Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
life through holograms, a short film and interactive displays at the
Waipu Museum
(
www.waipumuseum.co.nz
;
36 The Centre; adult/child $8/3; 10am-4pm)
.
Only 10% of current residents are direct descendants of the original Scots, but there's
a big get-together on 1 January every year, when the
Highland Games
(
www.waipugames.co.nz
; adult/child $15/5)
, established in 1871, take place in Caledonian
Park. Just south of Waipu township, there's good swimming at
Waipu Cove
and
Langs
Beach
.
There are also excellent walks in the area, including the
Waipu Coastal Trail
, which
heads south from Waipu Cove - around to Langs Beach, passing the
Pancake Rocks
on
the way. The 2km
Waipu Caves Walking Track
starts at Ormiston Rd and passes
through farmland and a scenic reserve en route to a large cave containing glowworms
and limestone formations; bring a torch, a compass and sturdy footwear to delve the
depths.
Bream Bay has miles of blissfully deserted beach, blighted only slightly by a giant oil
refinery at the north end. At
Uretiti
, a stretch of beach south of a
DOC campsite
(
www.doc.govt.nz
;
SH1; sites per adult/child $10/5)
is unofficially considered 'clothing option-
al'. Over New Year the crowd is evenly split between Kiwi families, serious European
nudists and gay guys.
Sleeping
Waipu Wanderers Backpackers
HOSTEL $
( 09-432 0532;
www.waipu-hostel.co.nz
;
25 St Marys Rd; dm/s/d $30/45/66; )
There are
only three rooms at this friendly backpackers in Waipu township. Look forward to free
fruit in season.
Ruakaka Reserve Motor Camp
HOLIDAY PARK $
( 09-432 7590;
www.motorcamp.co.nz
; 21 Ruakaka Beach Rd; sites from $30, cabins $50-90;
)
Priced and positioned somewhere between a DOC campsite and a holiday park, this
ginormous motor camp offers simple facilities on a grassy area fronting the beach and
rivermouth at Ruakaka.
Stonehouse
GUESTHOUSE $$$
( 09-432 0432;
www.stonehousewaipu.co.nz
; 641 Cove Rd; apt $80-160; )
Nestled between
the road to Waipu Cove and a saltwater lagoon, this Cornish-style house built of stone
slabs offers three brightly decorated, self-contained units. They range from the budget-
