The World Wide Webers: Middle Class Auckland Suburbia Temporarily Relocates to Paradise

Yesterday we plunged headfirst into the Auckland tradition of holiday camping, and it most probably won’t be our last opportunity. We spent most of the morning on the 27th packing up and saying good-bye to the folks at Manoah, our organic farm orchard dwelling. We don’t seem to be able to get an early start these days. When we finally hit the road all rigged up, we drove north up highway 10 on the east coast of the north island toward the Karikari peninsula. We had planned to drive all the way to the end of the peninsula to see if we could find a spot at the Department of Conservation camping area. The campsites there are on a first-come basis. Since we got such a late start, and we wanted to see Matauri Bay, we decided to try our luck at the Matauri Bay Holiday Park for a night in case we went all the way to the end of the peninsula only to find there were no sites available.

Driving into Matauri Bay is spectacular. The top of the road overlooks the magnificent bay lined with perfect beaches. The steep road winds down into the bay past a few beaches to the Matauri Bay Holiday Camp. Driving into the Holiday Park was like dropping from the clear blue sky into a rowdy fraternity party. The place was swarming with Auckland holidaymakers out to have a good time. They had brought everything with them. Each individual site was used to capacity. Full size fridges packed with beer next to hi-fi systems competing for attention next to microwaves churning out their suppers next to tv’s. Huge tents were butted right up to each other. There was no room whatsoever to squeeze us in. We were rather relieved. Matauri Bay will have to wait until the crowds have gone before we explore there again.

We drove north another half an hour to the next holiday park called Tauranga Bay Holiday Park where they had some sites available. Perhaps because they’re more expensive with a slightly less flashy bay, the campground seemed much more civilized. It was quite the scene none the less.

Here’s a typical tent with full size fridge, freezer, microwave, music, tables, etc.

People were crammed in here also with all their stuff squeezed into their designated border.

If you could get up here a littler earlier than the others, you could snag a beach front spot.

And the beach really is beautiful. The amazing thing is that this place is very quiet during the off-season. A few weeks earlier, there would only be a handful of people here, and the beaches are quite something.