ear. 🐾🛏️

    The camp had plenty of room… until sunset, when the sleeper vans and hatchbacks came creeping in like possums at a buffet. 🚐🌒

    We had front-row seats to the chopper show – watching helicopters fly gear in and out of the bush for the final touches on the Blue Pools track and bridge repairs. Sadly, at around a 3km return walk, it was too far for Paul at the moment, so we admired the views and enjoyed other people’s photos instead. #VirtualHiking 😂

    All in all, a stunning spot – even if our toes haven’t quite thawed out yet.

    #CameronFlat #OffGridLife #SnowyPeaksAndSnugCats #MaggieApproved #BluePoolsFromAfar    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Kidds bush doc camp

    Jun 1–6, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Kidds Bush DOC Camp
    Absolutely stunning spot! Snow on the hills, chilly nights, and beautiful Lake Hāwea right at your doorstep.

    We only had neighbours for the first three nights — and even then, there's so much space you won’t trip over anyone.

    Not many flat spots, but still plenty of room to park up. Portaloos and non-drinking water on site. The app says no water over winter, but it’s still flowing at the moment.

    A few sandflies keen for a feed, so cover up or get the spray ready!
    Winter means a bit of a late morning sun, but worth the wait.

    Perfect place to unwind and take in the views. 🌄    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Unlisted pop wanaka

    Jun 6–11, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Wanaka Pop-Spot Stay 🏕️
    We’ve just spent five lovely nights at a quiet little unlisted pop in Wanaka — and we’re so glad we found it! It’s super handy to the New Three Parks shopping area, and there’s a BP with a dump station nearby (though it’s not the best).

    Right next to a golf course, with lovely owners and just $10 per van per night. It says a max stay of three nights, but if you ask nicely, they may accommodate longer stays.

    Pet-friendly (dogs on leads please, as there are a few stock animals about). We had daily visits from three friendly hens, their sweet dog popped by every evening, and we even spotted a cat lounging in one of the paddocks 🐔🐕🐈

    It’s close to the road, but surprisingly quiet. We’ll definitely be back — such a handy spot and a peaceful stay.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Ahuriri bridge doc camp

    Jun 12–14, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 5 °C

    Right next to the main road this spot was peaseful, due to fog and low cloud we were not aware of the hills across the road,once the fog lifted and clouds moved we got to see alittle snow.
    Long drop loo on site. Max 4 nights stay. Nzmca app says not dogs but signs here say dogs on leads.
    Free to stay    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Tekapo lakeside holiday park

    Jun 16–18, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C

    Hello from a frosty Tekapo! ❄️

    We’ve just ticked off a bucket list moment—relaxing in the hot pools with snow all around us! No snow falling, but being surrounded by the white stuff while soaking in steaming water was still absolutely magical. 🧖‍♀️🫧

    We’re staying at the Lakeside Holiday Park, but if you’re in a big caravan, heads-up: we got parked in a cold corner, and it’s definitely not ideal in these -7°C temps. One gas bottle ran out overnight (no heater!), our tanks and pipes froze, and we woke to a chilly 0.2°C inside and -6.1°C outside—not the coziest start to the day! 🥶

    If you’re thinking of staying here in winter with a larger van, maybe give it a second thought. We were told they don’t have much room for bigger setups. I’ve bottled up what water I could since we can't refill our tanks right now.

    Still, those hot pools with snow on the ground? Totally worth it.

    #VanLife #WinterCamping #FrozenButHappy #TekapoHotPools    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Arundel Bridge

    Jun 23–25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    What a lovely free spot! The ground was a little damp underfoot, but we had it all to ourselves. It sits at an intersection, yet it’s surprisingly peaceful. There’s a short walk (currently a bit muddy) down to the river, where you can spot the old bridge piles. It’s also very sheltered, which made it a cosy stay.

    Even Maggie enjoyed the grass between her paws.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Ellesmere golf club

    Jun 27–Jul 2, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    What a great stopover at Ellesmere Golf Club near Leeston. So peaceful, and the golfers were lovely—we had a good yarn with a few of them.

    Just $5 a night to stay! Pets welcome, though no dogs on the golf course… unless you're keen on them dodging golf balls!

    There are toilets on site, water available, and it’s a secure spot to park up. What more could you ask for?

    Maggie made the most of the sun, happily rolling around on the gravel in the car park area and nibbling at the grass.

    Each evening around 5pm, a pheasant would pop out to say hello. It was rather scared when I tried to get photos and would run off—but it was a bit of entertainment either way!

    One lovely stop we’ll definitely be back to. ⛳🚐🐾🪿    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Weedons nzmca park

    Jul 2–10, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    We really don’t mind it here — there’s water, toilets, washing machines, and rubbish bins on site. The ground-level dump stations have been locked, but you can still empty your cassettes into the raised dump point, along with your grey water if you have a rollaway tank or container. It does make things a bit harder for the elderly or those with back issues, though. Not sure why the change was made.

    The large shed is a great place to chill out and stretch your legs. It even has a lovely big fireplace for those colder days and nights. If you’re unsure about anything, there are on-site custodians, Sue and her husband, who are happy to help. You might even spot a second kit model Paul left behind in the shed!

    Maggie wasn’t overly happy to be outside — we’re pretty sure she could smell the dogs on site.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Lake Pearson

    Jul 10–15, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Lovely spot along Arthurs Pass, This is a doc site, so you need to book. 2 longdrops and non drinking water ( boil) onsite.In the middle of no where its a great place to sit back and watch the world go by. There are plenty of people the stop in for a rest along the way. In summer people swim in the lake. We have stayed here in the summer and it gets very busy, winter is nice to see the snow in the distance.Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Nelsoncreek reserve

    Jul 18–25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Waiting on a heater replacement, we were pointed in the direction of this lovely little spot — Nelson Creek Reserve.

    For those able to get out and about, there are a couple of walking tracks and even a spot for gold panning! The reserve has flush toilets, a dump station, and non-drinking water.

    During the day, the odd logging truck rumbles by on the road above, but otherwise it’s peaceful. There are firepits too — you can even phone and buy a bag of firewood if you like. In summer, there’s a swimming hole, and I hear it gets pretty popular then.

    At $10 per adult or $25 per family per night, it’s starting to get up there in price — but not bad considering what’s around.

    And just across the road? A great little pub with a pool table, friendly locals, and top-notch meals.

    Where do you find all this, you ask? Well… Nelson Creek Reserve, of course!    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Westport nzmca park

    Jul 24–27, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Parked up at the Westport NZMCA Park, right next to the beach—and what a beautiful spot it is 🌊🚐
    The sound of the waves and the wekas is so calming. We sat and soaked up the sunshine, just enjoying the moment.
    Took the scooters into town for a little explore—some great shops and lovely, friendly locals.

    Maggie also enjoyed walking around the park with her mum and soaking up the sunshine. She’s loving the peaceful vibes just as much as we are 💛🐾    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Cobden Bridge, Greymouth – Our Latest St

    Jul 30–Aug 2, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We’ve just spent a few nights at the Cobden Bridge freedom camping area in Greymouth. You’re allowed to stay up to two nights here in a self-contained vehicle, but we stayed an extra night, making it three in total, as Paul wasn't feeling the best. He’s much better now, thankfully.

    It’s a free spot with rubbish bins, a dump station, and drinking water available. Designated parking is at the end of the area. Even though it’s close to the road, we found it reasonably quiet. Being winter, it wasn’t busy—just a couple of others around during our stay.

    And the sunsets? Absolutely lovely!    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Punakaiki – Mcmillan Road Freedom Campi

    Aug 2–4, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    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

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Nelson Quay – Greymouth

    Aug 4–6, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We’ve just spent two lovely (and windy!) nights at Nelson Quay, tucked right near the end of the Greymouth River. Such a peaceful spot!

    We watched a few trawlers come and go, and even managed to snap a photo of one heading out over the bar this morning. It was pretty cool to watch it from the van, bobbing up and down as it made its way out to sea.

    Sunsets weren’t too bad either! We had flush toilets and rubbish bins just outside the door, and some truly wonderful neighbours.

    Maggie chose to stay inside for this one—there were a few visiting dogs on the loose, so she decided it was a good time for naps and watching the world from the window.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Hokitika NZMCA Park

    Aug 6–11, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Five nights here and we’ve loved every minute. Took a quick 30-minute drive to Hokitika Gorge — absolutely stunning, and there’s even a track if you fancy a walk. We, of course, opted for the scooters because, well… scooters.

    We also went treasure hunting on Serpentine Beach and another nearby beach for greenstone. Shockingly, we actually found a couple of tiny pieces. I may have checked twice to make sure they weren’t just shiny pebbles.

    Fishing report: six fish. Or maybe seven. Could’ve been five. Let’s just say there was “a number” of fish, and only one was a keeper — an elephant fish — caught by none other than Paul. First one of the season, so naturally, he’s claiming full bragging rights.

    Maggie kept herself busy patrolling the park, rolling on the stones, and following her nose anywhere a bunny had been. I’m pretty sure she’s convinced we came here solely for her bunny-sniffing expeditions.

    The weather? Couldn’t have been better — a huge improvement on our last visit.

    Oh — and a little news! We’ve just teamed up with NetSpeed for mobile internet. If you’re looking to join, you can use our promo code " psadventures"for a nice discount on your new modem. The modem’s only been out for about a month, and so far it’s working great for us — even out here.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Barkers creek freedom

    Aug 13–20, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    We’ve just spent a lovely seven nights on Coast Road, parked up at the rest area beside Barker’s Creek. Not only is it a rest area, but also a freedom spot. 🌿

    Friendly locals wandered by walking their dogs on the beach, and we even had a go at fishing. Paul landed a rig about a metre long – that beauty has done us a few delicious meals! 🎣🐟

    Nights here have been so peaceful, with just the odd toot in the morning (maybe friends going past saying hello? 👋). No facilities at all, but the creek is crystal clear – could be boiled up if needed.

    The only downside? The sandflies are on steroids here! 🤦‍♀️ Pro tip: tuck your pants into your socks – it’s not a fashion statement, but it works. 😂

    Maggie has loved the long grass, happily chilling in the sunshine with mum and dad. 🐾☀️

    And to top it off, our new NetSpeed 4G has been running perfectly here – not a single issue. Highly recommend if you’re looking for reliable internet on the road! 📶💻    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Aerodrome road freedom

    Aug 20–22, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We’ve just spent two lovely nights at the Greymouth Aerodrome Road Freedom Camp. Such a handy little spot—right by the beach with a walkway and bike track, and only a quick scoot into town. 🚴‍♂️

    On one of those scoots, Paul decided to play Jeremy Clarkson (“speed and power!”) and came a cropper… straight into a wire fence, across the footpath, and rolled onto the side of the road. 😳 I nearly had a heart attack, but thankfully he’s okay—just stiff and sore (though that could be as much his long COVID as the tumble).

    Maggie chose to stay safe inside the van this time, as a few dogs wandered past without leads. 🐾 Probably a wise move on her part.

    Last night, someone thought it was a great idea to do burnouts almost outside our door. We must have been absolutely dog-tired because we didn’t hear a thing—only spotted the skid marks up the road in the morning!

    Our new NetSpeed mobile internet worked perfectly on 5G here, so that was a big win. 👍 Definitely a spot we’d recommend—and one we’ll be back to.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Punakaiki freedom

    Aug 24–31, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We’ve just spent seven lovely nights at Punakaiki, Macmillan Road. ⛺ This freedom camping spot is usually a two-night limit, but with the storm rolling in we decided it was best to stay put.

    We had it all – heavy rain, thunder, hail, and strong winds 🌩️💨 – so hunkering down was definitely the safest option. Thankfully, the area wasn’t busy while we were there, otherwise we’d have moved on.

    One thing you have to watch out for here are the crafty wekas – they’ll take anything that’s not tied down! They even tried to make off with our steps (as some of you may have seen in our video a few days ago). Maggie enjoyed her time outside when the weather cleared, sitting in the grass, watching the wekas squabble over the tiniest crumbs. 🐦🐾

    We even managed a wee bit of fishing on the two fine days we had 🎣. Caught some good fish too – a couple made it onto our dinner plates, and the rest went back to live another day. 🐟🍴

    No facilities on site, so it’s strictly pack in, pack out 🚮 – but our NetSpeed 4G internet worked perfectly the whole time. It hummed along without missing a beat, unlike our previous provider. 📶✨

    And luckily, the wekas didn’t manage to run off with our dinner… or the modem. Bloody crafty little bastards! 😅    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Otto/MacDonalds creek

    Sep 4–8, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    We’ve just enjoyed four wonderful nights at Otto MacDonald’s Creek. 🌿 This DOC camp has all the basics and more – flushing toilets, two separate parking areas, shelters with picnic tables, and even a double sink bench.

    It’s set right beside a small river that would be perfect for cooling off in summer, and there’s also a lake with its own little stony “beach.” Not sure if it’s the best for swimming, but it’s certainly a peaceful spot to sit and take it all in.

    Even though it’s close to the highway, it’s incredibly quiet and relaxing. Nature put on quite the show too – over three nights and two days we had thunder, lightning, and hail storms roll through. Who doesn’t love a good storm when you’re tucked up safe and dry in the van? ⚡🌩️

    Maggie had a wonderful time here too – she even got out for a walk on her lead, soaked up the sunshine, and had a good roll in the gravel. 🐾 DOC were fine with her being here since she was on a lead, so everyone was happy.

    And once again, NetSpeed kept us connected the whole time – we’re so glad we made the switch! 📶✨

    #VanLife #NZTravel #DOCcamps #OffGridLiving #TravelNZ #LifeOnTheRoad #Netspeed    Read more