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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

    Pleasant flat Doc camp

    Sep 8–10, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We’ve just spent two wonderful nights at Pleasant Flat DOC Campsite in Mt Aspiring National Park. 🌿

    The campground has four flush toilets 🚻, plus a covered shelter with a table and bench seats. There are two main parking areas — better suited for motorhomes and smaller caravans. Larger caravans need to park lengthways. We parked across a double space, which worked well for us.

    It’s rained the whole time ☔ but hey, that’s camping life, that’s life on the road! Phone coverage here was pretty minimal, but NetSpeed 4G worked perfectly 👍 — such a relief to have reliable internet when reception is patchy.

    Poor Maggie had to stay tucked inside because of the weather, but at least that kept the sandflies out! 🐾

    Thanks for following along on our adventures! 💚

    #NetSpeed #MountAspiringNationalPark #LifeOnTheRoad #LoveLivingLifeOnTheRoad #LifeIsGood    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Lowburn freedom

    Sep 10–14, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 1 °C

    Hei all, welcome back 👋
    We’ve just spent four nights at the Lowburn Freedom Camp. It’s a really large site with plenty of space to spread out. Facilities include flushing toilets, plus a long drop (closed during the winter months), and even rubbish collection – always handy!

    The maximum stay here is three nights, but after checking the Windy app we saw severe gale-force winds were heading our way, including the area we were planning to travel to. So, we chose to play it safe and stayed an extra night.

    Maggie spent most of her time inside this stop. There were a few dogs around, but they were tied up, so she felt safe and cosy indoors. 🐾

    While we were here, snow fell on the surrounding hills, giving us a stunning snowy view right from our caravan windows – absolutely beautiful! ❄️⛰️

    We even met a couple from New Plymouth – not just from New Plymouth, but from our old neighbourhood in Fitzroy! How cool is that? We also met a few other lovely couples here, and it was great to have a chat and share some stories.

    Our NetSpeed connection was sitting between 4G and 5G, and the cell phone coverage here was great.

    #NetSpeed #LowburnFreedomCamp #LifeOnTheRoad #LoveLivingLifeOnTheRoad #LifeIsGood #MaggieTheTravellingCat #Freedom #LivingLife    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Braids hill playground freedom

    Sep 15–18, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We’ve just spent a few days at Braids Playground Freedom Car Park. It’s a two-night maximum stay, but with the severe wind and rain warnings, we tucked in for a third night.

    It’s right on a stunning beach with powder-like sand and walks around rocky little island-like outcrops. The rocks even look like petrified timber – such a cool spot to explore!

    This is a pack in, pack out site, with just one picnic table and space for about 3–4 vehicles to camp. It’s also a very popular dog-walking beach, so there’s always someone pulling in to give their dogs a good run. 🐕

    Maggie didn’t spend much time outside with the weather, but she happily supervised while we laid new carpet tiles in the caravan. She takes her project manager duties very seriously. 🐾

    Netspeed was just around the corner, so we popped in to say g’day. It was only a quick visit as it had been a big trip for Paul and he wasn’t feeling the best by the end. But our Netspeed modem works perfectly here on 4G. Thanks for watching!

    #Netspeed #MaggieTheTravellingCat #FreedomCamping #LifeOnTheRoad    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler
    1

    Oamaru A&P showgrounds

    Sep 23–25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    A&P Showgrounds in Oamaru – what a lovely spot to stay! 🚐✨
    Plenty of room to spread out, plus the bonus of toilets, washing machines, a dryer, water, and even rubbish on site – such a treat to have those little conveniences on the road.

    Best part? We even bumped into some of our lovely followers here 💕 It was so lovely to catch up with @WendyandJonathan, and also @Shell. Such a big area, yet it still feels welcoming.

    Maggie even enjoyed a walk and a nibble on some grass in the beautiful sunshine yesterday 🌿🐱

    NetSpeed worked perfect here as well ✅

    Highly recommend this spot when passing through Oamaru – only 💲5 per person per night!

    #NetSpeed #MaggieTheTravelingCat #GreatWeather #Oamaru #OamaruAMPAssociation    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Pop in Swananoa

    Sep 27–Oct 28, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After five and a half weeks parked up — our first real stop in three years on the road — we’re finally rolling again! 🚐💨

    We’ve been tucked away in Swannanoa, our own little secret garden, and it’s been absolute bliss. 🌿 The wind put an end to our fishing for a while, but it gave us some much-needed downtime. We still managed to end up with around six pounds of whitebait (took about a week to get there!), so we’ll definitely be back. 🎣

    Maggie has also loved her time here, especially with all the long grass around us — she’s been in her element. 🐾💚

    Over Labour Weekend we did have a couple of neighbours park virtually on our doorstep (even though there’s a whole paddock!), but thankfully they were only here for a couple of nights, so not too bad. 😉

    We’re leaving with a lovely clean van after I gave it a good wash, and it feels great to be hitting the road again. Not sure where we’ll stop next, but we’re excited to see what’s ahead! Thanks for following along on our adventures. ❤️

    #VanLife #OffGridLiving #WhitebaitSeason #Swannanoa #LifeOnTheRoad #MaggieTheTravellingCat    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Parnassus nzmca

    Oct 1–4, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Just spent two lovely nights at the Parnassus NZMCA Park — plenty of open space to spread out and even drinking water on tap (always a win!). We hardly noticed the trains during the day, and if any went past at night, we must’ve been snoring louder than they were! 😴🚂
    #NetSpeed works great here
    #MaggieTheTravellingCat
    #LifeOnTheRoad    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Marfells beach doc camp

    Nov 5–11, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Beautiful spot with a few trees to shelter behind. We even managed to get a fish in! 🎣
    Caught one large grey boy shark and about four or five baby sharks — all released. Also hooked a spiky shark, released too.
    It was such a beautiful day, with plenty of locals down over the weekend on their quad bikes setting and retrieving their cray pots.

    There are two toilet blocks here, both with outdoor sinks for washing dishes. There’s an upper and lower level for camping, and if you’re into walking, a two-hour walk as the tide’s going out will take you around the point to a lovely lighthouse. 🏝️

    This place is really something special — we loved it! 💙
    #LifeOnTheRoad #FishingNZ #MaggieTheTravellingCat #VanLifeNZ    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Peir @ the salt works

    Nov 18–23, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    We decided to park up at the pier down by the salt works. Had the place to ourselves for three out of five nights — so peaceful! The workers would drive down now and then to check the intake or just sit and watch the sea. Always friendly, with a smile and a wave.

    Fishing was okay for us. I landed a grey boy who’d swallowed the hook, so we chose to keep him, as we’d been told they’re good eating. In the past we’ve always released them. Another chap turned up, fishing in a competition — he needed to land an over-one-metre rig, which wasn’t happening that night, so everything he caught went back.

    The scenery put on a real show though. The fog rolled in from the Marfowl Beach DOC camp, over the hills, out toward the main road, then swept out to sea and wrapped around behind us. It was fascinating how quickly it moved.

    No facilities here, and it’s a drive down a gravel road after the sealed road ends — but well worth it if you enjoy quiet, wide-open space and solitude.

    #Netspeed worked great on 4G, no issues at all.
    Cell phone coverage with Spark was also excellent.
    #P&S AdventuresOnTheroad #MaggieTheTravellingCat #LoveFishing #LifeOnTheRoad #OffGridLiving #TravellingNZ #BeachLife #FishingNZ #SaltWorks #FoggyViews    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Ninia Rd Park over

    Dec 8, 2025–Jan 4, 2026 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Well hey guys, welcome back.
    It was so good to be back in New Plymouth—catching up and surprising our mate was awesome.
    We stayed at Ninia Road, also known as Ninia Park Over, and what a great spot. Over New Year they even had live entertainment when the weather played ball. It’s always been a good stopover when we’re in New Plymouth, but it’s definitely our go-to now.
    There’s so much room here. You can empty your grey water at the on-site drain, there’s fresh water available, and rubbish facilities as well. The NZMCA Park is just around the corner if you need a full dump station.Maggie was straight into it, doing fence-line patrols and sniffing out every bunny hole like it was her full-time job. Ears up, nose down, on the hunt. But just like us, she’s happy to pack it all up and hit the road again—chief explorer back on duty and ready for the next adventure.
    #MaggieTheTravellingCat
    #BackOnTheRoad
    #LivingLife
    #LoveFreedomCamping    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Tongaporutu freedom

    Jan 4–7 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We’ve just spent three lovely nights at Tongaporutu, by the Three Sisters 🏞️
    This was actually our very first stopover when we hit the road full-time, so it’ll always hold a special place for us.
    We absolutely love this spot. So peaceful, heaps of room, and it still manages to pack out every night. There’s no water, no rubbish facilities, nothing flash at all — and yes… the long drops are pretty horrible, stinky, and come complete with a fan blowing the smell around 🤢😂
    But despite that, it’s still a magic place.
    Maggie loved all the attention from people walking past (as usual 😺), and we even put a little table out to sell some of our goods, which was really nice and a great chance to chat with fellow travellers.
    One of those places that reminds us why we chose this life ❤️
    Back where it all began.
    #MaggieTheTravelingCat
    #LifeOnTheRoad
    #VanLifeNZ
    #FullTimeTravel
    #FreedomCamping
    #LivingTheLife
    #P&SAdventuresOnTheRoad
    #ThreeSisters
    #Tongaporutu    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Lake Whakamaru

    January 9 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Lake Wakamaru (Waikato River)
    What a huge freedom camping spot! As we’ve now found out, it’s very busy at this time of year — and for good reason. Tents, campers, motorhomes, caravans, buses… if it’s got wheels (or pegs), it was probably there.
    Plenty of summer fun happening with jet skis, water skiing, biscuit towing behind boats, and loads of families making the most of the sunshine. Even though the place was quite packed, it still managed to feel peaceful — and it was really lovely seeing so many young kids outside having fun, just like we did back in the day.
    We spent two lovely nights here. Facilities are available, including long-drop toilets and showers. We also noticed a large rubbish bin on site this time around — and there are usually rubbish bins here at other times of the year too, which is great to see.
    Maggie thoroughly enjoyed her time as well, alternating between sitting in the sun like royalty and hiding away on her chair, chilling. She did have a small dog wander up and try to give her a kiss… one quick tap on the nose from our princess and the dog ran off crying 😹 Moral of the story: don’t invade Maggie’s personal space.
    All in all, Lake Wakamaru is a great place to stay. Busy in summer, full of families, water activities everywhere, and a really nice spot right on the Waikato River.
    #LakeWakamaru
    #FreedomCampingNZ
    #LifeOnTheRoad
    #LivingTheDream
    #SummerVibes
    #MaggieTheTravellingCat
    #OffGridLiving    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Free parking, outta Matata

    January 18 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Hey everyone, welcome back 👋
    We’ve just spent a lovely week parked up at a beach just out of Matatā (or Matata). There are no freedom camping signs and no signs saying no freedom camping either. It’s clearly a popular spot during the day and in the evenings, especially with local fishermen, and there were a few others parked up here as well.
    There are no facilities, but that didn’t worry us. We were parked roughly 20 metres from the railway track, with at least a dozen trains going past each day, and the main road is probably another 10 metres beyond that. Honestly, it didn’t bother us at all.
    Maggie had a great time too, even though it was very hot — some days well into the low 30s. On the hottest days she chose to stay inside where it was cooler, and on others she was happy to sit underneath the van watching the world go by.
    We even made a local friend — a rooster who came over to say hello and have a good chat, until some kids chased him off. He was lovely and certainly didn’t disturb us at all.
    We’d definitely stay here again. We even managed to sneak in a fishing session, and Paul caught a lemonfish (rig) roughly a metre long, using our trusty Dcinka sinker, which does a great job of lifting the line off the bottom 🎣
    NetSpeed worked well here too, with no issues for us.
    #MaggieTheTravelingCat #LifeOnTheRoad #LivingTheLife #LoveFreedomCamping #P&SAdventuresOnTheRoad #LoveFishing #NetSpeed    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Maraetotara Reserve

    January 22 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    We spent three wonderful nights sheltering at Ohope Beach, staying nice and safe from that storm — and honestly, we couldn’t have picked a better spot. Super well sheltered and such a beautiful place to park up while the weather did its thing.
    Dump station and toilets are virtually right at your door, with rubbish bins on site as well, which makes life very easy when you’re on the road.
    We parked near the grass so Maggie could enjoy the softness after spending a whole week on sandy gravel — and she absolutely loved it. She had a great time there and even made some new friends with the neighbours just before we left 🐾
    Net speed worked well… actually, worked great on 5G, being so close to town.
    Highly recommend this spot. We’ll definitely be back again sometime in the near future.
    #MaggieTheTravellingCat #LifeOnTheRoad #FreedomCamping #VanLifeNZ #CaravanLife #OffGridLiving #TravelWithPets #CatOnTheRoad #NZCamping #BeachCamping #P&SAdventuresOnTheroad    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Keeley Reserve

    Jan 25–29 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Keeley Reserve, Karapiro – we’ve just spent four lovely nights here, and wow, it’s been the busiest we’ve ever seen it camper-wise. Plenty happening on the river, which makes for great sitting-back-and-watching entertainment.
    We met some really lovely people and even made a few four-legged friends along the way (always happy to throw a stick 🐶).
    Maggie also had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed rolling around in the dirt — living her best feral caravan-cat life 😹
    Once the weather turns itself on, we reckon this place will deliver some absolutely amazing sunsets.
    A couple of things to note: I wouldn’t recommend the toilets, and there are no rubbish bins on site. The freedom camping area does get very boggy after rain, but the council is totally relaxed about where you park. They come around daily and have no issues with length of stay or parking spots, which is good to see.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Hayward park

    January 27 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    So after leaving Ōhope, we headed back up to Whakatāne to get our awning replaced after it was ripped in the South Island. Big shout-out to Coastal Caravans Whakatāne — great service and we’d definitely recommend them 👍
    Once that was sorted, we rolled on to Te Puke. Being a bit too big to park in town, we headed out to Hayward Park Freedom Camp, at the Te Puke Sports & Recreation Club. There’s not much there — just a big car park — but it was a safe, easy spot for the night. We fitted with no hassles at all and even got some free entertainment watching the kids tearing it up at the skate park right next door.
    Just a heads-up: no toilets available. There is one rubbish bin, but it clearly states not for household waste, so make sure you’re fully self-contained.
    We hung around to sit out the weather before moving on again, and Maggie? She was perfectly happy lying on the asphalt, soaking up the warmth like the little road queen she is 😹
    Sometimes the simplest stops do the job just fine 🚐✨
    #LifeOnTheRoad #FreedomCamping #VanLifeNZ #CaravanLife #MaggieTheTravellingCat #OffGridLiving #RoadTrippinNZ    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Waikato Riverbank

    Jan 31–Feb 3 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We’ve just spent three noisy nights parked up at the Waikato Riverbank in Mercer. It’s a really handy spot to pull over — and judging by how busy it was during the day, plenty of people agree. Great for a lunch stop or a quick refresh break while passing through.
    It was also very hot while we were there, with temperatures in the low 30s. We ended up shutting ourselves in — Maggie included — doing our best to keep the heat down inside the van.
    Come nighttime, the trucks definitely make themselves known. It didn’t bother us too much, but yeah… you’re aware they’re there.
    The area is only 4G, and net speed was a bit patchy at times, but that’s pretty understandable for the location.
    On the upside, we met some lovely, friendly locals, and having Muddy Waters bar and restaurant just across the road was a win. Super friendly staff and a really nice meal — well worth popping in if you’re staying nearby.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Little waikawau reserve

    February 7 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We’ve just spent a few lovely nights at Little Waikawau Reserve along the Coromandel Peninsula, and honestly, it’s a gem. Beautiful during the day and wonderfully peaceful at night.
    Fishing here was great — we came away with three gurnard and two keeper snapper, and released a few undersized snapper back to grow bigger. Always good to see 🎣
    Maggie even came fishing with us a couple of days. She just sat there watching the rods, taking it all very seriously. She did sniff the bait and gave her approval — “Yep, that’s okay for the fish to use.” 🐾😄
    It’s a very popular spot, so expect to see other campers around. One of the highlights was the local turkey wandering through camp — Maggie loved the company. And yes… I named him Turk 🦃
    There are no facilities here. There are rubbish bins, but no water available. The nearest dump station is in Thames, about a 20-minute drive away.
    Good to know:
    Freedom camping – self-contained vehicles only
    No dogs allowed
    Restricted over Labour Weekend through until around April
    4G net speed works well
    All in all, a great spot if you’re fully set up for off-grid camping, enjoy peaceful nights, good fishing, and a bit of local wildlife to keep things entertaining 🚐🌊🐟🐾🦃    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Huntly RSA

    Feb 10–12 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Huntly RSA – such a lovely, peaceful spot to spend a couple of nights. Tucked away, quiet, and we felt safe and sound the whole time.
    Maggie absolutely loved the soft grass under her paws and happily chilled out while we listened to the pukekos calling nearby. We even had a chat with a gentleman from the men’s shed next door, who kindly told us we could pop our rubbish in their bin – such a thoughtful gesture.
    Definitely a place we’ll be heading back to. 💚    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Te rapa racecourse

    Feb 12–15 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    📍 Te rapa Racecourse – Hamilton
    $10 per night to stay – great value if you need somewhere in Hamilton. You do need to contact them prior to arrival to book in.
    This is our second time staying here. It can be a busy spot depending on what’s on. This time there was a two-day book fair over the weekend, and they also have the boxing fight club operating there, so there was a steady flow of people coming and going.
    Even with that, we still found it peaceful enough.
    The gates are locked at night for security, and you’ll get the access code from the racing club/trotting club when you book or when you pay on arrival.
    📍 Only 5 minutes from The Base
    📍 About 10 minutes from Hamilton city centre
    📶 Net speed works great there as well.
    ⚠️ No facilities available.
    If you just need a safe, affordable place to park up in Hamilton, it’s definitely a good option.    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Tairua freedom

    Feb 19–22 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We’ve just spent two beautiful, blissful nights at the Tairua freedom camping spot, based at the dump station.
    The first night was really busy — at least 11 campers there — and we were the only caravan (nothing unusual there!). The second night was reasonably packed as well. It’s so good to see people getting out there and, even better, respecting these areas. I’m sure a few of our followers who’ve stayed here will say the same.
    There’s a rubbish bin and dump station on site, which makes it super convenient — especially for the bigger vehicles. Net speed works perfectly there too, which is always a bonus when you’re living on the road.
    It was also great to use our Ezi-jack — such an easy piece of equipment to use and perfect for caravans. Makes those little jobs quick and stress-free.
    Maggie enjoyed her time there as well, soaking it all in like she always does 🐾    Read more

  • Stella RichardsP&S Adventures on the roadTraveler

    Moturua pop ( nzmca only)

    Feb 24–Mar 1 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Moturua pop
    We’ve just spent five lovely, peaceful nights at the Moturua Pop for NZMCA members 🍃
    Set on a working kiwifruit orchard, this is a fantastic base for exploring the area. It’s super handy to Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, Hahei, and Tairua — all just a short drive away.
    The property is for NZMCA members and runs on a gold coin donation, which we think is incredibly fair for what’s on offer. There’s plenty of room for large vehicles and caravans, so no stress parking up.
    Bill (the owner) and his worker Kev are both lovely, friendly chaps. They don’t live on site but work there daily, and it’s nice knowing someone’s around during the day.
    A few things to note: • No water on site (as stated on the NZMCA app)
    • Some road noise during the day, but we didn’t hear a thing at night
    • Pets are allowed (even though it doesn’t mention it on the app)
    • Free-roaming chooks wandering about 🐔
    • Net speed works great
    And most importantly… Maggie absolutely loved it. Gravel or grass? Sunbathing or rolling around? She had options and made the most of them ☀️😸
    Definitely a peaceful, handy base if you’re exploring this part of the Coromandel.    Read more