Debut trip to Paraparaumu Beach
30.04.19 Tuesday
Kapiti Holiday Resort, 15 Beach Haven Place, Paraparaumu Beach x 2 nights - $44/night.
Loaded up the van with food and wine, hooked it up behind the car with only a small lesson learned, keep the brake on while engaging the motor movers otherwise jockey weheel can move. Didn't go far though but need to keep in mind.
Had an uneventful drive north, traffic was light at mid-day and weather was good. Van tows nicely, don't really know it is there and it was quite windy on the road.
The camp is great, large grassy area with individual chalets including a toilet, basin and hot shower for each site. Friendly Manager too. It's just a short walk to Manly Street then down the track and you're on the beach. Walked a couple of blocks north and found a useful shopping complex, two dairies, coffee bar, bakery and a booze shop. We had some cloud cover today interspersed with sunny patches and 17C but during my later afternoon walk it started to spit so I didn't stay out long.
Got some neighbours, also in a UK van, they are newbies too, bought theirs in the South Island.
We had yummy seafood wraps for dinner, no cooking - no frypan!
We were toasty warm overnight, good insulation in these UK vans. Love our ceiling window, watched the stars cross the sky during the night and left the radio on Coast which reminds me I need to check out some song lyrics.
Day 2: Wednesday 01.05.19 White Rabbits!!
Sun is out and it came on the van about 9am. Leisurely brekkie, just the usual weetbix and fruit - the fridge works well and after a sit in the sun with our books took ourselves off to the Warehouse to buy a floor mat and a frypan just in case we want to cook tonight.
Our site is on the east side so we got the sun until it disappeared behind the rather tall macrocapa trees separating the site rows. It was still early so I took myself off for a brisk walk into the township to have a look around and check out our dinner options.
As it turned out we availed ourselves of the local Kapiti RSA Club, a Guinness Pie and Thai Beef Salad for $39 hit the spot and was good value.
Day 3: Thursday 02.05.19 - Paraparaumu Beachfront
Sun is out again and we start to pack up, starting with the gazebo but it has some dew on it so leave it in the sun on the other side. Harvey and Wendy come to visit and bring a lovely zucchini cake, bless them! We are late leaving but camp it's not very busy so hope we don't get growled. We want to stay down on the beachfront overlooking Kapiti tonight and see how we go with freedom camping.
We find a spot near the end and have a slight altercation with the wooden post! But when the car on the end moves on, we use out motor movers to reposition the van so the front windows look out over the sea and Kapiti Island - beautiful. A long walk along the beach and back along the main road rounds out the afternoon nicely for us both. Topped off by a stunning sunset!
These three beach front car parks allow two freedom campers each for a 24 hour period and we were visited by council staff checking our containment certificate number the following day. After it got dark tonight a big green bus snuck in making a total of three, but they left early in the morning so didn't get caught. We talked to the campers in the Merc van who were from Dannevirke and do a lot of freedom camping with their little fluffy white dog.
Christened our new fry pan tonight with toasted sammies for dinner. Gas hob worked well.
Kim tested the van's shower the next morning and all good. Although our drain hose is way too long and lies along the ground so that our waste water doesn't drain well - hose needs to be shortened. Another we job for the list when we get home.
Day 4: Friday 03.05.19
Sat out in the sun talking to the passer-bys, all very friendly. Had our solar panel out and that caused a few comments. Les came to visit, lovely to see him too. Early afternoon we packed up and headed along towards Raumati to see the other freedom carpark but couldn't see it on the fly.
As we were driving through the village Kim missed a speed hump and I didn't warn him in time to react so we hurtled over it way too fast with a resounding bump! Everything looked OK but as we joined the main highway I noticed one of the locker doors had come open so we pulled over to close it and checked inside the van. The plate cupboard does not fasten tight and a few of the old manky plates we inherited fell out and got broken. Another lesson learned!
Arrived home without further mishap and got Jennifer reinstalled in her parking space beside the Toy Shop OK. Didn't take long to get her in storage mode and I am sure it will only get more streamlined the more experience we have. Looking forward to it too!
Kapiti Holiday Resort, 15 Beach Haven Place, Paraparaumu Beach x 2 nights - $44/night.
Loaded up the van with food and wine, hooked it up behind the car with only a small lesson learned, keep the brake on while engaging the motor movers otherwise jockey weheel can move. Didn't go far though but need to keep in mind.
Had an uneventful drive north, traffic was light at mid-day and weather was good. Van tows nicely, don't really know it is there and it was quite windy on the road.
The camp is great, large grassy area with individual chalets including a toilet, basin and hot shower for each site. Friendly Manager too. It's just a short walk to Manly Street then down the track and you're on the beach. Walked a couple of blocks north and found a useful shopping complex, two dairies, coffee bar, bakery and a booze shop. We had some cloud cover today interspersed with sunny patches and 17C but during my later afternoon walk it started to spit so I didn't stay out long.
Got some neighbours, also in a UK van, they are newbies too, bought theirs in the South Island.
We had yummy seafood wraps for dinner, no cooking - no frypan!
We were toasty warm overnight, good insulation in these UK vans. Love our ceiling window, watched the stars cross the sky during the night and left the radio on Coast which reminds me I need to check out some song lyrics.
Day 2: Wednesday 01.05.19 White Rabbits!!
Sun is out and it came on the van about 9am. Leisurely brekkie, just the usual weetbix and fruit - the fridge works well and after a sit in the sun with our books took ourselves off to the Warehouse to buy a floor mat and a frypan just in case we want to cook tonight.
Our site is on the east side so we got the sun until it disappeared behind the rather tall macrocapa trees separating the site rows. It was still early so I took myself off for a brisk walk into the township to have a look around and check out our dinner options.
As it turned out we availed ourselves of the local Kapiti RSA Club, a Guinness Pie and Thai Beef Salad for $39 hit the spot and was good value.
Day 3: Thursday 02.05.19 - Paraparaumu Beachfront
Sun is out again and we start to pack up, starting with the gazebo but it has some dew on it so leave it in the sun on the other side. Harvey and Wendy come to visit and bring a lovely zucchini cake, bless them! We are late leaving but camp it's not very busy so hope we don't get growled. We want to stay down on the beachfront overlooking Kapiti tonight and see how we go with freedom camping.
We find a spot near the end and have a slight altercation with the wooden post! But when the car on the end moves on, we use out motor movers to reposition the van so the front windows look out over the sea and Kapiti Island - beautiful. A long walk along the beach and back along the main road rounds out the afternoon nicely for us both. Topped off by a stunning sunset!
 |
| Freedom Camping overlooking Kapiti Island |
These three beach front car parks allow two freedom campers each for a 24 hour period and we were visited by council staff checking our containment certificate number the following day. After it got dark tonight a big green bus snuck in making a total of three, but they left early in the morning so didn't get caught. We talked to the campers in the Merc van who were from Dannevirke and do a lot of freedom camping with their little fluffy white dog.
Christened our new fry pan tonight with toasted sammies for dinner. Gas hob worked well.
Kim tested the van's shower the next morning and all good. Although our drain hose is way too long and lies along the ground so that our waste water doesn't drain well - hose needs to be shortened. Another we job for the list when we get home.
Day 4: Friday 03.05.19
Sat out in the sun talking to the passer-bys, all very friendly. Had our solar panel out and that caused a few comments. Les came to visit, lovely to see him too. Early afternoon we packed up and headed along towards Raumati to see the other freedom carpark but couldn't see it on the fly.
As we were driving through the village Kim missed a speed hump and I didn't warn him in time to react so we hurtled over it way too fast with a resounding bump! Everything looked OK but as we joined the main highway I noticed one of the locker doors had come open so we pulled over to close it and checked inside the van. The plate cupboard does not fasten tight and a few of the old manky plates we inherited fell out and got broken. Another lesson learned!
Arrived home without further mishap and got Jennifer reinstalled in her parking space beside the Toy Shop OK. Didn't take long to get her in storage mode and I am sure it will only get more streamlined the more experience we have. Looking forward to it too!
Comments
Post a Comment