90 mile beach

Although this is a well-known beach, which spans across much of New Zealand’s Northland, people often come here for the 4WD rides along the sand & dunes, or for a swim when it’s hot. What we enjoyed was driving along the beach in our own car (I have a tiny 1-litre Daihatsu, so most cars are alright as long as the sand is somewhat firm) with the windows down and the music up!

(Photo Courtesy of “Spellbound”)

Waitomo

Waitomo is also very popular for the Waitomo glow worm caves, and we did check out the ‘official’ Waitomo Caves centre, we were able to find a smaller, cheaper company for a real ‘kiwi’ adventure, called Spellbound. The atmosphere was very down-to-earth and typically New Zealand-ish: an old van driving along narrow, windy & gravelly roads; milo and ANZAC bikkies for a snack under a (barely) rain-proof shelter with a view of sheep and hills; and feeding the eels in a small creek.

Rotorua

Rotorua, known for its smelly geyser parks and rich Maori heritage, has something that made us feel like children again – the pedal boats! These are a little bit like a bumper boat crossed with a bike, and are loads of fun for minimal cost. The weather was gorgeous; you have a great view across the lake, dotted with swans & ducks, and back to the park.

East Cape

A small campsite at the easternmost tip of New Zealand; one of the first places in the WORLD to see the rising sun! A short 10min walk up the hill (with signs pointing the way), and you have a view of the gorgeous New Zealand beach, surrounds by greenery and a few quietly grazing horses, to be the first to watch the sun rise in the morning. The campsite has a homely atmosphere with natural wooden tables, a cozy fireplace, and – in true New Zealand style – a ‘barbie’ outside!

Mowhanau

A 20minute drive north of Wanganui, the Mowhanau Holiday Park pretty much takes up most of this quaint beach-town! It’s a clean, friendly environment with a small shop & café, and fantastic services. If you take a stroll down to the beach, you will find a picturesque view and a cool pirate ship park. You can climb the rigging, take the flying fox over the stream, set sail, and even walk the plank!

(Photo – view out the private bath window)

Morere

I loved this place! The ‘town’ was made up of a few close communities, a tea-house / campground and natural hot pools. We were lucky enough to get a spot on the bank of a beautiful, bubbling river (and we woke up to Tuis in the harakeke in the morning). Across the road were the natural hot pools, and when we entered we were welcomed by a folksy, gypsy caravan and a handmade good gift shop. The pools offered both hot and cool options, and even had private hot baths (only about $5 each), that over-looked native New Zealand bush.

Anduin

The Anduin River from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, previously “Hutt River” is a partly dry river that runs between Upper and Lower Hutt. If you look carefully, you can see a myriad of stone sculptures – pyramids, cubes, steps, and mounds. This is an awesome day-trip that tires you out – so make sure you pack lunch and take a big drink bottle with you. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment when you finish (warning: it is harder than it looks!).

These places were visited by my family and I, equipped only with a tent and a car, and were enjoyed thoroughly! It’s a great example of the “Small Pleasures” that we sometimes forget in the excitement of advertised tourist activities, and has inspired my latest drawing series. It is my hope that when you come to New Zealand, you can enjoy it as much as, and in the ways that, we ‘kiwis’ do.

TravelReflex’s Writer: this article was written by Zenobia