Northland Roadtrip (5 Jan - Day 10 of 10)

 

After breakfast we left Kaihu to start our trip back home. We followed State Highway 12, joined up with State Highway 1 at Brynderwyn and then at Wellsford decided to continue along State Highway 1 as the traffic did not seem too bad. Within a few minutes that supposition was proven wrong. So we took a sand road detour to Tauhoa and then onto State Highway 16. 

This new route allowed for a stop at the Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens. This was a nearly two hour walk through native plants that had been cultivated on a previously barren plot of land. Included was a clearing set up with post boxes – locals had crafted their own ideal post box and these were put out for display (see first pic as an example). Some great modern sculptures, some whimsical, some political, some very technical.

The stop did not do much for getting back to Auckland on time. We had to get home, unpack the van, then drive it back to the rental place before 4pm. So due to my taking much time in the sculpture garden we had to forego a stop for lunch. But we were able to create something to snack on from the leftovers in the fridge. Successfully delivered the van back. And home to lovely long hot showers and comfortable bed.

 

Day 10: About 300km travelled

Notes on holiday parks / campsites:

1. Always specify a powered site. You may think that you don't really need the electricity, but it boosts your comfort levels tremendously.
2. Sites that separate campervans, tents and caravans are best. This way, when in a campervan, you tend to be surrounded by couples, rather than families. The joy of a night without screaming brats cannot be overestimated.
3. The majority of holiday parks have very decent facilities for meal making. Some have large gas BBQ’s set up, toasters and kettles are around, all have some form of stove top cooking device. However many of these stovetops are in dismal shape and cannot keep a pot of water boiling. We were pleased to have our van’s gas hot plates on a number of occasions.
4. Some holiday parks charge to use the shower. This ranged from 50c to a dollar. This fee gave you 5minutes of hot water. I did not mind paying the fee too much, it meant that people did not hog the showers forever and a day.
5. Where possible ask to see the campsite layout and check where your site is located. A night spent alongside the kid’s playground was rather unpretty. Even more so because of a continually in-use squeaky trampoline.
6. Campers are a jovial bunch, always willing to lend a hand (e.g when you don't have anymore tokens for the shower, or helping you find your dropped contact lens). Say hello to your neighbours.

Notes on campervan envy:

We had a budget van. We could not expect much extravagance from it. The options on hand were (in a simplified way): budget, expensive, absurd. This is what our van looked like according to the website

Except when we got it, there was none of that lovely headroom you see, no side window in the roof. The inside was pretty much as you see it, but because of less height there was no tall cupboard, everything was at around 700mm from the van floor.

1. Of the campervans we saw along our journey, it seemed Britz had a good range.
2. We saw vans that had sleeping room for 6. Two ‘downstairs’ beds and an ‘upstairs’ bed. Amazing
3. We saw vans that incorporated a built in marquee/tent that came out from the side of the van. Damn that would have been useful for rainy braai times!
4. Campervan accessories are indeed a whole new range of things to be explored. I was most impressed by triangular wedges to go under your tyres to level up the van. Nice!
5. We had a basin, cold water, 2 gas burners and a fridge. All of which we used and all of which were lovely. Some vans have monster fridges and microwaves too!
6. I think completely unnecessary unless you are really travelling into desolate wild lands; are vans with showers and toilets. But of course you do get them. With hot water at that.
7. Our van had a tape player. Oh yes! It was that old! We had no desire for music or radio along the way. But perhaps an iPod dock would have changed that? Not sure. 
8. Something that would have made quite a difference would have been 4WD. Quite obviously to have avoided getting stuck on 90mile beach. But also to allow exploration of some more ‘off the beaten track’ areas.
9. Our van only had a 30litre fuel tank. This forced stops in towns where we may have rather stayed rural in same cases.

It was a holiday of many firsts

• First roadtrip
• First campervan
• First exploration of Northland
• First jet ski
• First sand dunes
• First crayfish
• First wetsuit
• First pink sheep!

And just wonderful!

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