RV Travel Lifestyle

Here we are at the end of 2022 and the start of 2023. This last year has just flown by, but then we say that every year since we grew up and became adults with responsibilities, right? The days of long, lazy summers playing with friends and family are reserved for kids, that is until you get into the camping, caravanning, motor home RV Lifestyle, then it is all play again, whew! What a strange old year it has been, we thought we would get back to normal after Covid-19 ravaged 2020 and 2021, and the start of 2022 was so positive worldwide. Then the Russians mobilised and started a war in Ukraine. The repercussions of this have seen the world stagger, with food supply shortages, gas, fuel and crude oil…

Following 19th century bridle paths, State Highway 43 traverses remote gorges through dense native forest for much of its 150km length. A short section of the Tāngarākau Gorge remains unsealed, unique for one of our state highways, but recently 2km was sealed, and piles of fine metal indicate that there may be further sealing to be done shortly. Known as the Forgotten Highway, it begins (or ends) in Taumarunui and winds its way westward to Stratford. Bizarrely, in a country where Waka Kotahi is determined to lower speed limits on many roads, and where the Forgotten Highway is classed as one of the 10 most dangerous roads in the country (it’s fine if you take it quietly), for much of its length the speed limit is 100kph, which due to…

“Covid has changed things. Summer is taking over from the traditional winter ski-field sports. Since the border closures we’re seeing fewer backpackers, and more visitors who want to hike and cycle. These people either have their own RVs or require a different type of accommodation to the traditional hostel style, and stay somewhere not necessarily boutique where they can relax in comfort.” Braden Allen of Ohakune Hot Tubs is one of several people who have moved to Ohakune for the lifestyle and set up a business catering to these needs. After walking the Waitonga Falls Track we’d submerged ourselves in one of his private open-air wood-fired tubs. In late afternoon, relaxing under a blue-dome sky, being studiously ignored by a couple of kererū that were feasting in a tall kōwhai…

The Kiwi home of mountain bike trails seems to have it all. But for all its gondola-assisted down-hilling, jump areas, bike parks and legendary international riding events and hundreds of tracks, Rotorua has lacked a single trail that caters for the cross-country rider on a day trip, one that is close to the city and explores some of the best natural features of the area. Until recently, that is. The missing cycling category has been found, with the NZ Cycle Trail ‘Great Rides’ brand having drawn a big circle on the Rotorua biking map. The Great Rides are the cycling equivalent of the NZ Great Walks. Unlike the iconic multi-day back-country walks, the Great Rides are as diverse as the cyclists that use them. Some trails are for the casual rider,…

Ōpōtiki’s vision of connected coastal trails progressed significantly in 2022. The Dunes Trail section of Motu Trails was recently resurfaced, so the spectacular 9km gravel trail is as smooth and wide as it has ever been. A lot of focus was given both to the flow of water (getting water quickly off the track) and to the flow of cyclists (getting better sight lines and more intuitive cambers). A little adjustment can make a big difference! The Dunes Trail also gained a new section of boardwalk in mid-2022, replacing 50m of gravel track that regularly washed out in high seas. Driving to Ōpōtiki from Whakatāne, you can’t help but notice there’s now easy, flat trail almost all the from Te Ahiaua/the Pipi beds through to the SH2 Waioeka bridge pathway at the…

Hukutaia Domain is 7km south of Opotiki on Hukutaia Road (turn off at the Waioeka highway bridge). The trail is a short amble through a magnificent 5ha pocket of forest, featuring a 2000-year-old pūriri known as Taketakerau. For a quick glimpse of the splendour of coastal North Island forest, this is hard to beat. Onekawa Te Mawhai is a regional park overlooking Ōhiwa Harbour, 15km from Ōpōtiki. It’s another magnificent spot, with panoramic ocean, harbour and farmland views. The hilltop is the site of Onekawa and Te Mawhai pā. You can do a 9km loop, featuring steep but well-formed bush trail and Waiotahe beach. A perfect base is the Ōhiwa Beach Holiday Park, at the foot of the park. Te Waiti Track is the next valley system over from the Pakihi Track.…