Days 3-4: Pelorus Bridge > Mapua

I had read a lot about the famous Hobbit Kayak Tour from Pelorus Eco Adventures, which takes you down a section of the Pelorus river used in filming The Hobbit. But I hadn’t done much research on local campgrounds. So, I consulted Campermate NZ, a smart phone app I came to rely upon for finding last-minute sites for camping in New Zealand, and in lieu of any free camping sites I headed to the nearest DOC campsite at Pelorus Bridge. This turned out to be a spectacular find.

Surrounded by pristine forest and situated beside a gorgeous swimming hole on one of New Zealand’s most beautiful rivers, the Pelorus Bridge campground was an ideal base for activities. I did the 1-hour glow worm walk to a waterfall in the evening, and after the brilliant Hobbit Kayak Tour the next day I took another forest trail to spot the rare, native long-tailed bat population living nearby. No more than 5 minutes after leaving the camp grounds on this track, I also spotted NZ’s native wekas roaming and foraging beside me!

Thoroughly satisfied with my day kayaking and wildlife watching on this beautiful New Zealand river, I drove the campervan onto the picturesque, windswept peninsula of Mapua. Campermate NZ showed several freedom camping NZ free camp sites along the way, but I was glad I continued onto Mapua, where I found a charming little campground on a stunning, wind-swept peninsula wedged between Ruby Bay and Rabbit Island. The facilities were almost as impressive as the scenery and serenity.

Days 5-6: Mapua > Abel Tasman National Park

I took the opportunity of an early start to join a kayak tour from Kaiteriteri, just 40 minutes from Mapua, which took me into the sandy coves, deserted beaches, and iconic rock formations that have made Abel Tasman famous in photos around the world. Next on the map for my camping tour, however, was a bit further on. Somewhere very special. I left the campervan at Kaiteriteri beach and took a boat to Awaroa Bay.

Awaroa is a secluded beach that was in the news in 2017. It was the focus of a huge crowd-funding campaign that saw the New Zealand public pitch in to buy the beach back from a private owner. After that it became part of Abel Tasman National Park. Its glittering sea, golden sand, and mountainous surroundings make it easy to see why kiwis thought it worth fighting for. Leaving Campermate NZ, DOC campsites, and free camping locations behind for the night, I treated myself to a night of glamping in the forest around Awaroa Bay. I arrived at this idyllic location and found a tent set up like it was somebody’s home: double bed made, deck chairs with sea views set up, and the fire of a pizza oven burning away. Perhaps I hadn’t done enough physical activity to earn such luxurious means of camping in New Zealand’s crowd-funded public beach haven. But I certainly wasn’t about to complain.

Day 7: Kaiteriteri > Kahurangi National Park

I found it hard to leave Awaroa, but not as hard as the Maui motorhome found it to tackle the serious South Island country roads between Upper Takaka and the Cobb Reservoir, the location of the tremendously secluded Cobb River Camp Site. Backed by the wild mountains of Kahurangi National Park, this photogenic camp site was to be the endpoint of my camping itinerary. It is only the start, however, of multiple hiking trails leading up the picturesque Cobb Valley and through the national park to the West Coast.

My 90-minute hike from Trilobite Hut on the Cobb River up to Chaffey Hut, a restored historic miner’s hut, was a good introduction to the immense beauty of this region. It was also more than enough to convince me that I need to plan a similar camping tour, for the West Coast, in the (very) near future!

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