Dave Kitson
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Collingwood Holiday Park
5.0/5
Superb site!
Why can't they all be this good? Chris is very friendly and helpful. The location is wonderful - looking over the bay and Aorere River estuary to the Kahurangi National Park. The town is 2 minutes walk and there are very few bugs.
The price is only $20pp for a powered site with water, showers and dump station all free and everything works and is spotlessly clean.
The laundry has several machines, several driers and a huge communal rotary washing line. The kitchen and common areas looked very well equipped although we didn't use them.
The spotless ablutions were the best we have seen anywhere. You get a private pod with a toilet, shower, basin, mirror, shaving point, bin, soap all free with unlimited hot water. No struggling with press in taps or meters waiting to cut you off just as you get soap in your eyes. And the whole thing is protected from bitey things by your own mosquito net. How thoughtful!
We will be back.
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North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Napier ▷
Kuripapango (Ox Bow) Campsite
3.5/5
Nice open, isolated DOC site.
Loads of flat grassy spaces for tents and plenty for RVs too. No officials, just a donation box. Tiny but functional toilets and water 500 meters away in the river. For us it was rather spoiled by a huge number of very busy bees. They didn't bother us but the air and ground were thick with them. Whether this is always the case I can't tell.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kerikeri ▷
Aroha Island
4.5/5
We loved it here.
Very relaxing and thoroughly ecological although a bit more expensive than we usually pick. It was well worth it as we saw the only wild kiwi we have ever seen. They give you hints and red gels to cover torches and you lurk in the forest until you hear something rustling in the bushes. 10:1 it will be a Kiwi of the feathered variety. If not, it will be one of your fellow stalkers. Apparently most people who try see at least one.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Raglan ▷
Bridal Veil Falls / Waireinga
4.5/5
Very impressive 55m waterfall.
Three viewing platforms - top, midway and bottom. The 237 steps are well maintained and it's all completely free. Only negative on a hot summer day is that DOC says it is unsafe to swim in the stream or pools. Something about agricultural runoff.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Huntly ▷
Ngaruawahia
4.0/5
Great location overlooking the Waikato and Waipahu rivers.
Several interesting history boards all in a nicely maintained park. You are only supposed to camp overnight as its a well used public park by day. We stayed on three separate nights and had no hassle arriving between 1700 and 1900. The trains make a bit of noise but nothing that kept us awake. The dump station is clean and functional, the toilets are less so but that didn't bother us as we are self contained.
Nice friendly little town with most supplies available.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Helensville ▷
Parakai Springs Aquatic Park & Motor Camp
4.0/5
Pleasant campsite with all facilities.
The main attraction is the adjacent thermal resort. Campers get a substantial discount. The resort has a general and a "relaxation" pool both of which are large warm swimming pools. Outside however is an "adults" pool which is much smaller and warmer. It tries to look like a natural pool and, from our point of view, the great advantage is that you have it to yourself most of the time. You can soak in peace for hours.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Dargaville ▷
Tinopai Community Camping Ground
4.0/5
Nice little site on the water.
Reasonably priced and with reasonable toilets and showers, The managers are very friendly and it is a welcoming place to stay. That said it has a rather rundown feel as does the village where there are a lot of houses for sale. A great place to stay if you plan to visit the excellent Kauri Museum.