Alan Blackburn
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Ashburton ▷
Mount / Mt Somers Holiday Park
5.0/5
Travelling in Campervan from Christchurch to Geraldine but left Christchurch late.
Our map showed this Holiday Park at Mt Somers so we pulled in to check it out. We had a choice of en-suite cabin; basic cabin and powered campervan site. We parked the campervan near the hedge with roses and dahlias all in flower along the fence. A most pleasant surprise - very friendly and welcoming staff - spotless facilities and nowhere near as crowded and busy like the big sites. Pub just down the road and a small "village store" one block over. We liked it so well that we stayed an extra night so that we could go walking on the trails surrounding the actual Mt Somers (trailhead about 10k). We shall return!
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Hokianga ▷
Yakas Walk
5.0/5
A visit to the Kauri Forests should not be missed!
Tane Mahuta (Father of the Forest) is way impressive. Worth going out of your way and driving the West Coast road!
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Christchurch Tasman Holiday Parks
3.5/5
Our first Top 10 site for our campervan South Island tour.
Very helpful receptionist who gave us a map with four vacant sites marked and said we could walk round and see which we preferred. All the sites are very close together but the "neighbours" already there welcomed us with a smile and we had a pleasant night. Facilities are good but quite a walk if you are in one of the sites at the perimeter. A family of ducks wander around and are good entertainment! Plus side is location, cleanliness and friendliness. Negatives are the tight spacing and pricey cost for powered campervan spot.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
5.0/5
Great visit and spent several hours wandering through this world-class garden.
Different features from Native New Zealand trees and bushes, through to a superb rose garden and an equally impressive Heritage Rose Garden on the other side of the Avon. Sadly the glass housese were damaged in the earthquake so no admittance but a new visitor center and tropical display is under construction.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
South Brighton Holiday Park
3.0/5
Friendly welcome with a choice of sites to choose from.
Most campervan sites have a hedge on one or two sides which gives a little privacy and hides the plug-ins, etc. Ablutions, laundry and kitchen all in new portable "containers" as original building damaged in the earthquake and could not be used. Biggest Plus - close to beach and we had a great 6km walk to Brighton Pier and back in the early morning. Biggest Dislike - dogs now permitted and many sites have distinct urine smells although we did not see any faeces anywhere.