TRAVEL: My Summer Holiday – the good, the bad, and the ugly

GOAT ISLAND

Goat Island Holiday park. My review:
Not for the faint hearted! Goat Island campground is rugged and ideal for those wanting a hippy, rustic camp experience without the mod cons, including hygiene and safety. Pros: beautiful spot on the hills above a marine reserve to snorkel in with fish. Kids slept in our loft upstairs ($90 plus kids charge). Awesome fire pit to toast marshmallows over at night. Cons: not clean and hygienic. Mouldy mattresses and drapes, duct tape on bathroom walls and wet floors, often no toilet paper, rusty old buildings, dogs on the loose (and dog droppings around), ladder strapped to tree as a kids playground, old bedding, not much kitchen equipment. In summary, good for an adventure and not for those wanting a generic Top Ten Holiday Park stay.

CHARLIE’S GELATO

LOVE this place- Charlie’s gelato has bean bags in their grapevines to rest on and chill out with their divine icecreams and pizza made right there in their outdoor pizza oven. Wearing an orange Karen Walker ruffle-sleeved dress.

COUNCIL BACHES AND PARKS

Not many people know that the Auckland Council owns baches and three holiday parks and camping grounds north of Auckland city – Whangateau, Martins Bay, and Orewa holiday parks – that the public can pay to stay in, giving everyone access to a beachfront holiday, glamping in a Yurt tent, or time in the rolling hillside. I’ve been going to them for years and love them.

MARTIN’S BAY HOLIDAY PARK

Loving my retro caravan, Martins Bay holiday park. I love how interior designers of yore wanted to throw together mustard, lime and coral with wild abandon and caution to the wind. Very cute 10/10 would caravan again.

SCANDRETTS BAY

Scandretts Bay beachfront has three Auckland Council baches for rent. Rare dotterel chicks are nesting so watch where you step- but they loudly peep at you to beware!