South Island Autumn 2023

April - June 2023

Off we go again. A new adventure in a brand new campervan. Read more

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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- Jun 30, 2017, 2:22am
- ☁️ 0 °C
- Altitude: 724 m
- New Zealand Canterbury Mackenzie District Lake Tekapo Cowans Hill -44.005, 170.4844°0’18” S 170°28’48” E
Day 20 Tekapo
June 30, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
Day 20
I won't apologize for the bombardment of photos. We really were in the most magical place on earth today and just happened to have pristine weather.
From 1degree this am when Denise Crimp and I braced it with our doggies. Honey looking for bunnies in the frost. Lol
The day warned up and was INCREDIBLE
biked around to town for a bit.
Then after lunch Gary Boulton and I took the opportunity to drive camper up to Mt John Observatory, scary, windy road complete with cafe.
What a beautiful country.
Night night 🌙
Will wander outside later to see the night sky, we are in the MacKenzie Basin, one of best places in the earth to see the night sky. 🌙 🌟Read more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- Apr 24, 2023, 6:48am
- 🌬 16 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- New Zealand Auckland Orewa -36.576667, 174.69333336°34’36” S 174°41’36” E
Day 1
Day one Auckland to Matamata
April 24, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
Up early, walk to Orewa Beach to see the non existent sunrise. 🌅 Lol
Off we go in our new Dethleffs Alpa.
Packed up ready to go and first stop Zion Motorhomes to reset the settings of air suspension. Had to wait 3 hours so walked down to Pokeno shops and bought some yummies from Pokeno Bacon shop. 🥓
Look at the cute rubbish bins they have.
All sorted and off to Ngarawhaia to pick up Honeys' new wool handmade coat from Ruffles Petware.
Onto Matamata Saddlery who make OCD (Obsessive Cycling Disorder) who make amazing covers for our bikes.
They closed at 5pm but stayed open til 7pm for us to sort us out. We need a cover with lights on it as it covers our lights and indicators, not an easy exercise.
These guys went above and beyond for us and didn't leave until 7pm. Incredible service.
We found our holiday buddy Denise all tucked up already at Matamata RSA not too far away and we settled in for the night.
We are excited to get up at
5 30am for the Anzac Parade in the morning. Will be getting my clothes out ready as it will be 3 degrees.
🌙 night nightRead more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- Apr 25, 2023, 9:05pm
- Altitude: 350 m
- New Zealand Waikato Taupo District Motuoapa Echo Cliffs -38.932963, 175.87071438°55’59” S 175°52’15” E
Day 2
Day 2 living the dream
April 25, 2023 in New Zealand
Day 2
Early start for Dawn Anzac Parade and Service at Matamata. Very moving. So many people. Breakfast at RSA after.
Next stop Tirau coffee stop.
We stretched our legs at Huka Falls very cool and we felt like tourists.
Then we saw from fb Anzac post that Owen Smith was just down the road at Tokeroa so we did a detour to catch up. So glad we did, how lucky was that?
Here we are now at a great spot thanks Lynette Middleton and Bill. We would have driven right past.
Right on Lake Taupo east side, driving south.
Great to catch up, another amazing coincidence. 👏
You guys are living the dream.
Night night 🌙
Hope to sleep better tonight.Read more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- Apr 26, 2023, 11:00am
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 372 m
- New Zealand Waikato Turangi Island Pool -38.988333, 175.81538°59’18” S 175°48’54” E
Day 3
Freedom camp in Fielding
April 26, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Day 3
Left Holiday park just after 10am following quite a jolt 5.9 earthquake, not all of us felt! Cool!
Onto Turangi for some supplies after a coffee and walk in very autumn like park on outskirts of town. 🍂
Next stop Waiouru after a no snow very bleek looking desert road. We all went through the Army Museum, always worth a look especially after Anzac Day. Took lots photos for you Dad hope you can see them OK.
We parked up now in this great Freedom Camping area in Fielding with a river, cycle track, sports fields, toilets etc.
Gary Boulton has cooked us girls yummy gourmet beef burgers so we are fed and watered.
Night night. 🌙Read more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- Apr 27, 2023, 6:51am
- 🌙 5 °C
- Altitude: 71 m
- New Zealand Manawatu-Wanganui Manawatu District Feilding -40.225, 175.58333340°13’30” S 175°34’60” E
Day 4
Day 4 made it to Wellington
April 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 5 °C
This weather is stunning. Chilly chilly mornings, woke to 6 degrees and took photos of Campervans and sunrise.
Across the grass, we are #2 and 3 from the left.
We went our separate days this am, Denise having family to catch up with and some work to do also, but parked her "office " at the Beach. Lol
We had some teething problems to sort out with Fiat but turned out to be just a fuse.
Wandered through Fielding, Foxton and drove down Kapiti Coast to Plimmerton NZMCA Park.
Robin and Pete custodians here and golf friends came to visit and christen new wagon with a huge platter and drinkies. How special was that? They really do have the kindest hearts.
We felt very privileged.
Night night 🌙 Up early in am for smooth sailing ferry to Mainland.Read more
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- Apr 28, 2023, 6:54am
- 🌙 8 °C
- Altitude: 4 m
- New Zealand Wellington Lambton Harbour -41.28, 174.78166741°16’48” S 174°46’54” E
Day 5
Day 5 across Cook Strait to the Mainland
April 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 8 °C
We couldn't have asked for a better day to cross. Simply stunning. Not a breath of wind nor a cloud in the blue sky. 💙
Dog friendly cabin was a def hit. Like being treated to special attention with our own area.
Camped up now at Rarangi DOC site right on the Beach.
Night night. 🌙 will go down to 4 degrees tonight but we are toasty.Read more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- Apr 29, 2023, 3:00pm
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- New Zealand Picton -41.395, 174.04666741°23’42” S 174°2’48” E
Day 6
Day 6
April 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Our first relaxing day at Rarangi. Weather was 20 degrees and great. Bad weather coming.
Met our neighbours and walks on stony beach and up to Monkey Bay.
2013 The Hope family designed a seat up here looking out to sea in commemoration of their daughter who's body was never found.
We biked around to the golf course at Rarangi about 4 pm and decided to move there for the night. Good decision, we here all by ourselves and got the dogs on sunset running around to look for elusive bunnies.
Night night 🌙 😴Read more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- May 1, 2023, 10:26am
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 11 m
- New Zealand Marlborough Marlborough District Mayfield -41.506667, 173.94833341°30’24” S 173°56’54” E
Day 8
Day 8 Ward Beach
May 1, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We left Waterlea Racecourse at Blenheim at lunchtime after a lovely walk around the corner to one of my favourite parks in the country, Pollard Park. Saw Teddy's rose 🌹
Did our shopping New World, Warehouse, Animates etc. Then spent the afternoon at Omaka Aviation Centre. World 1 and 2 memorabilia and lots planes.
Settled in for the night bit further down the road at Ward Beach at a park over property which is private farmland with 4kms of coastline. It has been in the family 118 years.
Wild and wonderful with evidence of the earthquake with rocky ledges lifted out of the sea.
Not much reception here.
Night night 🌙
Might see some seals and whales when I wake up to catch the sunrise.Read more
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- May 2, 2023, 6:40am
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- New Zealand Marlborough Marlborough District Ward Ward Beach -41.843333, 174.18333341°50’36” S 174°10’60” E
1
Day 9
Day 9 Kaikoura
May 2, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Woke to capture great sunrise with the bulldozers taking the cray boats out. We left Ward Beach at lunchtime and had great lunch, seafood chowder, and salmon bagel at The Store right on the beach at Kekerungu. Divine. Stopped at the usual pull over places to see seals and gorgeous coastline.
Drove on to Kaikoura NZMCA Park and treated to brilliant sunset. We not even on the west coast!Read more
That is one eerie sunset, but my! what a picture. The colours are very unusual aren't they? Loving the photos, keep them coming. xxxx [Mom xxx]
5/2/23Reply
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Traveler South Island Autumn 2023
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- May 4, 2023
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 138 m
- New Zealand Canterbury Hurunui District Waiau Mason River -42.656307, 173.04078142°39’23” S 173°2’27” E
Day 11
Day 11 Waiau
May 4, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Best day yet. Still no rain yet loved driving down the Kaikoura coast rd.
Stopped for photo shoot with seals and seal pups. It's the season .
Stunning drive through coast road and then turned off to gorgeous variable scenery from controlled burn offs to farmland and autumn calleys and mountains.
Parked up tonight with a full moon and a great night in local pub at Waiau stunning spot with local hospitality.
We loved it. 😍Read more
how much further South?? from dad. [trevor collins]
5/4/23Reply
Traveler Way, way down yet Dad.
5/5/23Reply
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