We were heading for a camp from the Motor Caravan book at Maketu but our initial impression of the area was not good - I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise as the whole area looked so run down. Having rechecked the book we found another one listed just along the road, which also didn't impress me at first sight. However, Stu went in to enquire about facilities & rates & booked us in for two nights. It was right on the beach, full of permanent caravans with all sorts of bits & pieces attached, & really looked like NZ the way it used to be - going back in time!. We thought we might be the only 'outsiders' there, but a couple from Rotorua had also just arrived & had been there before. Everything was very old & out of date, but all very clean. It appeared to be owned by a trust & a couple of old guys (residents) did the cleaning & maintenance, with a lady doing the shop & reception, all very friendly. A few of the permanents came & went, a rather colourful lot. A young maori guy whose bus proclaimed him as an entertainer - he was busy shelling shelfish for his dinner with a couple of mates. There were always people collecting shellfish from the beach at low tide (apparently very abundant in this area). We had a nice evening stroll around after dinner.
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We were heading for a camp from the Motor Caravan book at Maketu but our initial impression of the area was not good - I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise as the whole area looked so run down. Having rechecked the book we found another one listed just along the road, which also didn't impress me at first sight. However, Stu went in to enquire about facilities & rates & booked us in for two nights. It was right on the beach, full of permanent caravans with all sorts of bits & pieces attached, & really looked like NZ the way it used to be - going back in time!. We thought we might be the only 'outsiders' there, but a couple from Rotorua had also just arrived & had been there before. Everything was very old & out of date, but all very clean. It appeared to be owned by a trust & a couple of old guys (residents) did the cleaning & maintenance, with a lady doing the shop & reception, all very friendly. A few of the permanents came & went, a rather colourful lot. A young maori guy whose bus proclaimed him as an entertainer - he was busy shelling shelfish for his dinner with a couple of mates. There were always people collecting shellfish from the beach at low tide (apparently very abundant in this area). We had a nice evening stroll around after dinner.
Next morning we drove to Tauranga as the car had to be serviced. We had to fill in a couple of hours wandering the shops & had lunch out, then visited Helen & Phil Renner, my old friend Ross Hovell's sister. Lovely to catch up with them both after about 3 years. Next morning we took a long walk right along the beach as the tide was out. It all looked lovely with big sandbanks & estuaries in the morning sun. Took some photos, especially of some of the old caravans etc. Would be happy to return but not in summer as I can imagine once again it would be very busy.
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