Puriri Bay – Nature at it’s Best

With Mum’s funeral out of the way and family on their way back to parts afar. It was time for Sarah and I to have a bit of “me” time and spend a few days decompressing. I didn’t really feel like driving all the way to the “recovery ward” AKA Ramp Road on the Karikari… Read More Puriri Bay – Nature at it’s Best

Wind and White Sands – Rarawa Beach

As I mentioned in my last blog, the wind had really begun to get up during our stay at the Te Pua Reserve. With our fellow campers having abandoned us retreating south to Rarawa Beach Sarah and I considered what to do. We had planned to travel right up to Cape Reinga spending nights at… Read More Wind and White Sands – Rarawa Beach

Te Pua Reserve – Remote Northland

As I mentioned in my previous blog, we had spent a few days at our new happy place Ramp Road on the Karikari peninsula. Now it was time to continue the trip north. With the chance to explore some of the more remote parts of the tip of the country. Our friends John and Gaylene… Read More Te Pua Reserve – Remote Northland

Well That’s A Neat Party Trick

Earlier this year, I underwent another biopsy for my recurrent lymphoma. This involved chest surgery removing part of one rib to access the enlarged lymph node. After surgery and a suitable recovery period, we headed away to what we now know as the recovery ward aka Ramp Road, freedom camping. Sadly during winter, I developed… Read More Well That’s A Neat Party Trick

Mangawhai – Squashed like Sardines

Leaving Waipu, we decided to take the coast road and avoid SH1 this would also give us the chance to explore a part of NZ that we haven’t had the pleasure of seeing for many a long year. It’s hard to know where Waipu stops, and Waipu Beach starts as there isn’t really any break… Read More Mangawhai – Squashed like Sardines

On The Other Side Of The Water

Each time we have parked at Manganese Point, we have looked to the other side of the harbour and asked that age-old question “what is over there?” so we thought we would find out. Due to meet our friends at the Waipu Golf Club a little later that day we decided to explore the area… Read More On The Other Side Of The Water

Manganese Point – Park with a View

I was thinking 🤔 about the number of times that I must have driven North to Whangarei in my lifetime and realised that it would be quite a large number. Never, however, when visiting or when I lived there in the early 1980’s, have I driven any other way than over the Brynderwyn hills. This… Read More Manganese Point – Park with a View

Tinopai $20 Well Spent

Having moved on from the camping area at Pahi. Choosing not to visit the Kauri Museum at Matakohe, we decided to take advantage of the deal the NZMCA has put together with a number of camping grounds and spend the night at Tinopai. One of only two Camp Saver campgrounds in Northland with the other… Read More Tinopai $20 Well Spent

Flying Solo – Alone In The Motorhome

Sarah and I have been together for over 30 years and a motorhoming couple for the last 18 years. Other than the time I took a couple of my boys away not long after we purchased the new motorhome, I have never been away without her in the motorhome. It’s not something that I really… Read More Flying Solo – Alone In The Motorhome

Sssh Don’t Tell Anyone!

Three times now we have stayed at the freedom camping area, Ramp Road, on the Karikari Peninsula and each time we have heard other campers talk of the spot on the other side of the peninsula at Rangiputa as also being a great place to stay. So when it was suggested that we make a… Read More Sssh Don’t Tell Anyone!