New Zealand 2024 – Tom's notepad

The blog post is continually updated. This blog entry is intended as a personal travel blog only. Every typo is planned and intended for entertainment.

Time Range: 1 December 2024 – 7 January 2025
Type: Camping

On the way to New Zealand

Flight: Vienna -> Christchurch: 01.12.2024 15:15 (CET) – 03.12.2024 07:40 (NZDT)

Today is the day of my start on a journey to New Zealand at 08:30 with a train ride from Graz to Vienna airport. The 25 hour flight actually didn’t bother me at all, I was able to stretch my legs well because there was no seat in front of me and the space next to me was free. Thanks to good headphones (Sony WH-1000XM5), it was sometimes possible to sleep. The food on the plane was good and the Qatar airline flight attendants were very friendly.

In Christchurch I was welcomed with clouds. The flight from Auckland to Christchurch was also covered in clouds. Fits the saying “New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud”.

Christchurch

After the flight I went straight to the campervan rental company Jucy, where I booked my campervan for the trip. The color is striking and the furnishings are enough for me. It’s a bit tight for me and the bed is a bit harder, but I can go almost anywhere with it. It has a small fridge, toilet and even a shower. I’ll see if I use these.

My first stop was my campsite South Brighton Holiday Park, where I pitched my tents for two nights. After the long flight, I rested for two days and organized my trip. Since the weather was unstable on the second day anyway, I skipped Christchurch to get good weather at Lake Tekapo.

South Brighton Holiday Park
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://www.southbrightonholidaypark.co.nz/
Comment: Good campsite, with older but clean facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen)

On the way in the mountains

What a wonderful view over a glacier lake with its turquoise water. This time I pitched my tent at the Lakes Edge Holiday Park (Link). If you book directly on there website, you get some discount when you check-in. So that I can see more of the area in a short time, I decided to take a sightseeing flight, which is offered by Air Safaris right next to the place. Behind this link you can find a small excerpt from the flight.

Lakes Edge Holiday Park
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://lakesedgeholidaypark.co.nz
Comment: Good campsite, with good facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen), perfect lake view from the sites

Back to Christchurch

The way back to Christchurch was long and relatively straight, along the wide agricultural fields. There were a few nice visual breaks (like Rakaia Gorge Lookout) that invited you to take a break, but otherwise the route was boring. I didn’t visit Christchurch again because I have to change my plans due to the current weather conditions on the west coast and will stay more on the east coast and now slowly move towards the ferry. In addition to planning, I will stock up on supplies. My base this time is Tasman Holiday Parks – Christchurch (Link)

Tasman Holiday Parks – Christchurch
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://tasmanholidayparks.com/nz/christchurch/
Comment: Good campsite, with good facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen)

A little thrill

After so many days of relaxation and recovery, I planned a little adrenaline rush. That’s why I booked bungee jumping with Hanmer Springs Attractions (Link). It was my first bungee jumping experience, short but really good. After this short jump, I was on my way to the pacific ocean, with a short stop at natural rock formation with the name “frog rock”. With a little imagination it was possible to see the frog in the rock. The best view for the rock is when you come from Hanmer Spring.

Hanmer Springs River Reserve Freedom Camping
Cost: Free Camping / limited to 10 camper
Website: none
Comment: Good campsite, with public toilet

Show me the ocean

After the thrill with the jump from the bridge, I was looking for some quiet moments. So I was on the way to Gore Bay. A little place for surfing, with no Internet connection. 1km before Gore Bay is a natural viewing point with the name Cathedral Gully, with a good view on Gore Bay. This time I stayed on a campsite with simple but clean facility. As little bonus a direct view on the beach and sunrise in the morning. At this beach you can also swim very well in the Pacific, as the water is very shallow. After this little digital detox, I was directly on the way to Kaikoura. It’s a little hot spot for dolphins, seal and whale spotting.
The campsite is nicely located centrally in the city, but close to the railway line and a helicopter landing pad. Therefore it can be a little louder during the day.

Gore Bay & Buxton Camp Grounds
Cost: 40 NZD/Night for powered site
Website:
Comment: Good campsite, with good facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen), no WIFI or cellphone connection

Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://hampshireholidayparks.co.nz/park/kaikoura-top10-holiday-park/
Comment: Good campsite, with good facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen)

Jump to the other side of New Zealand

Tasman Holiday Parks – Picton
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://tasmanholidayparks.com/nz/picton/
Comment: Good campsite, with good facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen) and easy start point for the ferry

Wellington

Wellington TOP 10 Holiday Park
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://www.wellingtontop10.co.nz/
Comment: Good campsite, with good facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen)

The lonely mountain Taranaki

Dawson Falls Carpark
Cost: Free Camping
Website: none
Comment: Good free camping spot, with public toilet

Rotorua

Parklands Motor Lodge
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://parklandsmotorlodge.co.nz
Comment: Good campsite, with new facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen) and central position in Rotorua

Tasman Rotorua Holidays Parks
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://tasmanholidayparks.com/nz/rotorua/
Comment: Good campsite, with new facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen) and central position in Rotorua

Hobbiton Movie Set (Link) – Yes, a small tourist magnet centered around a preserved prop town from the film “Hobbit”. But it was still very entertaining and the tour guide always tried to make a connection to the film. As you can see from the photos, the weather was perfect too.

The last steps to the end of the journey

Muriwai Beach Campground
Cost: 30 NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://www.muriwaibeachcampground.co.nz/
Comment: Good campsite, with new facilities (toilets, hot showers, kitchen)

Today was a bad day for me. I was on the way to Uretiti Beach and on the way I wanted to check out Omeru Reserve. As I was making the turn to the car park, I was hit by a motorcycle. After some really nice cops and other people, I had a long phone conversation with Jucy. After this long conversation, they sent me a tow truck. He was a nice gentleman who immigrated to New Zealand from Fiji 20 years ago. So here I am sitting in a hotel room in Auckland, 12 hours after the accident and write every information for the Jucy incident report. After this stressful day I slept at the Hotel Naumi Auckland Airport.

Naumi Auckland Airport
Cost: 200 NZD/Night
Website: https://naumihotels.com/aucklandairport/
Comment: The cheapest room near the Jucy branch in Auckland late at night

The next day I got a replacement campervan (older model) and with it I am on the way to my last steps of this trip, but a little slower. My first stop was the Uretti Beach Campsite. Really a nice place, where you can select for own place. For a DOC Campsite it is great, because it has (cold) showers.

Uretiti Beach Campsite
Cost: 15 NZD/Night for non powered site
Website: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/waipu-area/things-to-do/uretiti-beach-campsite/
Comment: Good campsite, with clean facilities (toilets, cold showers, hot showers (2$), kitchen)

Now I’m at Hihi beach and relaxing. It also serves to bring a bit of Christmas across in a calm manner, including a video call with the parents. Nowadays everything is possible, but with a 12 hour time difference. I had a really nice experience on Christmas Day. A pickup truck drove through town and the campsite with Santa Claus and handed out sweets (Dental filling ripper). December 26th is the first day of my vacation where I have a rainy day. The previous part of the trip I was lucky enough to only see the sun.

Hihi Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://hihibeach.co.nz/
Comment: Good campsite, with clean facilities (toilets, showers, kitchen, laundry)

As a first step back to Auckland I looked at a few things. Tāne Mahuta (Link) – one of the largest living kauri trees and a view of one of New Zealand’s large sand dunes. It was also interesting to learn that the Kauri tree needs the forest around it because it doesn’t have really strong roots for its size. The forest around him provides stability. If it had no forest around it, it would be toppled by storms. By the way, the age of the tree is estimated to be between 1250 and 2500 years. Due to its uneven growth, it cannot be estimated more precisely. On the way to Tāne Mahuta there is also one of New Zealand existent sand dune.

The last campsite on my way to Auckland is Waitangi Holiday Park near Paihia. As a memory of New Zealand, I once got a serious sunburn. One should not forget that New Zealand’s sun is stronger than in Central Europe. That’s why you can only find sunscreen with a strength of 50+ in stores.

Waitangi Holiday Park
Cost: ? NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://tetiritiwaitangi.co.nz/holiday-park-home/
Comment: Ok campsite, with clean but limited and old facilities (toilets, showers, kitchen, laundry)

Auckland

Today I reached Auckland with some rain. I booked a central parking space for the first two nights. This location allows me to explore central Auckland on foot. However, I skipped the Sky Tower because there was a queue with a waiting time of around two hours.
I also got a suprice from Novotel hotel for the last night in New Zealand. I good an upgrade to a other hotel of the accor group, but it’s a 5 star hotel (I think they are overbooked).

Aukland City Camp
Cost: 90 NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://campermate.com/en/location/new-zealand/auk/auckland/paid-campground/auckland-city-campervan-park/b6617dfc-cc63-11ee-a98b-8e16b57d57db
Comment: Not cheap, but really central, no shower, no toilet

Takapuna Beach Holiday Park
Cost: 80 NZD/Night for powered site
Website: https://takapunabeachholidaypark.co.nz
Comment: Good campsite, with clean facilities (toilets, showers, kitchen, laundry)

Pullman Auckland Airport
Cost: 364 NZD/Night (price of Novotel, no change to upgrade)
Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/A8U9/index.en.shtml
Comment: Not cheap, but a good hotel near the airport