Peter W.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Putaruru ▷
Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel Camp
4.0/5
$10 a night per person in the campground is good value, but the facilities are pretty basic.
One only shower, separate toilets and one only washroom with a single wash basin. Also a very basic small kitchen (don't run the hot water while someone else is in the shower!). A half dozen powered sites only but extensive lawns among the trees offer plenty of sites. The pub is great and there's a nice 9-hole golf course. The big plus is a soak in the hot springs pools. There are two - one indoor and one outside. The outside one is magic, especially at night, but too deep for kids, as you shouldn't submerge your head. $2.50 a head is a very reasonable cost. There are glow worms to be seen along the metalled track and in the bank around to pool.
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Ohakune ▷
Ohakune TOP 10 Holiday Park
5.0/5
After being detained by mechanical problems on the Desert Road, we arrived in Oakune after dark.
At 3degrees frost the previous morning, we stayed in a self-contained unit. $109/night. Brilliant! Very clean, compact, electric panel heater and electric blankets on the bed ensured a snug, warm night's sleep. Brilliant!
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Hamilton ▷
Waingaro Hot Springs Caravan Park & Hot Pools
1.5/5
Expensive to visit hot pools only, although clear water.
Private pools were ok. Kids seemed to be enjoying themselves in pool and hydro-slide. Have not stayed at camp as no dogs policy.
Suggest you stop at Waingaro Hotel, for drink, meal or accommodation - all good.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Piripiri Cave Walk
3.5/5
Not a lot to see.
A stiff uphill climb of good steps, then similar descent to cave entrance. Cave isn't much, but a steep wooden stepped descent into it's bowels. There are some small stalactites. No glow worms, and fortunately or unfortunately, no bats. But it is free, and that's worth the visit. The bush walk was nice. TAKE A TORCH - the more powerful the better to see into the recesses of the cave.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk
5.0/5
This was impressive.
The bush walk to the feature is beautiful and is wheelchair accessible. Once there, standing beneath this great slab of overhanging limestone, good DOC standard wooden staircase takes you higher up to a lookout, then a rougher and, muddy on our visit, track loops back to the start. There's a good long-drop toilet and picnic tables near the carpark. Impressive, accessible and FREE - an unconditional 10/10.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tikitere ▷
Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa
1.5/5
Unfortunately a very poor expenditure of $105 !!!
per person for private mud bath, thermal pool soak and walk around the park. If you book it at Rotorua i-site you get $85 package for $75, but no idea what the extra $30 buys (use their towel and toweling robe, perhaps?) Very disappointed. If memory serves me right the park itself hasn't really changed in 30-years, although the service buildings have been upgraded.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tarawera ▷
Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Rd Campsite
3.5/5
December 28th and we almost had this whole campsite to ourselves.
Men's toilet was covered in excrement over, on, as well as in the toilet. One of women's toilets was blocked (and full of the same). So we guess they are not serviced regularly during high season. But a wonderful site right beside the lake. If you're asthmatic, the kapok trees may be a problem - the ground was covered with their seeds like snow.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tikitere ▷
Lake Rotoiti Lakeside Holiday Park
4.5/5
Very accommodating owners.
Allowed us to stay at very last available powered site even with our two dogs, although they had to be kept on an extremely tight rein. No problem. Facilities cleaned at 6 am in the morning ready for everyone when they awoke.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Waiotapu ▷
Kerosene Creek
5.0/5
Just perfect.
150m from the car park and a completely natural hot water stream and waterfall. Get under the edge of the falls and a free Aix massage! Only complaint was the rubbish left by less conscientious locals, which a fellow bather picked up & dumped a black sac full of in the car park bin. We went back again early next morning and had the pools all to ourselves.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Turangi ▷
Oasis Motel & Caravan Park
4.5/5
What a great place.
We turned up here after a couple of days freedom camping, out of water, and low on power, needing a break from the summer heat. They were very accommodating taking us with our two dogs late Boxing Day despite being a very busy time of year. The facilities are very clean. The thermal pools were hot, and the two spa pools were even hotter.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Hahei ▷
Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
3.5/5
According to their website http://www.hotwaterbeachholidaypark.com hwb_parkinfo.pdf "There is a no pet policy at the park."
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ New Plymouth ▷
Mangorei Track to Pouakai Hut
4.5/5
IMHO this is the best track and hut to take a pre-teen family.
The hut is basic DOC with two bunk rooms, table & form seating, pot belly stove, steel cooking benches, tank water, great (new style) toilet. PLEASE NOTE THE HUT IS NOT FREE: $15 /adult/night, $5 /youth/night, child/infant free. The Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Tickets are required.
The view from the deck at the front of the hut over New Plymouth & North Taranaki, especially at night is worth the trip. The view from the Pouakai Plateau, 5 minutes above and behind the hut, both over the province and south towards Mt Taranaki is breathtaking. A large portion of the Mangorei track is now benched with timber to reduce the mud, and is much easier to negotiate.
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North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Masterton ▷
Eketahuna Motor Camp
4.5/5
Yes it is quiet - that's the attraction, among the redwood trees.
Kitchen and laundry facilities are basic but functional, but the showers are exceptionally clean & tidy - and great pressure and temperature. Close proximity to river, but shame there seemed to be no beach below the riverbank. Dogs loved it here, and were welcome. Loreen & Kerry visit regularly, so just pull up and pitch or hitch to powered site. $12.00 per night for 2 at power site just great.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Hawera ▷
Ohawe Beach Camp
4.0/5
We've stayed here a couple of times now.
Facilities are dated, but clean and great value for money. Lovely showers. Host Phoebe is very accommodating. Our dogs love this place - so handy to the beach for long walks on the sand and in the surf. $15 for 2 at power site - great!
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Patea ▷
Patea Dam / Lake Rotorangi
4.5/5
In the middle of nowhere, being some 32km of "dodgy" metaled and/or narrow road, much across private farm land, one arrives at the tar sealed road at the Patea dam on the Patea river.
Camping is available beside the lake or back a distance in a paddock. The facilities Include a single building that is serviced regularly (daily?) containing gas heated hot water showers, flush toilets and solar powered lighting. These facilities have to be among the CLEANEST I've ever found ANYWHERE. We last visited mid-winter, and there was even toilet paper and soft soap from dispensers! Only problem was the paddock was very wet, limiting the available camping spaces. Half drums are available for open bonfires, and there's plenty of manuka firewood available for the taking. In summer the camp is cramped with families that stay long-term over the holidays. The hydro lake is great for boating, water skiing, fishing & swimming. There is a 40min bush loop walk over the other side of the dam to introduce kids to hiking.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Mokau ▷
Seaview Holiday Park
4.0/5
Clean and tidy.
It's such a shame they took away the restaurant at the entrance some years ago. You can take your dog(s), but you (and them) are confined to the far end of the camp ground. There is only one power post for caravan or campervan in that end of the camp - but there are many tent sites, and they're all right beside the sea. The toilets at that end are pretty rustic too, M & F each in one half of a concrete water tank.