North Island Manawatu-Wanganui 2020 Maxwell to Waiouru
Maxwell to Waiouru
Manawatu-Wanganui North Island
New Zealand
2020
Ototoka Beach
So we have moved from Taranaki to the Manawatu-Wanganui region. This was a nice beach to visit with its little waterfall, but the road in is very corrugated gravel making the drive unpleasant in a Motorhome.
Bason Botanic Gardens
We carried on along the gravel back road to get to Bason Botanic Gardens. We missed going out to the next beach on the list Robert had enough even though we had gone onto sealed roads.
The gardens are big and we could see most from the road going around but decided to go for a walk after lunch. Plenty of cardio exercise getting up the steps.
Whanganui
Springvale Park
Tonight’s stay, Free parking. Going to stay here a few days and get the bikes out.
Hehe more Gypsy Fair buses here, we have been following them since Bell Block.
Whanganui City
Walked into town this morning had a good look around and went up the tower. After having lunch in town we came home to find the wind blowing a gale, making it very unpleasant, and with the main road on the side of us, we decided to split Whanganui and head for Marton.
Classic Old School
Tree-lined street
Lovely old stucco houses
Flash council building
Bell Tower
Cycle track
Athletics track
Museum
City buildings
Stairs to the tower
Memorial tower
Views from tower
Marton
Tonight’s stay camp is full we got the last park.
Still windy but much more sheltered than Whanganui.
Fielding
Timona Park
Tonight’s stay. Moved from Marton this morning to Fielding staying at Timona Park for free camping for a couple of nights. It’s blowing a gale here can’t even have the roof vents up. I am totally over all this wind!!!
Roberts has been cleaning the outside of the Motorhome and getting some polish on.
Palmerston North
Today we went to Palmerston North we had the Motorhome booked in with the Fiat agent because it had a recall on the brake line clips, they are awesome to deal with.
That gave us a chance to have a look around town and do some shopping.
Bulls
From Palmerston North, the next stop was Bulls so very hot there today.
Fantastic shops in Bulls just as well we haven’t got our house or I wouldn’t be able to help myself.
Then between bulls and Taihape, we stopped at the Makohine Viaduct for afternoon coffee.
Taihape
We didn’t stop in Taihape as it was getting a bit late. We had intended to say at either Hunterville or
Simpsons Domain Doc Camp is not far from Hunterville.
After deciding on the Doc Camp we passed through Hunterville only to find we couldn’t stay at
Simpsons Domain not only was it too narrow to get through the gates but there was a weight restriction on the bridge we exceeded.
So off to The National Army Museum in Waiouru.
Waiouru
Tonight’s stay and tomorrow we will go through the Museum, the first time we can use our Gold Cards for a discount hehe
So very very windy here
Waiouru
National War Museum
Woke up this morning to light showers and hardly any wind.
Spent the morning looking through the National War Museum. A very sobering experience, we will remember them.
Waipahihi
Urchin Doc camp
Tonight stay in the middle of nowhere. The road is a bit hairy in a Motorhome. Walks to do
Urchin Doc camp
Kaimanawa Forest Park, Waikato Region
Lovely day here went for a couple of walks, had happy hour with the neighbors, and watched the camp full up to overflowing. Decided to stay tomorrow to do another track. Then the day after heading to Taupo NCMCA
Tree trunk Gorge Track
Today’s walk took us 3 hours to return with a rest halfway 9.2km of stunning forest with streams and river crossing. I lost my balance and walked in wet boots but it was refreshing.
It is also a mountain bike track same as yesterday’s trek, and popular on a long weekend.
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