This issue of Channel Mag has a focus on 'The Great Kiwi Road Trip’. The past two years have seen New Zealanders travelling internally with our international borders closed. We’ve been forced to discover our back yard once again – and how good is it! So what are some of our great Kiwi Road Trips? We asked some of our Channel readers and Shore people about their favourite Kiwi roadies…
Rosie Houghton lives near Takapuna Beach with her husband Gav (owner of Orange Scaffold), their son Ollie who is back from university and now working locally, and their dog called Spud. She works at Harcourts Cooper & Co with her business partner, Rose Arnott. When she’s not working, she says you’ll see her walking the dog, out on the water with her stand-up paddle board or competing in the Harcourts Cooper & Co sponsored Takapuna Beach Series. Rosie tells Channel about her and Gav’s lockdown project, doing up a VW Combi that they drive down to their land in Raglan.
Channel Magazine: Closed borders have brought back the great Kiwi road trip. What is your favourite road trip in New Zealand and why?
Rosie Houghton: Gav purchased a VW Crafter courier van and outfitted it into a motorhome while we’ve been in lockdown. It was a great project for him. We have been heading away in that as much as we can, work permitting of course. We purchased a section in Raglan a couple of years ago and plan to build a getaway home there. So whilst we have the empty section, we have been making trips down there to enjoy what Raglan has to offer.
CM: Have you managed to do the trip recently (or when did you take a road trip last)?
RH: Actually our most recent road trip in our van was to Mt Maunganui. We went down for a NZ SUP (Stand-up Paddle Board) competition so we camped at the main campground right on the beach. It was magic waking up to the sunrise, made us feel young again.
CM: Are you on your own or with others on that roady?
RH: Our van is a two-seater only so just Gav and I and sometimes Spud the dog comes too! We have another friend who also has a van and he came with his van on our most recent trip.
CM: Is there a particular spot on that trip that’s your favourite?
RH: We love Raglan, the surf, the food, boutique shopping, second-hand shopping, the people, the art, the activities available and it has a bit of a wild West Coast feel too, it really is a cool place. A lot of young people have moved there and work online. Our neighbours down there worked in New York, they moved back to New Zealand to get away from Covid in 2020 and now work via online with their company in New York. Raglan reminds me of the early days of Byron Bay in Australia.
CM: Is there a favourite stop for food and refreshments?
RH: In Raglan, there are so many great healthy eating places. Probably my favourite would be 'ULOs' Japanese fusion food. It’s fitted out with everything retro and second hand, the vibe and food are outstanding. They even have a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
CM: Looking offshore, when the world is fully open again where will your first international trip be to, and why?
RH: We have already booked to travel to the Gold Coast in May. In 2020 during lockdown, we purchased an apartment with family, so we are looking forward to spending a birthday celebration over there with friends and family who are coming too. It’s located right above Gav’s favourite surfing spot at Snapper Rock. We have also booked to go to Fiji in June. Next year Gav’s nephew is getting married in the UK, so we plan on heading over there and onto Europe then, although Hawaii is beckoning us also. The pandemic has also been a great opportunity to see our own country. We are heading to Queen Charlotte sounds staying at the ‘’Bay of Many Coves’’ in a couple of weeks. We were booked to go last August but lockdown prevented that from happening. We have done more travelling in New Zealand than we ever have and places we haven’t been before or visited for many years. So lockdowns have taught us to appreciate our own country and what we have to offer. We now know why tourists love coming to New Zealand!
Valuer Steve Dunlop and wife Ali live in Takapuna and have three teenage sons. Steve’s lived in the area for 14 years and makes the most of living beside the beach. The Dunlops lead a very active lifestyle, with a passion for paddle boarding. Steve tells Channel Mag about a recent roadie down to the Mount near Tauranga, complete with pies and all!
Channel Magazine: Closed borders have brought back the great Kiwi road trip. What is your favourite road trip in New Zealand and why?
Steve Dunlop: Our boys and I are all keen paddle boarders so my favourite road trip is any journey with a stack of boards on the roof, headed to a great paddling spot, for racing or adventure. We’ve had fun paddling trips to Pauanui, Paihia, Cook’s Beach, Matheson Bay and the Mount, to name a few.
CM: Have you managed to do the trip recently?
SD: Two weeks ago we headed down to Mount Maunganui for the NZ Stand-up Paddleboard National Champs.
CM: Are you on your own or with others on that roadie?
SD: The whole family went, in fact we had to take two cars because we had so much kit.
CM: Is there a particular spot on that trip that’s your favourite?
SD: Main Beach at the Mount is awesome, as is the maunga itself. We had some epic technical racing in the surf at Main Beach, and a great distance race starting within Pilot Bay and paddling out around the Mount and finishing at Shark Alley.
CM: Is there a favourite stop for food and refreshments?
SD: We’re all big pie fans so we usually stop at a BP for a round of Wild Bean pies (made in Silverdale by Dad’s Pies). The Pauanui Bakery is a must visit when we find ourselves down that way.
CM: Looking offshore, when the world is fully open again where will your first international trip be to, and why?
SD: We’d booked to sail a 10-berth chartered catamaran around Tonga in July 2020 to see the humpback whales. Obviously that trip wasn’t able to go ahead then, nor in July 2021. I’m crossing my fingers that it can happen this year!
Simon Watts is the local Member of Parliament for North Shore. He lives in the area and is an emergency Ambulance volunteer with St John and was previously an accountant. He says that he decided to move to politics to make a difference and get things done. Simon’s married to Shannon and they have two boys at Belmont Primary and Intermediate. As a National MP, his portfolios include Shadow Local Government and Associate Finance and Associate Infrastructure. Simon gives Channel Magazine the inside scoop on his favourite roadie to Waihi Beach.
Channel Magazine: Closed borders have brought back the great Kiwi road trip. What is your favourite road trip in New Zealand and why?
Simon Watts: Driving to Waihi Beach is an all-time favourite. I have been going there since I was a kid. Such a relaxing place to unwind with a long sandy beach with great waves for the kids to surf or boogie board.
CM: Have you managed to do the trip recently?
SW: Yes, we did it last weekend – great to get away for some quality family time.
CM: Are you on your own or with others on that roadie?
SW: Usually the whole family for a weekend away. That’s the way we roll these days with two kids who are growing up fast. They love Waihi Beach as well.
CM: Is there a particular spot on that trip that's your favourite? Why?
SW: Karangahape Gorge bridge and the Hauraki Rail Trail just outside Paeroa. A stunning canyon with the powerful flowing Ohinemuri River.
CM: Is there a favourite stop for food and refreshments?
SW: Flat White Café, Waihi Beach. A stunning beachfront spot for coffee, ice cream and brunch. It's just a magic place to relax and unwind.
CM: Looking offshore, when the world is fully open again where will your first international trip be to, and why?
SW: Sydney to visit Shannon’s sister and my nieces. Also, we have close friends living there that we haven't seen since before the lockdown. The family are a significant part of our lives, and we have missed them over the past few years.
Andrew Hill is a partner at BDO in Takapuna and although he grew up in Hamilton and is still a Chiefs supporter, he’s lived for the majority of his life in Auckland. Aside from BDO Accountants and Advisors in Takapuna, Andrew is also the chair of the Takapuna Beach Business Association and interim chair of the local charity, Project Employ. Andrew says he especially enjoys getting out on the water whether it be fishing, a picnic or stroll over one of the islands in the gulf. Andrew and his wife Fiona enjoy spending time with their adult children and supporting their endeavours: their son's rugby for North Shore or visiting their daughters in Christchurch and Wellington. Andrew talks to Channel Mag about his travels and roadies around New Zealand, including Matauri Bay, his favourite place in Northland.
Channel Magazine: Closed borders have brought back the great Kiwi road trip. What is your favourite road trip in New Zealand and why?
Andrew Hill: Being cooped up inside Auckland borders for four months last year gave a bit more meaning to getting away. Our annual summer pilgrimage is to Matauri Bay, about 20 minutes north of Kerikeri. We load the boat with our tent and camping gear and settle in with a Spotify mix for the four-hour trek north. We always head away early to break up the trip with a breakfast and coffee in Whangarei or Kawakawa. That means we’re unpacking the boat and pitching a tent in the heat after a four-hour drive – which can be testing even when you’ve been married for almost 30 years!
CM: Are you on your own or with others on that roadie?
AH: In the last few years, friends of ours have joined us on our trip to Matauri. They are keen campers like us, but they have succumbed to the dark side and have secured a powered site. We’re persevering with the old school gas and battery, but we’re waning as we get older. Perhaps that motorhome or caravan is not far away.
CM: Is there a particular spot on that trip that’s your favourite and why?
AH: We’ve managed to find out the good and not-so-good coffee stops on the way. Both Whangarei and Kawakawa can do great food and coffee if you know where to look. And then there are the regular trips to Kerikeri when we’re camping to stock up on food (and tonic!). There’s a great range of cafés and restaurants around Kerikeri. Wharepuka is a magical setting in a subtropical garden, Ake Ake for great food in a vineyard and then you can’t beat the blueberry ice cream from the orchard just south of Waipapa. Simple but oh so good.
CM: Is there a favourite stop for food and refreshments?
AH: We’ve been going to Matauri for over 20 years but have only just discovered the Blue Bar at the top of the Matauri Bay hill. Super friendly locals, cold drinks and the biggest and best fish burger I’ve seen.
CM: Looking offshore, when the world is fully open again where will your first international trip be to, and why?
AH: Our last overseas trip was Sri Lanka in 2018. That was a two-week intrepid journey where we only booked the first nights’ accommodation. Loved feeling like a backpacker again (although the accommodation was a step up from those days!) but with Covid still presenting some uncertainty, I don’t think we will be that adventurous when we do head away in the near future. Fiona and I both love the outdoors and the thought of a multi-day tramp around Mont Blanc has been talked about. And with the Rugby World Cup in France next year, it’s probably better than a 50/50 bet we will head to Europe.
