After returning from our trip to New Plymouth and surrounds we spent a little while at home before itchy feet again took hold and it was time to jump back in the motorhome for new adventures. Speaking with a friend of ours the day prior we explained that we were heading north but didn’t know where. We must have somehow taken quite the unexpected detour as we found ourselves heading down the southern motorway. Turning left at the bottom we soon found ourselves heading for the Coromandel, somewhere we hadn’t been for a few years. In fact last time we were down this way we got called back by Auckland Hospital, who wanted to start my cancer treatment the next day. Not something we expected to happen when it did and just as we were about to cook dinner.
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So two and a half hours after setting out we ended up in Coromandel. As I said we haven’t driven this way for a while and certainly not since the havoc wrought to the roading network, by the cyclones in 2023. Thankfully almost all the damage to the roads has now been repaired and its a mostly easy drive along the coast. There are a couple of places where the road narrows due to slips or seawall damage but nothing to be to concerned about . It also gets a bit tight around a couple of corners but all up quite a pleasant drive.
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I had brought myself a rather unusual birthday present and wanted to try it out and at the same time clean part of the roof. Sarah suggested that the safest way of getting onto the roof using my new toy would be to go up through one of the vents rather than outside the van. I was a little sceptical at first but soon realised what she was suggesting was indeed much safer. It also wouldn’t require her to hold the ladder while I got up there. While I was up on the roof one of the other campers saw me up there and must have wondered how I had got there, as he offered his extendable ladder to help get me downImage may be NSFW.
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Also while on the roof I had a conversation with the park custodian who happened to be visiting the site. I joked with him about how nobody was paying the fees to stay as the honesty box was covered in cobwebs. He laughed and told me that these days almost everyone pays via the app and I must say using it is just so easy, he also said he would go and clean the cobwebs.
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One of the things I love about staying at various different places are the things to do locally that other campers mention. The same applied here at the NZMCA Park with one lady telling us about the two walks through different stands of kauri, both of which are very close to the NZMCA Park. The entrance to the first of these walks is just outside the village and also home to a park over property (1974), although we didn’t see anyone staying there that day it is very well reviewed and could make excellent alternative accomodation to the Park.
Sarah and I were a little disappointed with this walk, we were expecting to see large kauri trees, maybe ones hundreds of years old. Sadly this stand is an area the local community have replanted over the last twenty years so the trees still have to mature. Maybe disappointed is the wrong word as we enjoyed the walk just felt a little cheated with the size of the kauri. It turns out that the kauri here are part of a project to reforest the hill with work started as part of the millenium celebrations. There are some great views from the top of the hill overlooking Coromandel making the walk worthwhile.
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Things however were quite different at the second kauri stand. To access this second walk you need to enter the Long Bay Campground but don’t be put off as there is free public parking along the waterfront inside the camp. The pathway leading to the trees starts at the rear and in the middle of the camp and would be an easy walk for almost all fitness levels. Here there are a couple of giant trees although sadly the largest, which is setback from the pathway and not accessable looked to be aflicted with kauri dieback disease. A really impressive stand of kauri and well worth a visit. Just make sure you stick to the paths and use the spray at each end of the track to dissinfect your shoes.
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There are two possible paths you can take as you come out of the kauri forest. Both take you back to the camp but one leads down to a very secluded beach area, known as Tucks Bay. What we didn’t know at the time, is that this is also part of the Long Bay motorcamp. In fact we wondered if it was part of the DOC network, or another private campground, but only open from Labour weekend onwards. All the spots were already marked out and although the ground was still very wet (we were there in September) it looked like a fantastic palace to stay. A reminder of how some camping grounds used to be with just a couple of water taps and long drop toilets hidden in the bush behind.
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Following the trail we looked back on the campground at Tucks Bay and thought what a beautiful spot it was. We found out when we called into the Long Bay Campground office for a well deserved ice cream that the two camps are co-joined. You can stay at either all year around. So maybe one day when the weather is better we might well try the site out. There is an access road that leads between the two camps. I should also say that while the Long Bay Campground has in the past been part of the Camp Saver scheme it has chosen not to do that for 2024/25.
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The following day it time to hop on the bikes and have a look at a part of Coromandel we have never visited before. Deciding to ride out to Wainui Bay. Not an overly long ride but one which involved a couple of significant hills. Every time I encounter these I am so thankful we have a pair of E Bikes, it just flattens those hills. There are some wonderful properties along the ridgeline but I think no matter how amazing a place might be nothing compares to a motorhome. The ability to visit almost anywhere in New Zealand and stay to see the sights then move on to the next place is one I treasure.
There are many things that we didn’t do this time that we have in the past. Like riding up to the Eyeful Tower on Driving Creek Railway. Or visiting the old gold mining sites and museum. But, we left those for another time or maybe for you to visit.
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.
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