North Island Waikato-Auckland Region 2022 p2

Waikato-Auckland Region p2

North Island New Zealand

2022

Waikato/Auckland

We are on the move again after checking on our house in Otorohanga and sprucing it up for the new tenant. You hear of all the horror stories of being a landlord, so here is a positive one. Our first tenant left the place spotless and tried their bests to repair marked walls, they have 3 young boys. Because we were on the right Island and had time to spare, we gave it a touch-up and it's all back to looking brand new nearly 3 years down the track. We cut our stay short at Otorohanga to head back to Motorhome Solar in Hamilton. It took them about 15 mins to figure out and then calibrate the battery shunt, now all is honky dory. We stayed at Shaw's Bird Park for 3 nights with free parking no dogs, donations appreciated, and a beautiful spot. We tested the solar and now have the confidence to move on. Still in the middle of our maintenance storm, we got back up to Pukekohe as the COF runs out tomorrow and we are booked in on Tuesday being the earliest for the new windscreen. Staying for a few nights at Rosa Brich Park Pukekohe, free parking, dogs ok.

Karioitahi Beach

Today we had a look at the beach out from Waiuku, they are so lucky to have such a beautiful beach on their doorstep.

Auckland
Bombay
Heaven Rest B&B
The windscreen replacement is done, and the repairer Zion used did a first-class job.
We stayed the night at Heavens Rest B & B and we can recommend there as an excellent place to stay close to Zion when the Motorhome has to sleep over.
We did a tiki tour in the Jimny yesterday filling in time. We drove up Pukekohe hill to the lookout, the view is better on the road before you get to the top because of the trees.
Then we did the back roads out to Waiuku Forest Beach. I wouldn't take our motorhome on the forest road, because of the corrugation they were shocking even for the poor little Jimny.
It is definitely worth a look out there and holds special interest for us because we could look across the river and see our old shop and house at Port Waikato.
We had a big part of the day to fill in today until the motorhome was ready to be picked up, so continued the tiki tour today by doing the back roads up the Bombay towards Huna and then out to the Greenstone Factory in Te Kauwhata.
I have been wanting to visit there for years but never got around to it, today was the day, and brought two pairs of green stone earrings. The prices are very reasonable there and the owner was helpful in colour-matching my Pounamu necklace I have had for years.
From there it was back to Tuakau for lunch and a visit to the Pokeno Waterfalls.

We picked up the motorhome in time to get the COF in Pukekohe and have another night at Rosa Birch Park

Auckland

Pollok

Te Toro

You might ask where is Pollok, it is better known as Waiuku/Awhitu area and is on the way to Manukau Heads.

We have settled in at Te Toro for the next few days. Free camping, 2 days max, dogs ok, and Wi-Fi are ok. Great place to stay if you have a boat, or just want to relax. We walked to the boat ramp/wharf only about 200m from where we are parked.

Manukau Heads

We had gorgeous weather with no wind for a tiki tour up to the Manukau Heads light

lighthouse via the bays. We did a 40-minute walk to the Historic Books Homestead in the Awhitu Regional Park and stretched our legs at Hamilton's Gap. There is free camping at Hamilton's Gap for 2 nights max, dogs ok and we got reception but that might depend on where you park.

Don't expect to find a cafe up here, we did find ice cream at Big Bay Motor Camp and the road are sealed but narrow to all the beaches. The view from the Lighthouse is worth the steps to get there we could see Auckland Sky Tower from the viewing platform.

This morning's view at Te Toro so still, good for reflections

Hamilton's Gap

Hamiltons Gap looks like a nice place to stay with walks on the beach

We walked to the Homestead

Awhitu Regional Park beach

Didn't expect to find a boardwalk

Books Homestead

Big Bay

View from the lighthouse

Manukau Heads Lighthouse

Looking over to Auckland city

Auckland Zoo

After having a night at Bruce Pulman Park Takanini (charges apply and wouldn't recommend it on a Sunday afternoon). We dropped the motorhome off at Best Bars to get the tow bar fitted, it is going to take four days.

On the first day, we visited the Zoo and had a walk around Western Springs Lake. We were booked in at the Airport Kiwi Hotel, it was ok but with people talking all night and the walls like paper we had very disturbed nights.

Thames

Here we are back where we left off the cycle trails when things started to go wrong with the motorhome.

We biked the Thames to Paeroa section turning around at the halfway point, we had lunch at home and then biked the trail into Thames we enjoyed the ride it was easy and interesting.

Staying at Rhodes Park, free parking 2 nights max, dogs ok, Wi-Fi ok.

FreeParkingg

Memorial Trees the garden is in front of where we are staying

Views along the trail

We use to live up there

Tonight's moon

Thames cycle trail to Paeroa we turned around at the halfway point

34km-1hr 42mins return

From Rhodes Park through town, 9km-50mins return

Paeroa

We had a few windy and wet days since we left Thames, putting the brakes on the cycling.

We stayed 2 nights at Ian & Moira Liddington NZMCA Pop charges apply, dogs and Wi-Fi are ok.

Apart from a drive into town to see where the cycle trail starts, we hunkered down to wait out the rain.

Pop charges apply

neighbours

Waihi

We moved to Waihi and had another day of rain, staying at Morgan Park, with free parking, 2 nights max, dogs, and Wi-Fi ok.

The next day we had light showers and we were more than ready for some exercise, so we moved down to the Goldfields Railway NZMCA Pop, charges apply, and dogs and Wi-Fi are ok. It is also where the rail trail starts from Waihi to Paeroa taking 43kms - 3hrs return.

Free Parking

Pop charges apply

Owharoa Falls Waterfalls

Victoria Battery Remains

Cool memorial seat

43kms - 3hrs return

Paeroa
We stayed at Paeroa Railway Reserve for 2 nights, with free parking non-power, $5 per night for power, dogs, and Wi-Fi ok. Marvellous service is provided right beside the Hauraki Rail Trail.
We still had half of the Paeroa to Thames section to finish after skipping it because of rain, so that was the first day sorted (27km - 2hr) stopping for lunch.
The next day we rode from Paeroa to Te Aroha and back getting soaked. We enjoyed it although it is a pain dealing with wet gear in time for the next day's ride. (48km - 3hr) including a stop in town for coffee.

Te Aroha

Te Aroha Railway

Paeroa to Te Aroha return

Te Aroha
The next day we moved to the new Te Aroha NZMCA Park and rode halfway to Matamata.
We had the misfortune to be there when the sports ground next door was having a birthday party that night, so we moved to Wardville Hall Cark Park around midnight to try and get some sleep.
Free parking, 3 nights max, very quiet, pets and Wi-Fi are ok.
Next was to finish the last leg of the Hauraki Rail-trail riding from Matamata halfway back to Te Aroha, it wasn't an enjoyable ride the wind was strong and my bum was sore, we probably should have had a rest day. We went on power at the Firth Tower Reserve and Museum, charges apply, No Dogs, Wi-Fi ok.