Never ever go back

Sandspit Campsite

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Thursday 12th

We head for civilisation, and away from the Northland.  Hurrah, I must say Im pleased, couldnt face keep driving back and forth up there, everything was so remote, just getting a paper was a big ordeal.  Lloyd has a temperature still, but otherwise seems in good spirits. 

We go back to a place called Sandspit, where there is a lovely campsite we visited when we were last in New Zealand.  Now we really have fond memories of this campsite for some reason, I think its where we really relaxed and started to enjoy ourselves.  As they say never go back in these cases, but curiosity got the better of us, so we pop in for old times sake.

Big mistake.  The place has been taken over and just doesnt have the same feel.  They have put a road through the free golf course, making way for a house being built up the hill (and he tried to tell us a tree had fell down preventing golf - cobblers!). Also its raining, whereas before it was sunny.  And its busy, before it was very quiet.  So our memories are shattered, its a shame, but I suppose thats life.

Free Kayaking - shame about the weather!

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Friday 13th

We decide to go search for another Plunket room to get Lloyd re-weighed and measured, and also to talk to the health visitor.  But they are open on Monday, so a long weekend beckons.  We end up in Waiwera, just south of a town called Warkworth.  The site is okay, we are backing onto the Pacific, so cant be bad.  I think we are a bit "scenic'ed out" though, the novelty of New Zealand has worn off, and our minds are focusing on the journey ahead.  We also have washing to do, so that takes most of the afternoon.  We did go on a brief trip up the coast just to see the area, and encountered some extremely smart houses up past Snell's Beach.  Must be millionaires row or something, probably the best houses we have seen in NZ. Quite remote though.

Playing in the park

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We notice that there is quite a bit of grafitti around, not something you see that much of in NZ (especially compared to england).  We dont recall this from our last visit to NZ, though quite possible it was there I suppose.  I think NZ has much of the same problems as any westernised country, certainly the papers seem to indicate this.  It is easy to kid yourself that the lifestyle out here is radically different to that in england.  It can be, but only if you are prepared to make those changes to your lifestyle.  And kids here are as vulnerable to obesity, drugs, alcohol, etc as they are in england I think.