The Best of 2018

Well another year has come and gone in what feels like an awful rush, it seems just like yesterday we were enjoying last summer camping with family around Hawkes Bay. We've actually had two long stints in the Bay this year, the first was to spend Christmas 2017 and New Year with Mum & Dad in Napier and then we stayed on enjoying Hawkes Bay's summer sunshine.

Just when we were about ready to leave, February's Art Deco week was just around the corner and we decided we couldn't leave without heading there for what turned out to be a fantastic week of sunshine & frivolities parked at the temporary NZMCA camp on Marine Parade; a highlight of our year.

Afterwards we headed off beach-hopping around the East Cape, then onto the Coromandel to revisit  a few of  our favourite places before returning to Napier for three very important celebrations. The first was actually in Melbourne, we left the rig at Mum & Dads' and flew over to meet our newest family member Otis, grandchild #5. After a lovely break there it was back to Napier to celebrate my parents 60th wedding anniversary and a significant birthday for Mum. 

It once again took us awhile to hitch up and head off and when we finally did it was to explore new pastures; Northland & the Far North. Which is where we still are at the moment. In typical 'Out There' fashion we are doing it at a snail's pace even though initially we talked of being back in the South Island for Christmas! Ha! Let's just say 2019 plans are extremely fluid. 

Here are my choices for the 'Best of' 2018', click the links to read the blogs associated with them (and excuse the odd font on this post, it's decided to give me grief and won't repair. If I spend any more time trying to correct it you won't get to read this until 2019!) 

Best Day Walk-

A beautiful walk through ponga and ferns with beech trees and mighty rimu towering overhead to one of the most pristine lakes in New Zealand, Lake Waikareiti in northern Hawkes Bay. 

Best Nature Encounter-

The very recent encounter with a dolphin stranding at Tokerau Beach, not really the 'best' but it was the best outcome and an awesome experience all the same.

Which has to be followed by the worst animal encounter, a close call with an angry water buffalo, which has now been joined by an equally frightening experience; getting chased around the rig by a barking, growling dog when I stopped to take a photo of a church in the Far North! 

Best Natural Phenomenon-

Nearly the best thing since sliced bread, the Rere Rockslide, even if I didn't give it a go! 

Followed a close second by the giant Te Paki Sand Dunes, which I also didn't have a go at (blog still to come)

Best DOC Camp-

This would have to be Puriri Bay in Northland, the camp is on the edge of a tiny sheltered bay on the Whangaruru Harbour where there is awesome fishing. I am just about to do the blog for this camp, in the meantime here's a photo to whet your appetite.

Second choice would be the DOC Camp at Anaura Bay on the East Coast, not because of the camp itself, although that is fine too but because we had the whole place to ourselves and camped on the edge of  a stream overlooking the beach. It wasn't until later that we found a sign saying no camping allowed through the gate! We do live dangerously occasionally.

Best Weather Experience (worst weather)-

Our escape from Port Jackson on the Coromandel as a violent weather bomb blasted us from above wins this one hands down! This is the one all others will forever be measured against. We'll say 'Could it be worse than Port Jackson? No, then lets go for it!'

Best Commercial Campground-

How could I not choose Mt Maunganui Holiday Park, it's our home away from home when we're back in the Bay of Plenty. It's where we catch up with our Tauranga family and friends and where we watch the world pass by. I love the atmosphere, the activity, the Mount walks, Pilot Bay and the Main Beach, it's not everyone's cup of tea but to me it's a little slice of paradise in an extremely busy city. And the best bit? I get to escape when I've had my fill.

Best Beach-

This is another one that I haven't done a blog on yet but Puheke Beach on the Karikari Peninsula in the Far North would have to top the list of beaches this year. And that is saying something considering the number of beaches we've visited. 

Rarawa Beach, also in the Far North would have won had I seen it first but Puheke and it's glaringly white silica sands took my breath away.

Otama Bay on the Coromandel has always been a favourite and is a close second to the white sands of the north. Isn't New Zealand blessed with some magnificent beaches?

Best Waterfall-

We've certainly visited some beautiful waterfalls this year, and so many that it was hard to choose. I've given first place to Shine Falls near Lake Tutira in Hawkes Bay purely on its impressive 58 metre drop.

Best NZMCA Park-

This would be the Rainbow Fall's NZMCA Park in Kerikeri, I loved the fruit and flower plantings and that it was just through the fence from Rainbow Falls and the River Walk down to the historic Stone Store. And also because we had to stay there for a couple of weeks for various reasons and it proved to be an ideal place to spend some time.

Best Special Event-

This one was easy, the Art Deco week in Napier, we had a fabulous time and I'd highly recommend attending this event at least once in your lifetime (like us you'll probably want to return again & again, I think this was our 4th visit)

And if you are a NZMCA member then you must stay at the temporary camp on Marine Parade, that's where half the fun is to be had.

Best Photobomb-

This was the donut this Subaru did right in front of me as I was lining up a photo of the longest wharf in the Southern Hemisphere at Tolaga Bay. As it turned out I decided it was a very unique shot and not one I'd likely ever get again; right place, right moment. Tolaga Bay provided another one of my favourite shots too, piglets taking themselves for a walk along the footpath. Click on the link to see them.

Best Lake-

We haven't visited too many lakes this year but we enjoyed some quality time at remote  Lake Waikaremoana in the Te Urewera National Park in northern Hawkes Bay.

Best Dramatic Coastline-

The Muriwai Walk near Port Jackson on the Coromandel peninsula where there's a sign warning you not to walk the track in high winds!

Best NZMCA POP/CAP (Parking Sites)-

Moreporks Nest in Te Araroa, a very friendly place with lovely spring water, a valuable commodity on the East Coast.

Best Sunrise-

If you've been following my blog or belong to a few of the Facebook pages I post photos to, you'll know that I've experienced some amazing sun rises (and sunsets) this year which is not hard to do when you're travelling mostly up the east coast of New Zealand. I've chosen the Spirit of Napier sunrise on Marine Parade because a) it's my hometown and b), I would never have got out of bed and headed to the Parade early in the morning for a sunrise shot but we were parked beside the fountain in the Art Deco camp so it was easy. I was also wearing my dressing gown! It was very surreal walking about a usually very public place in my night attire.

Here's another place where I was running around in my dressing gown and Crocs taking photos; 2nd place goes to Anaura Bay on the East Coast.

Best Memories-

That would have to be our stay on Mahia Peninsula  revisiting and reminiscing about all the old haunts from my childhood & teenage summer holidays. 

Best Freedom Camping-

Ocean Beach in Hawkes Bay where we had a couple of days with our motorhoming relatives before the weather packed up and sent us back to suburbia. 

Best Cultural Visit-

I'd missed it on a previous visit to the East Coast but not this time, even though I couldn't get right down into the village. I wanted to see the Whale Rider on top of the marae at Whanga Bay on the East Coast. This was where the iconic 2003 NZ film 'The Whale Rider' was filmed.

Best Bird Encounter-

There have been a couple of 'lifers' for us this year (birder speak for first ever sighting of a bird species). With a population of just 45 birds, we were thrilled to virtually trip over this pair of Fairy Terns at Waipu when we weren't even looking for them.

We also finally found some Banded Rail/Mioweka  at Shakespear Park Open Sanctuary on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula...

...where I was also happy to locate some recently released Tieke/Saddlebacks, not a first but a highlight as these were very confiding birds.

Best Photo-

I'm not so sure it's my best photo of the year but it's one that I keep returning to; Whangarei Falls 

And last but definitely not least...

Best Family Event-

This of course has to be Mum & Dads' Diamond Wedding anniversary and the celebration we had for them in Napier.  

Happy New Year to you all and all the very best for 2019, safe and happy travels.

The Best of 2017

Real-time

I haven't done a 'Best of' for a couple of years, which is a shame because we have had fabulous experiences every year and every year is so different. I also know I'd have had numerous contenders for each title as I have had this year too; it's very hard to choose but here goes, click the links to read the relative blog post...

Best Nature Encounter -

That would have to be our little monster from the sea, a just-weaned female sealion pup who was angry at the world. Seen at Hinahina in the Catlins.

A close second (and on the same blog post as above) would have been this huge lump of lard, an Elephant Seal who we visited in nearby Pounawea Estuary.

Best Road Trip

This one was a hard one, we do so many road trips, it's how we explore this amazing country. We set up camp and then over the next few days or weeks we fan out exploring all the backroads and places of interest. Over five years the Ford Ranger has done 40,000 kilometres more than the 5th-wheeler; that's a lot of exploring. I decided the winner this year was our road trip into the interior, visiting the Ashburton Lakes and Erewhon Station; a bucket list place I'd wanted to visit since we've been on the road. Seeing Mt Sunday (LOTR's Edoras) was an added bonus.

Being able to visit the lakes again a few days later after more snow had fallen was also a highlight.

Best Paid Attraction

Bill Richardson Transport World wins this one hands down; an absolutely amazing display, reputedly the largest private collection of it's type in the world. Give yourself all day and then some to explore though.

Best Day Walk

The spectacular 8.4km return walk to Mt Arthur Hut, located in the Kahurangi National Park. If you're feeling able and fit, return via the steeper Flora Hut track.

The most taxing, but still spectacular, walk we did was the Waikaia River loop at Piano Flat.

I need to add another Day Walk in here too, this one wins the best shared walk because we did it with a special bunch of people, walking (and entertaining each other) all the way to Harwoods Hole.

Best Natural Phenomenon

There are no doubts with this one, after chasing the Southern Lights on several occasions and managing to shoot varying strengths, I finally struck gold with a magnificent aurora in May. Absolutely mindblowing and the highlight of the whole year.

Best 'Shiny' Trip

We love exploring 4WD tracks and the South Island has more than its fair share. This year we added quite a few more to our 'Done!' list, including the challenging Carricktown & Young Australian Waterwheel track. It didn't help that we probably should have travelled the track in the opposite direction.

Best DOC Camp

Once again we've stayed at many DOC camps through the year and we have enjoyed them all but this year I'm choosing Piano Flat in Southland as the winner; there are a number of reasons it ticks the boxes; it's an isolated very well maintained camp, it's beside a beautiful river, the bird life is phenomenal and best of all, we had the camp to ourselves for most of our stay.

Best Weather Experience

This would have to be waking up to a icy winter wonderland and a minus 12c frost in the remote Ahuriri Valley. Thank goodness for diesel heaters.

A close second would be the early evening snowfall we experienced at the Methven campground where we were staying.

And at the other end of the scale, the worst weather we experienced (other than more than our fair share of rain) was nearly three days of fog at Lake Benmore!

Best Bird Encounter

It was a toss up between these gorgeous penguins in the Catlins and their Dance of the Hoiho...

...and one very confiding juvenile NZ Falcon/Karearea at Poolburn Dam.

Best Commercial Campground

Pakawau Beach Camp, Golden Bay- by no means the flashest campground, Pakawau is one of the old school Kiwi camping grounds we remember from our childhood.

Pakawau Beach Camp is in a fabulous position right on the beach and has two of the friendliest camp managers we have had the pleasure of meeting on our travels.

Best Photo Oportunity

So, so many. Where do I start and how do I choose? In the end I've gone with the fabulous reflections on Wairepo Arm in the MacKenzie Country. Right place, right time.

Best NZMCA POP (park over property)

This would have to be NZMCA POP #8872, a POP that is very well hosted by our lovely friends Prue & Harry on their farm at Ettrick, a small settlement just east of Roxburgh.

Best Family Adventure

Too many to make just one of them #1. From Crank Up...

Celebrating New Year and camping at Pounawea...

...to having some fun on the Earnslaw with our Southland and Aussie families.

Best Dramatic Coastline

Ward Beach of course, and the unbelievable seabed uplift that happened after the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake.

Best Freedom Camping

Once again this was a difficult one as we have stayed at so many interesting freedom camping sites throughout the South Island, but I think Cattle Flat is one that stands out for me, not least because the Mataura was in flood and flowing very fast past just a few steps from our door but there were also some awesome cribs (baches, fishing huts) nearby, which made great photo subjects. Permission from the farm manager is required to stay here.

Best View

Nothing more than a Remarkable View...

Best Lake

This year Lake Onslow was the winner. We finally managed to revisit the lake and take 'Out There' with us this time so we were able to stay longer, enjoy the solitude and launch the dinghy for some serious fishing!

A close second was Poolburn Dam, a favourite lake of ours and on this visit we also managed to take 'Out There' in for a 12 day stay.

Best Special Event

We thoroughly enjoyed attending the 25th Goldfields Cavalcade in Omakau, Central Otago- well I did more so than David who is not really a horse person. 

Best Historic Visit

Well it is an historic high country station and I did want to include the Molesworth Road in my wrap-up for the year. This trip has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and after a few false starts we finally managed to spend six days exploring this isolated area. It didn't come without its hardships either; dust, a 1080 drop and a busted bridge all added to the challenge. Another top highlight for me.

Best Trip  *tongue in cheek*

Was it in the carpark outside the 4Square in Lumsden when I landed sprawled out across the footpath- gasping for breath and in great pain- with my groceries scattered in the gutter and across the road (I managed to have the store paint yellow danger lines on the offending kerb for my troubles). 

Or perhaps it was the tumble down the 5th-wheeler's steps which were coated in black ice (I'm sure I cracked by elbow on that one) or maybe the (thankfully) soft landing in the mounds of tussock after stepping into a hole at the end of the Lake Daniels walk. 

Nope, I think this one goes to my latest trip just because I did have to visit the hospital! Let's hope I learn to pick up my feet next year.

We've had a another wonderful year down South and we still have much to do down there. We will return eventually. But for the time being we have a busy year ahead of us up North. I'll look forward to sharing more blogs with you on the North Island and also sharing a few more exciting things that are in the pipeline including a visit to our newest grandson Otis, who was born on Boxing Day and lives in Melbourne with his parents, Lizzie & Jake.

Happy New Year to you all and all the very best for 2018, safe and happy travels.