After leaving Kai Iwi Beach campground and making our way up the coast we arrived in Hawera, home to another of the NZMCA’s superb Park network. One of the great things about this park is the ever changing view of Mt. Taranaki. Although since winter had decided to return, while we stayed there, we lost sight of it for the next two days.
The last time we stayed here back in 2018 it looked like the area directly behind the park was going to be developed into a new housing estate. So we were very surprised on our return six years later to discover that only a couple of house had been built. Later when there was a temporary break in the weather we went for a walk, and got chatting to one the new home owners, who told us that the land prices were very expensive.
They also said that there was a large amount of fill under the top soil left over from the demolition of the old hospital. He went on to say that the local council were insisting on multiple geo technical reports because of this, making developers and builders look elsewhere in the area. I guess that explains the lack of development but from a totally selfish point of view I see it as a good thing given the continued views of the mountain.
Late on the second day the sky slowly cleared allowing another peak of the mountain. It also presented another chance to wear the possum merino gloves we had purchased in Otorohanga given the almost sub zero tempratures, factoring in the wind chill. We were again thankful for the heater in the motorhome and the windscreen cover that helped keep the frost out and the warmth in.
Had it not been raining almost solidly for two full days we would have taken the time to explore the area around the Park. Almost across the road is the wonderful King Edward Park and Gardens that we have wandered through in past. Or we might have wandered through the town and climbed the local water tower where the views stretch for kilometres. Or even do a little bit to help the local economy by spreading a few dollars around the local shopping centre. But, alas the weather did not play ball with us and maybe that’s one of the disadvantages of getting away in the motorhome in winter. Still plenty of pages got read on my Kindle and Sarah kept up to date with some of the on demand programs available. The lack of sunshine made me very thankful that we upgraded to new lithium batteries.
The morning of the third day with clearer skies and having taken advantage of the onsite dumpstation and potable water. We set out to have another look at Hollard Gardens a place we had visited in 2018. Back then it was springtime and the local garden festival was in full swing so there was a lot more to see than we found this year. According to Sarah I did find my twin brother guarding the non existent gardens 
. And with not much more than the daffodils in flower we cut our visit short heading instead for another local feature much more suited to the winter. Just before we leave the subject of Hollard Gardens I should say that you can freedom camp here. There is a large carpark, with plenty of flat level ground, its quite close to the road but I doubt there is to much traffic at night to disturb you. There are no other facilities here except toilets which are open when the gardens are.
Following the road up from Hollard Gardens we headed towards the carpark area for the Dawson Falls walk. It’s roads like that one that make me pleased we are visiting on a day when not many others are. The road itself is well maintained its just rather narrow especially when we met a roadworks crew heading down the hill at speed. Collision avoided but did send my heart racing for a few minutes.
We managed to find a carpark by squeezing into a gap, probably vacated by the truck we met coming up the hill, next to where the roadworks crew were based. You cannot see the motorhome in the above photo but it’s inside the cones next to the truck. Otherwise we would have had a great deal of difficulty finding a space. First stop was the excellent but small visitors centre where volunteers impart their knowledge on some of the hiking trails that suround the carpark.
The walk to Dawson Falls is about a one hour round trip, including time to stop and take cheesy selfies. Getting to the falls is easy as it is all downhill. Having said that with the amount of rain we had endured over the previous couple of days there were plenty of puddles to be avoided on the way down. There is also a newly built staircase to take you down the steepest part, that actually gets you at the bottom of the waterfall. Of course what goes down must go back up, but we have done much worse and much steeper and I think this trail is suitable to most levels of fitness.
A few years ago my oldest son and one of his friends visited these falls and actually swam in the small lake at the bottom. Both of them were a lot braver than I would ever be, as even in summer the water is not much more than snow melt and therefore very cold.
Back in 2017 and while we were still driving our Mitsubishi Canter. We had stopped at a garage in Eltham to have some rather urgent but fairly simple repairs undertaken. After the job had been completed the mechanic told us about the nature reserve nearby a place called Rotokare Scenic Reserve. It was another very cold wet day back then and we visited but didn’t stay long. So this trip with the better weather was a chance to rectify that and that’s the subject of the next blog.
To view the places we have visited click here to see them on Google maps. You can then click the link to read the blog about that area.
