Wanderwall

This section highlights in no specific order my collection of travel moments from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

2025 pot pourri

2024Journey ahead...Watch this space!

2017 - 2021

Snow PatrolSheepdog memorial at Lake Takapo

BIG BALLSI'm like a Rolling Stone - wave-cut Moeraki Boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the Otago Coast

Love at First BiteCromwell, the fruity Capital of Central Otago

Room with a View5 star in the campervan, when you camp directly next to turquoise aqua water like Twizel's canals

Glorious Glacier Fox and Franz Josef offers sensational vistas now retreating. They will disappear in our lifetime

Wairarapa WildernessUp over the Rimutaka Crossing, lies sedate Lake Ferry, bulldozer tractors, magnificent Cape Palliser and seal populations to match Kaikoura

Cape Cruise-adingHad a Whale of a Time! Whale Bay | Matapouri

Dennnnnnnnistonnn Possibly one of NZs true gems, a ghost town on the hill. The spectacular views, twists to the summit and death defying Rail Incline is quite gob smacking in its daring

Why do we campervan? Really...Spaces and Places...not a soul around, and rush-hour traffic was a whizzing past mobility scooter

Arty Farty Campers AheadNo Ball-Sh*t, just being arty on the shorelines

LIFE'S A BEACH!Tauranga Bay, but NOT in Tauranga. That fooled ya!

RE-A-PIERINGAlong the sweeping causeway you'll find Parua Bay and Manganese Point as you head to Whangarei Heads

Mangawahai MagicThere's in fact a sign dedicated to me! The real life Backing Officer. Uncanny! (More on 'Camp As' page)

Wet West Coast WanderMokihinui | Westport The beginning of the massive Kahurangi Park which dominates the entire top west of the West Coast, and wet too.

ScooteringMatauri Bay | Northland... The walk atop the hill on Matauri Bay is stunning towards a variety of offshore islands. But our joy was racing our scooters around the undeveloped roadway at a nearby controversial subdivision.

sausage capital of the worldRenowned for making superb sausages. They even conduct a tour too see the slippery stuff pushed into a sheath...just saying.

terrific tuatapereCheck out the Sausage on a fork monument and the original train station now in a paddock. Quirky Southlanders

burtvilleSomehow ,I fitted into the Burt Munroe actual racing Indian Motorcycle in Invercargill he raced on the USA Salt Flats

moonshine, hokonuiHome of an illicit drinking culture including museum where they still sell a tipple. Gold.

teapotland, owakaNothing Potty about Owaka

Cruising the Catlins Unspoilt NZ before the diggers moved in. Adventures, isolation, rain forests to the waters edge.

gems on the Otago Rail Trail3rd journey completed and still feeling the love of Central Otago

worlds steepestYou just have too...go on...you know you want too.

fabulous fleursYou heard it here, best NZ restaurant.

Queen DotThe actual Queen of Oamaru lives here, in her stone castle in Riverstone with a moat and drawbridge.

steampunk, oamaruNothing beats Oamaru for wonderful quirk.

phar lap, timaruBloody Aussies stole him too.

turquoise canal, twizelWe camped directly overlooking the turquoise waters of the Twizel canals.

mt.john tekapoNZs highest cafe and best vista by far.

snowed in, mckenzieOur 1st ever Snowman and boy were we proud parents

three creeksAmerican-ana collectors heaven, discovered at 3 Creeks.

private lowcliffe campOut of 250 camps we stayed in, possibly one of our most desired. A private beach , an ample beach fire and maybe romance too.

beautiful banks peninsulaClaude Monet paints his own beauty.

happiness does indeed look gorgeous on me...Hurunui Hotel, home to the longest running continuous licensed premises.

whale watching, kaikouraYou want to pack in how many folk into that tiny plane.

donegal house, kaikouraYou dont expect an authentic Irish pub in the backblocks farming area of Kaikoura, but most welcomed.

top of the southThe very beginning of the twisted foothills of the eventual Southern Alps.

the te araroa trailCmon, only 2000km of the Te Araroa's 3000km trail to go.

bottom of the southLands End of Aotearoa

looking good,kelzRetro life in Dunners

scotland of the southSouthern pot purri

Cook Strait Crossing3rd calm crossing. We pick em.

Bays of the Bay of Plenty Is that a goods train running through your camp?...Yep

Awarded NZs most loved beachWho comes up with these awards? Nice beach, but NZs Most Loved...a Tui Breweries moment perhaps

Sand treking OpotikiBest bike ever complete with outlandishly wide fat tyres.

campsite humourFreaky Granny peering over the fence in Rotorua.

napier beachesNapier area just have that little piece of magic and ironically you darent swim on the Napier foreshore.

black barn concertMy most fvourite concert venue throughout all NZ. Forget the crowds at the Mission Estate.

badger nosing inHe just made me smile, alot.

fishing with familyYeah, I know, beginners luck. Thanks Si, youre Gold.

Mount with Bestest MateA week touring the bays of the Mount with Pand. (his Dads name for him)

karangahake GorgeWhat can you say, other than still living the dream

Miranda Hot PoolsI went for the hotpools and Andy sought the beer can collection. No surprises there.

hotwater river outside RotoruaThis natural phenomenon is nuts, a continuously running spa temperature river gushing thousands of litres every minute of every day for thousands of years.

river crossing Orakei KorokoWe camped riverside, then ferried too the bubbling mountain of lava running down the hillside, opposite. Amazzzzzing.

volcanic watersBubbling waters from Taupo to Rotorua.

Love TaupoWe regularly stayed at 5 mile bay, until they gave the land to NZs first inhabitants and they said, no visitors. Sad day.

Beautiful BulmersLocals know about this spot, now we do too.

Bus stop MangikinoThe few times youre eager to get too the bus stop. Flat White, thankyou.

Te Kuiti TacklerAnother quiet farming boy, All Black and Te Kuiti hero in deceased, Colin Meads

3 Pillars TongaporutuWalk amongst the giant coastal rock formations, including an Elephant on the Taranaki Coastline.

new plymouth coastal walkwayOne of NZs best bike paths along the seaside of New Plymouth.

poi e pateaA most humble township that launched the iconic 80s hit 'Poi e'

Wainui Wop WopsA secret camping spot along the edge of the Taranaki Bight.

durie hill elevatorGot to be one of the most unique structures, with a working elevator inside a hill. Loved it.

private lake duddingAnother private oasis including a hidden lake away from the state highway outside Marton.

white cliffs of MangawekaNever been to Dover?

London Ford, KimbletonA big little village with a big little cafe of note. Also home to unique metal sculptures.

Fox TownThe small town with a huge Dutch Windmill at its entrance and still operates.

police pullover poriruaHome to NZs Police college and museum. Worth sneaking around. Allo, Allo, Allo.

windy wellyyyyyyyyStill a favourite Big City, but becoming crowded like Auckland. Dont become like Auckland, truly.

cape palliser climbathonMust be the longest straight upwards staircase, surely.

bird rescue lake ferryKelly performed a Bird Rescue at Lake Ferry when we spotted a giant seagull hooked up to a fishing line. Top outcome.

tui, yeah rightWere we tempting fait at the Tui Brewery or maybe simply an Omen to the future. Awww, shame really.

eastcape explorerYou know alot doesnt happen on the East Cape, when you stop to witness two cows head butting.

clifton on seaMagic stops at Clifton and Woodville where the highway was destroyed by rockfall.

pier without peerLongggggggggggggggest Pier at Tologa Bay

pukehina paradiseA freedom camping spot overlooking a wild beach, but beautiful

lost jandalHey, I dropped my jandal at Maketu. Have you seen it...two rubber foot straps.

Disco Dancin DaveDisco Fever hit the Bay, and we were groovin to The Jacksons, Village People and the Pointer Sister. OMG, YMCA-Ayyyye.

maketu magic memoriesFamily Fav. Thanks guys, delicious.

mitre 10 ?No. Mitre Peak at the end of a joyous journey from Te Anu, through the Homer Tunnel and down the dragstrip to unbelievable Milford Sound.

mirror lakeBabe, did you bring your travel mirror?

youre awesome, so drive safeChecking the engine after the drive up the Bluff Hills.

Catlin CoastlineWild, Windy, Wonderous

rockclock rockclock rockclock.Got to be a local drinking game in Alexandra

as far as the eye can seeThe views down Lake Whakatipu seem ceaseless, as in they just go and go and go.

Lake whakitipu 's wonderSorry Queenstown but youve ruined the city of dreams, but outside the city limits, heaven still exists.

Quirky and quaint queenstownersLove quirky displays and this region seems to specialise in it. Never stop.

moments that matteredCalm Waters, Calm Girl, Calm Dog, Calm Days. Quite Special.

road to glenorchyStill my most favoured road trip. Te Anu to Milford Sound mirrors that too.

before the developers arriveWe just dont learn. The developers have arrived. Sad for every future generation. Breaks my soul, truly. Just let it exist as it currently stands.

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHigh speed jetboat up the river, then sweep down in a blowup kayak.

one of my favourite pics of kelly in the goodtimes together.Yeah, still special to me.

kelly on bungy, yeah rightWe visited the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown often, but I just couldn't hook Kelly up to the bungy line.

there's gold in them river, arrowtownMany decades later, daily visitors still discover gold in the river.

True beginning of the otago rail trail,from the southStunning sweeping views as far afield as Clutha township

NZs Oldest Running , Historic Dairy at OturehuaThere is uniqueness everywhere along the Otago Rail Trail including outdoor icerinks at Naseby and dog sledding

Old Cromwell TownIn many ways the old town is still better than the new town. Alot of the original town was sunk under the man made Clutha River system

Cromwell Stole my HeartWithout doubt possibly the most times we visited a town. Its just something about it.

Cobb and Co, The Clean and Seaside CafeYeah, I could live here, the true Edinburgh of the south.

Baldwin Street Simply Famous. Buggar off Welsh street who pretended they wore the steepest street award. Go sing in the valleys.

Aramoana got under my skinI was surprised by its beauty and equal tragedy. Even saw an angry seal chasing a free running dog, and boy did he run.

Kalm KellyI always sought an activity plan each day. Kelly was always a calming influence and her art on the road was her tranquil space.

Favourite Fleur FeastsThe restaurant that has inspired my highest accolade, Fleurs of Moeraki

Walls BallsMy earliest childhood memories were the Walls Balls icecreams in plastic mini round footballs. These beauty are the rock versions.

Oamaru PicnickerA town after my own heart. The naked picknicker made me laugh. I truly got the Southern humour.

The PortalThousands descend on the Steam Punk museum and its possibly NZs best

Tame TimaruMy Aunt lived here, but ive never found its magic. Even the beachside is blighted by a shipping container zone. Sorry, Timmers, what am I missing?

Teds BottleOn the outskirts of Waimate youll find the Forks Hotel. The tale behind 'Teds Bottle' is something to witness.

Thats Us at the Front of the Camper QueueAnother special stop when out of season.

Alps to OceanHalfway along the route from Mt. Cook in the Alps to Oamaru on the coast is Lake Benmore and Dam

Flatwhite and Fish Feed, PleaseJust when you thought youd been to most cafe styles, along comes a fish feeding frenzy whilst sipping your cuppa.

Lake Pukaki to Mt CookThe lake to lake drive, Tekapo to Pukaki and onto Mt. Cook remains a gem.

My number one cafe, ever360 degree views over the McKenzie region is an all time winner. Plus you can warm your hands with a flatwhite. Doesnt get much better. Mt John above Tekapo.

Tekapo, delivers again

Keeping Snowman ToastyI think we have become avid snow chasers as the day before we were in sunshine, then a white Christmas.

Yep, More Snowy PhotosBut I just cant get enough of this view.

Pattinson PondsHidden out the back of bustling Tekapo is a serene riverside camp with a variety of tiny lakes.

Love CromwellI just do.

Lake DunstanA very long lake, manmade round here to essentially feed the orchards, vineyards and the downstream Clutha Dam.

Book Barn, Actually in a BarnStumbled across this most fascinating barn in a one horse town of Winchester

Longest NZ RoadbridgeSelf explanatory, really

Home of the Blue Pub and the Brown PubJust down the road from Mt. Hutt, youll also discover the Topp Twins reside here too.

Silo ShantyActually very delightful quirky accommodation option at Little River on the Banks Peninsula.

A French BoltholeViva le France. A very French feeling township on the bulbous peninsula at Akaroa.

185 Empty ChairsPossibly the most poignant memorial for the Christchurch earthquake victims.

RrrrribbitWeka Pass Frog Rock....Rrrrrrbbittt

Golden Sands, Golden BayNo Gold here, sorry, just acres upon acres of sandy bays. However in my mind, there's ya Gold

Farewell SpitBeyond the great divide of the Takaka Hills, are bay after bay of sunny beachy heaven. All the way up to Farewell Spit at the head of the South Island.

'Pupu' ,NZs purest water sourceWaikoropupu Springs off the Tasman Mountains houses the clearest ever water. a burly security guard watches over those who dare to swim.

Badger's final holiday destination. Our last stop in the South Island and boy what a discovery.

Popped home between tripsThis is my actual home, just on the edge of Birkenhead's Chelsea Sugar Refinery.

1st stop heading northwardsThe famed Puhoi Tavern.

Freedom from AucklandOne of our first overnight stops when heading up to Northland.

Dont JumpFalls (bad pun) at Kerikeri

favourite Freedom Camping.Snells Beach is surprisingly quiet for the Warkworth Peninsula, but that will change with the new motorway currently being built from Auckland.

Tasty TinopaiAs Warkworth area blossoms, this is Northlands next tranquil hideaway. But, changing too.

The Rainbow Warrior?Dargaville is home to the muddiest river in NZ, the edible Kumara and strangely the actual mast of the infamously French sunken boat, the Rainbow Warrior.

Performance Anxiety!Toilets in Puzzling World, Wanaka

Gold Finger!Gold Panning in Ross

No Stopping 24 HOURKeep moving when trekking glaciers. Franz Josef

It's Only MeKingston Lake Wakatipu

No Doubt At AllCruising Doubtful Sound

Bluest WatersFreshest Blue Spring Te Waikoropupu Takaka

Auckland Motorway Offramp, TRULYThe Lightpath or Pink Path off K Road, Auckland

'Cloud Art', they SayNew Lynn Transit Public Art Piece, Auckland

Mesmerising Museum Night LightAuckland War Memorial, Parnell, Auckland

Badgers' Memorial

Badger, was our number one travel buddy, and sadly died in November, 2019 by the mouth of another dog. He travelled front seat on our 50,000km, 5 year journey. It changed us both. His joyous times are photographed and appear at the foot of this page on 'Wanderwall'.

(Miss ya Buddy).