Wanderings in Wanderer - day 1

Travelling again in our bus, Wanderer. First stop, across the country from Whangarei - Dargaville - for coffee at Blah, Blah, Blah.

We cycled the first part of this trail (in red) from Dargaville and back.

The track follows the route of an old railway line, here's a bit of old railway stuff - not sure about the al fresco toilet! :-)

We stayed at the Dargaville NZMCA Park. Two old boat builder's sheds remain here. This one is a place for members to lounge, swap books, have happy hour etc. We were off to town for dinner.

 

At Kai Iwi Lakes

It's late summer now and we've had two visits to Kai Iwi Lakes, near Dargaville. The first visit we stayed in Dargaville, beside the Wairoa River. We woke to a hazy morning...

...then on to the lakes. Malcolm wanted to test the bike rack he'd designed and built.

The bike rack hinges to give access to the storage area and so the back door can be opened for ventilation when it's hot.

We've walked around the lakes before but this time we cycled.

On our second visit be joined our friends Sue and Jeff in their bus, Buster.

Morning light

Evening drinks

Then we headed south, Stopping for coffee at Coast Cafe in Maungatoroto.

 

Exploring the Kaipara part two

Next stop, the next day, Ruawai, where the Wairoa River meets the Kaipara Harbour. We walked a bit along the stopbank then had coffee and explored the town.

Next stop Tokatoka, a volcanic plug shaped like a perfect cone. There were 360 degree views from the summit.

This is the 'smile!' pic...

...this is me climbing up the very steep last bit with the bus down on the road.

Tokatoka in the background after we were safely back down and on the road to Dargaville.

Had lunch in Dargaville and a walk around before heading back home.

 

Dargaville

We spent some time at the Dargaville Museum. Motorhomes can park overnight and it would be a good spot to see the town lit up at night (though you'd miss happy hour at the NZMCA Park down by the river!)

This is the overnight parking area.

I am always awed by this ancient carved post that was found in the sands of the Pouto Peninsula. It would have been very tall (this photo only shows the top part).

 

Kai Iwi Lakes

 

Finally we got a couple of good warm, sunny days so we loaded 

 up the bus and headed off for Kai Iwi Lakes - they are on the west coast, about an hour and a half from here.

We parked overlooking the biggest lake and then walked around it....

A nice, two hour stroll.

Then we drove into Dargaville and parked at the NZMCA Park. In the late afternoon we strolled around town...

Statue commemorating the gum diggers, mainly from Dalmatia (Croatia)

The park is at an old boatyard, complete with historic boatsheds...

where we spent happy hour (or two) with the other motorhomers, followed by this sunset.