KB
North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Cambridge ▷
1.5/5
2 points for surviving the night and 1 point for having a toilet.
Left the van as a couple (1 male, 1 female around 10.30pm) turned on our torches so we see the way and were heading to the toilet. Turning on the torches seemed to startle a car which had parked very close to the camping area but had tucked itself away right where the campers would have to enter the area. The person in the car immediately turned on the car and seemed to be driving away out of the camping area. However, by the time we got out of the toilets the same car was doing a drive by of the toilet and came uncomfortably close to us... Clearly checking who we were or worse sizing us up? As it seemed like they were aiming the car for us but we stopped and back off from the road. The road does a loop back up to the camping area and that road leads to another dead end but its completely out of sight to the campers. We charged back to our van, locked the doors and waited for them to drive back as they would have to because the road leads to no where. When they eventually drove back they pulled into the same hidden spot they first drove away from and seemed to park up and wait again. After this there seemed to be multiple cars come in drive the same road park up in a similar area and drive off again but constantly going down the loop road and back again, like they were looking for someone or maybe just doing dodgy deals. There was even a vehicle that pulled in right next to us (around 11.30/midnight) and just seemed to wait in the vehicle with the car on for ages would get out, walk around opening and closing doors etc walk close to our van and then away again... It was so dark though we could not see - and there was no way we were opening the doors or shining torches again. eventually got some sleep but still in the morning there was very suspicious and strange activities with similar looking cars. Absolutely beautiful spot though, just treat it like the purge - stay in your van after sundown!!