North to Northland

The Nippon Clipon

Photo by:

Bridgepix

If you're heading north from Auckland by auto or RVing, plan your trip to avoid commuter traffic. The motorway cuts through downtown Auckland, then jams all the traffic across a narrow bridge into Northcote. Like most metropolitan areas, road construction often adds to the confusion. The Nippon Clipon, Auckland's bridge, was once four lanes-- now it's eight. The extra four were built in Japan, towed to Auckland and clipped to the existing bridge. From the Auckland Harbor Bridge, you'll have a beautiful view of the Westhaven Marina, WaitemataHarbour and Fishermans Wharf with all the sailboats bouncing in the bay or anchored along the shoreline-- which you'll probably never see if it's your first time driving on the left side of the road in a strange vehicle while you're trying to keep your fenders along for the trip.

The kiwis are polite and friendly-- until they get in a small vehicle. Then watch out! It helps to have a 3500 kg RV with a roo bar. Truck drivers and other movaners stay on their fair share of the road, but watch out for those snappy little sports cars and SUVs. It helps to remind yourself as you're clutching the steering wheel afraid to change lanes and trying to keep yourself lined up in the lane you belong in that New Zealand has no-fault insurance. And, you'll make it across the Northcote and Birkenhead sooner or later, I promise. And when you do, there's a very nice Holiday Park on Northcote Road just over the bridge if you're driving or RVing.

We always like to spend at least a month north of Auckland. Pick up the Jasons Twin Coast Discovery Highway map (free) some where along the line. Northland is rich in history, there's plenty to do, and it's warmer-- remember the sun's in the north. The South Island is beautiful and we usually spend at least a month there, too but our home is in the Cascade Mountains and the South Island is much like home.

You've made it across that bridge. So pull into a motel or campground then find a pub or snap open a brew of your own and toast that Nippon Clipon you conquered and your next adventure in the Northland.

We'll be taking a tiki tour counter clockwise through the Northland. Any questions?

Lyn Harris

RV in NZ

New Zealand with Limited Mobility(Part2)

Maui Rental Van

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When visiting New Zealand, getting around means more than renting a car or RV and picking up a guide book and a good map if you have mobility problems. You need wheelchair accessible transportation and accommodations. With a little advanced planning, wheelchair users can drive themselves or travel with a tour guide companion.

I hope you're thinking of trying Lake Waikaremoana. If so, you need to start planning now for next season. Accommodations are limited in the summer season. If you're planning to stay at the Lake Whakamarino Lodge, Accessible New Zealand has rental cars with hand controls. Galaxy Motors specializes in rental vehicles for people with disabilities. They also offer tour guide/companions and specialized tours to fit your travel plans.

If you want to rent a motorcaravan and try RVing, check out Mobility Motorhomes. Designed for wheelchair users, their units are fitted with hand controls and detachable steering wheel knobs. They're also fitted with a self-operating electric wheelchair lift which folds under the entrance door. Bathrooms have double doors for easy access.

If you're not interested in driving a car or RVing, the Intercity Bus runs through the park from Wairoa to Rotarua and return three days per week. Buses have fold down ramps for wheelchairs. A shuttle service can also be arranged from Wairoa.

Lake Waikaremoana in English means more or less-- Old man who fell asleep by the fire and roasted his private parts. I think I like the Maori version better. If you're visiting the "Land of the Mist," expect to get wet. Fog hangs around in the morning and settles in late evening-- and that's in the summer. Bring enough clothes to stay warm and dry. You don't want to get cold and fall asleep by a fire and get roasted.

Since you're planning for next season, you have time to contact Kiwis about their travels. If you're planning to spend time in Auckland, Red Nicholson, a Kiwi, can offer some advice. He's not a travel agent, just another Kiwi traveler. According to Red, "Most hotels/motels, and even backpackers have wheelchair access. It is a very common feature here." Check out Red's site Walking is Overrated.

New Zealand on Wheels is a wheelchair travel guide with reviews by Kiwis who have been there and done that. A recent review on the Wellington Botanic Gardens offers suggestions for getting around-- the gardens are not flat. Check the tourist sites they've reviewed and if you can't find what you're looking for-- ask. The Kiwi people are kind and generous. The tourism industry always promotes the scenery, but seldom mentions their greatest asset-- their friendly people.

Lyn Harris

RV in NZ

New Zealand with Limited Mobility

New Zealand

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Itsabitblurry

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Once out of Auckland, much of New Zealand is rugged, remote, and best seen by car or RVing. Even with limited mobility, you can visit many off the beaten track locations with wheelchair accessible vehicles.

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Department of Conservation camps, Te Papa Atawhai, (DOC) camps are government reserves. If you really want to get back into untouched country, try a DOC camp. There are restrictions on maximum length of stay and type of vehicle-- RVs, buses, and other vehicles designed to sleep people are acceptable. Cars are not.

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Five thousand people per year visit Lake Waikaremoana. Many come to fish for brown and rainbow trout, kayak, or tramp the Lake Waikaremoana Track. Managed by DOC, this 46 km three to four day tramp which follows the lakeshore is part of the Great Walks.

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Te Urewera is the largest National Park in the North Island. Often called "Land of the Mist" it's a rain-forest with many native birds including Kiwi birds. Some of the comments from AA's Travel New Zealand site are:

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"It's amazing, quiet, untouched...well worth the drive over the dodgy roads!!!"

"The road trip is a bit shocking but once you are there, it is a must to stay a night or two."

"Thank goodness the roads in are aweful as it keeps it one of New Zealand's most beautiful but isolated areas."

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We thought so, too-- the beautiful and isolated part. The road didn't seem that much of a problem. We had a fairly large-- for New Zealand-- RV and usually dropped most of the water from our tanks before leaving Wairoa hoping we'd have a little more get up and go to get up the hill. We spent four to five months each year in our RV and carried more heavy stuff than the average visitor, but still worried about too much water.

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The road from Wairoa is mainly sealed. It seemed pretty tame compared to some we found in the South Island. We usually camped in one of the campgrounds along Hwy 38 which runs through the center of the park, or stayed in the HAPNZ Motorcamp. On the lake near the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre, the Motorcamp is wheelchair friendly as are the lake side family cabins which sleep four or five people.

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If you're looking for a little more comfort, you might like the Lake Whakamarino Lodge on one of the smaller nearby lakes. While in the park, you can cruise the bays and inlets of Lake Waikaremoana in a charter boat, try you luck at trout fishing-- a 28.6 lb brown trout was caught recently-- or take a guided Eco-tour.

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AA Traveling New Zealand has more comments about Te Urewera and some nice photos of Lake Waikaremoana. If you've read the archives about AA, you know your U.S. AAA card is good for discounts in New Zealand.

(To be continued)

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Lyn Harris

www.rvinnz.com

Auckland/Western Springs

Winged Sprint Cars

Photo By:

Carl Blake

If you like cars, boats and airplanes, or anything else that goes varoom, varoom, New Zealand is the place for you. While RVing in New Zealand, we spent a good part of our time finding anything that went fast and made noise-- or did at one time. We found motorcycle races at Mata Mata where sidecars with feet dragging crew maneuvered around corners-- most of the time. We found Destruction Derby races in the Far North where little kids yelled, "Go Uncle Joe!" and threw dirt clods at the drivers trying to bang Uncle Joe. As far as I know, they don't close Auckland down to run motorcycles through the streets, and I don't remember any kids throwing dirt clods at the Western Springs Speedway, but Auckland has Motat.

The Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat) has a little of everything from trams to an aviation collection covering over 100 years of New Zealand transportation. On the Great North Road, next to Western Springs Park, Motat's aviation collection is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It includes the only Solent Mark IV Flying Boat in the world and also one of the few remaining WW2 Avro Lancaster Bombers. Restored steam trains are also a popular part of Motat. For operating days, visit Motat. A collection of operating tram cars covers 120 years of steam, cable and electrical tram traction. Number 248 runs from Motat's Great South Road site past the zoo to Motat's Motion Road site.

If you enjoy speedway racing, or just want to get a little mud in your face, catch the Midget World Series or the Spring Car Classic at Western Springs Speedway. A circle track, six classes race here including midgets, sprints, and motorcycles. Most Saturday nights between November and March, you can find US and Kiwi drivers competing for the chance to tear up their car or tear up their body in the chase for the trophy. A natural amphitheater, the Western Springs Stadium holds 30,000 for sports events and 50,000 for large music concerts.

Four kilometers west of the city center, parking is fairly easy if you're RVing or traveling by car. The Auckland Explorer Bus stops at Motat. Western Springs Speedway is on nearby Stadium Road.

Lyn Harris

RV in NZ: How to Spend Your Winters South in New Zealand