Favourite NZ holiday spots
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35727
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Topic: Favourite NZ holiday spots
Posted By: nicandtyler
Subject: Favourite NZ holiday spots
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 4:48pm
Where are everyone's favourite NZ holiday spots, and why? I've been soooo looking forward to this summer with T and cant wait to head down to our place at Whangamata- been going there since I was born, so for 23 years a few times a year, and really want T to grow up being able to call that place his second home like I have, I love the beach down there and being able to walk everywhere and just the general feel I get whenever I go down there *sigh* can't wait to get down there again, but would also be interested in taking T to some other places over summer, so feel free to let me know your favourite spots for summer  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 April '11
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Replies:
Posted By: 4thtymlucky
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 6:13pm
Love Tarras, South Island near Cromwell.,.it's beautiful...
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 6:34pm
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I always went to Auckland (no joke), New Plymouth and Taumaranui (sp?) I always enjoyed Taumaranui the best because we went camping rather than motels (Auck/NP) and stayed for about a month. Would go swimming in the River... Walks through the town centre... Just chilling out! Whereas Auck would be the Museum (Motat?), Zoo, catch the Ferry... Etc. And NP would be drive to Waitomo caves or just general walking round...
Since meeting DP, his family have ALWAYS gone to Himatangi (sp?) beach! So for the last 3 years we have gone there and it's pretty much like Taumaranui - camping, off to the beach, quad/motor bike riding in the dunes, or off to Palmerston North for the day to go to the mall etc. If it rains we'd go to the movies. We will be taking DD to Himatangi this year and every year after with the ILs. They usually have a campervan whilst DP and I have a tent so we'll see what we do this year re that but honestly can't wait, it gets so hot (30+ degrees) but can also get really cold and wet (boo!) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 7:21pm
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Dear God, Taumarunui? why on earth? (i grew up there and escaped ASAP)
Taupo we love - mainly cause we have family there - same for Gisborne and rotorua. |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 7:27pm
| Ohope or Ohiwa beach. Driving down there is like living in a postcard. Ocean on one side and pohutukawas hanging over the road on the otherside. Beautiful. Ohiwa is less populated but no surf patrol etc. |
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 7:30pm
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when I read the title of the topic I was going to say Whangamata!!! have been going there since I was born too...27 summers and counting, only missed one when I was overseas...may miss this summer too...depends when bubba decides to grace us with her presence!!! due Dec 17th so who know!!!
I feel the same, as soon as I cross the bridge from Moana Point I seem to relax...we would move there if were practical...maybe in three or four years... other places we enjoy are Leigh Marine Reserve...easy day trip, and other beaches on the Coromandel... ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 7:55pm
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Not sure it was just where my mum went as a kid and we always had a place at the camping ground. We went to Gisborne but never went back, not sure why??
I suppose I just enjoyed the camping and the playing in the river best ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nicandtyler
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 8:21pm
oh yea i forgot about rotorua, havent been there for ages, yea sandie nothing beats whangamata, i could move there tomorrow if i had the chance i love it there so much, ive thought about trying to get DP to move there  but maybe a bit later on - hopefully you'll get to go down, i went down with T when he was 6 weeks old for new years, not that we did anything haha was in bed by 11pm, but cant wait to get down again for summer, might relocate there for a few weeks ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
April '11
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Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 10:58pm
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I love Pahia and Russell it is so beautiful up that way. I would love to make another trip up that way as last time I went was for my 1st wedding anniversary back in 2004. |
Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 6:56am
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I love Kennedy Park in Napier, and Waimarama is great too though I think it can get a bit rowdy over new years. We never really did holidays as a child so I hope to take DD on lots! ------------- 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 8:22am
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Awwww up north is so beautiful! I would love to take Lily to Kerikeri one year! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 11:51am
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I LOVE Wanaka/Alex/Cromwell all that area. Really enjoy it when it's really warm over summer.
I also love love LOOOOVE Te Anau Not sure what we'll do for a holiday this year. DH is off work for the first time over xmas/new years for the first time since we've been together (he usually ends up on call)... |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 12:49pm
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I love Nelson, Golden Bay and up round there. We used to camp at Mapua every year as kids and a few times at Kaiteriteri as well.
Basically I just love camping in summer though! I really miss that being away. DH's family used to drive up to Whitianga every year from Wellington  It's pretty different now to when he used to go as a kid though.
We stayed in Paihia on our last trip home with Callum and LOVED it, I would love to go back up north and explore some more. The amazing weather definitely helped too. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 1:17pm
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As a kid we went to Waihi Beach - Mum and Dad would rent a bach for 2 weeks over the summer. I grew up in Akl so Coromandel and Northland were all in easy reach. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 1:17pm
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I love the top 10 holiday park in Hastings, with Spash Planet down the road.
Love Taupo. De Bretts with the hot pools We only stay in motor camps, thats half the fun. Plus its cheap. We cant afford a holiday this year, but i might take DD camping somewhere close, maybe Castle Point or Riversdale etc. Near the beach but cheap to pitch a tent for one or two nights. -------------  
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 14 September 2010 at 1:21pm
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You should check out the DOC campgrounds they're pretty cheap and have basic facilities, running water, toilets etc. Great for little kids if you don't mind them going without a bath for a couple of days. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 15 September 2010 at 9:03pm
| thanks so much for that! we are dying to take the kids camping - we are however, missing a lot of the main requirements to camp. is there anywhere you can rent gear? |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 15 September 2010 at 10:58pm
| We go to camping grounds but stay in the tourist cabins. I like my own running water and toilets plus a real bed. But love the campground feel. That way we don't need gear and we can hang out with people and have a good time with creature comforts. |
Posted By: nicandtyler
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 8:10am
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all these spots sound sooo good, im just holding out for summer now so we can take T on his first proper holiday ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
April '11
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Posted By: BriAndOlisMum
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 8:22am
He he I come from Opotiki, When I was growing up I thought it was a sh*t place to live, but now when I go back there I realise how nice it actually is. Bay of Islands is beautiful, went camping there for 2 weeks over new years a couple years ago. This year we are going to Taupo bay, up northland, never been there before and gonna be interesting camping with a 10 month old, staying for a week. -------------  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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kiwi2 wrote:Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 9:52am
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I wanted to go camping over Christmas but I guess camping at 8.5 months is probably out of the question? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 12:37pm
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I miss going away for holidays and going camping. Before having kids we would always have at least 2 weeks away somewhere. Favourite places have been Sandspit (near Warkworth), Ohiwa, Pahia (all up north)
We recently did a trip down south and would one day love to explore there more. I would also love to go up the Coromandel some time... I think we will just wait until the girls are bigger and it is easier to travel far with them. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 2:52pm
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I have mixed feelings about taking babies camping, as I've had the unfortunate experience of staying in a crowded campground with someone elses crying baby. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: rachndean
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 4:42pm
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clover camping with babies is good fun we go camping pretty every weekend from labour weekend until xmas, then from the end of January until easter. End of December to end of January the campgrounds are manic up here, but when we go we are quite often the only ones in the grounds!!!
Tauranga Bay (up north) is gorgeous, one of our favourites. Matai Bay we also love, but we only go there when the weather is really warm as it i a DoC ground so there is no hot water
If anyone is heading up these ways over summer, let me know! I would love to meet you, and play tour guide!!!
Our favourite holidays are spent sailing in the Bay of Islands. We are very VERY lucky to live in such a stunning part of the world!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
DD Savannah 18.01.04 DS Austin 04.09.08 |
Posted By: KrazeeKaz
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 5:12pm
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I love Whangamata also, used to go there quite alot until family moved to AKL.
nicandtyler/sandie - do you remember Pinkies Restaurant? My mums aunty used to own it. The other place I love to go to is Whangapoa, it is a bit further up the Coromandel, wonderful little town, very quiet with a beautiful beach. |
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 6:23pm
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Kaz...I miss Pinkies! still call it Pinkies now, cant actually remember what it is called... ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 16 September 2010 at 6:25pm
I was 8 months when we went, was only for 2 nights lol but wasn't too bad! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: KrazeeKaz
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 6:22am
| sandie - it is now called Surf n Sounds, and it is nothing like it used to be. |
Posted By: nicandtyler
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 8:21am
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haha kaz yes i rememeber pinkies, me and my sisters would make our parents take us there all the time for the chicken nuggets and pink panther drinks yea its blue now! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
April '11
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Posted By: KrazeeKaz
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 9:48am
| I used to love going there to see our family till they sold it and moved on, Whangamata is not the same anymore but still an awesome place to go and stay |
Posted By: nuts_nats
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 12:49pm
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Reading this thread is making me sooo hang out for summer!! I was born and grew up in the states but was always camping holidays for us every summer and have the best memories
I can't wait to take DD camping this summer! She will be a year old and I'm sure she will love it. We did go for a couple night when she was 2 weeks old last summer but I think the experience sort of went over her head 
My fave spot are up north, where I grew up after coming to NZ... Kerikeri, the Bay of Islands and the beaches further north, Matai Bay, Coopers Beach, so beautiful! Like some others suggested if you don't have camping gear, no problem... go to a campground or holiday park and rent a tourist cabin or caravan! They are pretty cheap and the facilities, cooking and showers, toilets etc make going with babies much easier A good option if you can only get away for a night or 2 also, packing up a car of gear is a pain for short trips....------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Chex001
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 1:02pm
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Kawau island!!! No cars either so have to get places by boat or foot ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilyslim.com"> 
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Posted By: heaf3
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 1:45pm
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Waipu Cove! practically lived at the beach there over summer (grew up in waipu and my grandparents have a place overlooking the beach). nice camp ground, awesome beach!! favourite place to go and only a half hour drive from where i live hehe so not really a holiday spot for me but i love it there. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 17 September 2010 at 3:50pm
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Nice to read that so many people go to Whangamata! So many wonderful memories for me and my family and now we are creating those memories for DD at Whanga, although there not quite like what I had where I could catch 100 sprats a day down on the wharf. Nowadays you barely catch any!
Personally though I LOVE camping and took DD at just 8 weeks old. She was an absolute star the whole 3 weeks we camped and its actually where she began to sleep through from 9pm till 5am every single night. Must have been all that fresh sea air ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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