About Stephen

To teach our children the meaning of gratitude, to grow as a family through love, adventure, service community and of course travel.

So much freedom, so much choice, so many opportunities to do something amazing.

And yet, it is our natural instinct to find a place to hold us, a spot where we are safe from the obligation/opportunity to choose. Because if we choose, then we are responsible, and we have to take risks, and risks are scary, because they make us vulnerable.

But in our efforts to avoid risk we give up our freedoms, and although there is comfort in this, life, and all the beauty that lies beyond the realms of comfort go undiscovered. Which isn’t that bad until you are standing in the middle of the night market in Thailand with your wife and two small children, absorbing the full spectrum of risk, and you realize, this is living!

Sometimes instincts work in our favor, like choosing not to rent a 4 person tuk tuk as our primary mode of transportation for the week, but they can also hold us back, like spending another decade working in a dead-end job. How do we know when to follow our instincts and when to not?

The answer is – we don’t, it is a leap of faith. The good news is the outcome is almost always a product of our outlook and our perspective which will only widen if we let it, This means allowing ourselves the opportunity to take risks and of course, fail. But then again, what is the alternative?

 

About 3 weeks into our trip Amazon announced the start of their new Amazon Kindle unlimited program.

Then I got the realy good news: Lonely Planet was going to include all of their guidebooks as part of the rental program.

For someone traveling the world this is really great news!

Prior to leaving Santa Cruz for South Africa and the first leg of our around the world journey we had ordered paperback copies of the Lonely Planet guidebooks we would need for our trip.

This was a calculated decision as my wife and I still have trouble visualizing a travel destination through a Kindle edition guidebook.

As you know though carrying all these guidebooks is a real drag and purchasing digital versions through Lonely Planet is very expensive.

Enter Amazon Kindle Unlimited

For $9.99 per month Kindle Unlimited allows you to virtually “check out” up to 10 books at any given time; including (but certainly not limited to) the complete collection of Lonely Planet Guidebooks.

Amazon claims: 

  • Unlimited reading from over 700,000 books
  • Unlimited listening to thousands of audiobooks
  • Read on any device
  • Only $9.99 a month

And if you are a road-schooling parent like ourselves the deal gets even sweeter with tons of childrens books on hand.

Granted, the selection of books is not world-class by any means and I still complement this with our city’s free digital library.  But having access to every single Amazon Kindle Lonely Planet Guidebook for Free as well as access to many other country specific guides makes this the best $9.99 I spend each month.

To top it off you can take Kinlde Unlimited for a test drive your first month on the road for free.

You can search Amazon’s Unlimited book collection by clicking here.

Scribd Unlimited

Scribd also offers a similar deal with over 500,000 books including all the Lonely Planet Guidebooks for $8.99.

They also offer a free 30 day trial so technically, if you are savvy you can travel for 2 months with all the Lonely Planet guidebooks you want for free.

I think Amazon is the best deal though and if you have a Kindle device and kids it makes for an ideal situation.

You can sign up for a free 30 day trial through Amazon here.

If you are a parent traveling with children you know how difficult it can be to arrange an activity with your spouse while traveling overseas.

When my wife and I decided to take the PADI open water diving course together in Koh Tao Thailand we knew this would be challenging.

We weren’t worried about the divine per say, but the work involved in finding appropriate childcare for the kids while we were taking the 4 day open water course.

After asking around at the local dive shops (and getting nowhere) then doing a half day of reconnaissance by foot, we rented some mopeds and found our solution: The Koh Tao Playskool

The Playskool is more than just a “playskool”, staffed by a talented international English speaking staff (our daughters third grade teacher was from England) who not only provide a full day of activity but lessons in math and writing along with an excellent school experience.

To top it off, the owners (Bree and Gigi) of the Playskhool were more than happy to take our children early (one day at 6:30 am) so that we could do our morning training dives. They even entertained our kids until 5 pm the same day for a late pickup.

The school was definitely not cheap and set us back $90 US per day for both of our children while they were attending from early morning until about 4/5 pm in the afternoon.

Since our accommodations were only $35 for per day for the week we justified working this into our budget. To have the experience of taking the 4 day diving course as a couple it was a worthwhile splurge.

You can alternatively find babysitting by asking around, but this is often difficult and unreliable. We met another family who was doing this but they were rarely able to dive together because of cancellations etc. etc.

If you are taking a PADI course in Koh Tao and want to have an amazing adventure with your significant other, knowing your kids are in a safe and fabulous school environment… I cannot recommend the Koh Tao Playskool enough.

Happy Kids + Happy Parents = Good Value for Money

DIVING

The Koh Tao Playskool is more than happy to take your children for a day, two or an entire year 🙂 It is a great break for the whole family and after 6 months of travel side by side, it left everyone with bright smiles and a refreshed outlook on life!

Note – The Playskool is a bit hard to find, call the staff to arrange a time to meet beforehand and they will be very happy to give you directions. There is a map available as well on their website and a Tuk Tuk driver will know how to find it.

Having spoken with various Aussies prior to leaving for Australia we were met with mixed reviews about the drive from Melbourne to Sydney.

Surprisingly, many of them weren’t positive.

This is a shame, because this 900 km  stretch of highway 1 along the Australian East Coast has a lot to offer for the intrepid family traveler.

Specifically;  less crowds, nice beaches, unspoiled wildlife, uncrowded surf breaks and some of the nicest, family-friendly holiday parks we encountered on our entire trip.

Because our time was limited we had to rush through many of these spots. It would be best to allow at least 2 days in each spot, especially if you are traveling with young children.

Melbourne to Sydney with Kids

Lakes Entrance

We made a quick stopover in Lakes Entrance more out of necessity than desire. But even a short stay this area has a lot to offer.

Sleep: Big 4 Whiters Holiday Village

We stayed at the Big 4 Holiday Park which was very central to everything, they had a nice (albeit cold) swimming area with 3 pools and the accommodations were more than sufficient for a couple nights rest. They had a nice children’s play area and the entire park is set in a very desirable outdoor setting.

While exploring the region for one day we were able to find a surprisingly large number of things to do.

Lakes entrance has a wonderful children’s playground, a pretty beach that is great for kids and families and a beautiful riverside walking/hiking trail that made for a nice sunrise run.

Although this would not be a “must see” activity on your Australian itinerary if you are driving from the Great Ocean Road like we were or from Melbourne it is a good stopping point to relax and recharge.

Merimbula

Sleep: Big 4 Holiday Park

What do you get when you combine a nifty little surf beach, soft sand, gentle waves and an amazing holiday park right on the beach. Something pretty close to perfect.

Just like Lakes Entrance this was an overnight stop that could have turned into a lot more. If you are driving up the coast and have a chance to stop in Merimbula plan for a couple days. The Big 4 Holiday Park has a kids club and a huge child friendly pool great for kids of all ages. Its location on the beach makes it a big win for everyone.

There is a nice boardwalk that you can pick up in Merimbula City that makes for a spectacular run/walk through a mangrove forest right over the ocean inlet. This is a great way to spend your morning after a nice cup of coffee.

 

Pretty Beach

Sleep: Pretty Beach Cabins

You can see my full post on Pretty Beach here (Coming Soon)

We found out about Pretty Beach from yTravel blog.

I was doing some research on where to stop on the way up from Melbourne, once I saw the Kangaroos I was sold.

Pretty beach may very well be one of the most memorable stops on our trip.

Pretty beach itself is a bit difficult to find and the campground is simple with two on site cabins that were truly amazing given they are owned and operated by the Australian Parks system. There are only 2 cabins so if you are going to make this a stop you must book early!

There is hiking, wildlife galore and yes, lots of Kangaroos!

Pretty Beach

We took to the Great Ocean Road as an adventurous side trip from Melbourne before heading up the beautiful East Coast of Australia.

It was a choice between a quick Great Ocean Road side trip and Phillip Island to see the famous penguins. Since I am a surfing wannabe and we had already experienced the pinnacle of land based penguin sightings in Boulders South Africa, we opted to head up the coast for 2 days.

Even on a short two day trip with a single night stay in Apollo Bay, it was worth the effort.

The Great Ocean Road with Kids

Leaving Melbourne will have you wondering what is so great about the Great Ocean Road all the way up until the small coastal surfing town of Toroquay. We stopped there to take a peak at the famed surfing museum where we were chatted up by a friendly local whose grandson was a pro surfer on the world junior tour and were family friends with the lineage of surfing legends that started locally owned Aussie brands – Quicksilver, Rip Curl and Billabong.

They also provided us with a ton of information and free local guide maps and recommendations. It was well worth the stop.

5 minutes up the road from Torquay is Bell’ beach – the surfing Mecca and home of the Rip Curl annual ASP world championship surf competition.  Although there was little surf to be had the day we visited it was just great to bare witness to such a famed spot of surfing lore and legend.

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It was just after Bell’s Beach that the road became a bit more windy and a bit more exotic; revealing the crystal clear turquoise waters of the southern east coast and the soft, silky yellow sand of it’s pristine beaches.

We made short stops at the famous Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet, the slightly upscale (yet surprisingly kid-friendly) town of Lorne and a couple hours in Kennet River where we were bedazzled by our first wild Koala sittings and a spectacular array of beautiful Cockatoos, lorikeets and exotic tropical birds.

We had a blast. (hint – if you stop at Kennet River you can purchase bird feed for about 2 bucks at the small grocery store right across the street)

From here we headed about 30 minutes up the road to Apollo Bay where we made camp at the spectacular Big 4 Holiday Park for just one night. We enjoyed the free flying fox, the kids playground and basketball court and the amazing views of the beach right from our doorstep.

We went into town for some food, enjoyed the evening sunset and in the morning took a beautiful morning run down the coastal trail and onto the beach where I was welcomed to find interesting rock formations and some interesting tidal pools.

 

We left at noon the next morning and made our way back up the Great Ocean road and to our next stop Lakes Entrance.

People compare this stretch of prime Australian real estate to Highway 1 in California. But they are very different indeed. Having driven from The Great Ocean Road all the way up to Sydney I would say this is definitely the most scenic portion of the entire coastal drive. Simply because it is one of the only “true” coastal drives along the coastline. What I mean by this is that it is one of the only portions of highway where you can see the Ocean from your car window.  Also, the stop in Kennet river and our stay at the Big 4 in Apollo Bay made it 100% worth the drive.

We did not make it to the famed 12 Apostles which many consider to be sacrilege. But for us, adding 3-4 more hours of drive time onto the already long road trip wasn’t worth it with the kids in the back seat and our short amount of time. The good thing is that now I have a reason to come back in the future.

Best Kid Friendly Budget Accommodations in Apollo Bay

BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park – Spectacular views, great prices in the off season, wonderful playground and activities for kids, close to the beach and the city center.

Sitting here beachside in the town of Burleigh Heads Australia. Enjoying a late morning cup of coffee after a 2 hour morning surf session just down the road.

It’s summer here and after about 3 days of storm swell, rain and wind it is now perfectly beautiful.

The Australian sun is hot and despite caking myself with 2-3 layers of thick white spf 300 sunblock I still manage to get burned. Lucca looked like he had a hangover yesterday his eyes were so red and bloodshot from hours of boogie boarding.

Layla was a bit too afraid to get into the water with all the Jellyfish, although a very nice lifeguard assured her they were not “of the stinging kind”. I asked a surfer about the Jellies when I was in the water because I was taking so many headers off the waves I wanted to make sure when I did land face first into a Jellyfish I wouldn’t come out blind or permanently disfigured 🙂 . Typical response: “no worries mate”!

We have one more day here on the Gold Coast, I am sad and happy at the same time.

Sad because the surf is so good and this coastline is heavenly.

Happy because the surf is so good and the coastline so heavenly that if I don’t go out in the water I feel bad about myself and after so many days of surfing back to back every inch of my body hurts in some way or another.

I am being reminded that yes indeed, I am 37 and out of shape (at least relative to these tanned Australian Gods and Goddesses of the Gold Coast) 🙂

We are headed on the 18th to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Rainforest for 10 days before hopping a flight to Thailand. We spent our last night at a “holiday park” this week and I felt sad. The Aussie and New Zealand campervan parks are harbingers of kids, happy families, and jumping pillows. This of course is all wrapped up in a beautiful package of an outdoor setting with trees, lizards and exotic Australian birds. Our last park had a lake and this amazing public dining hall where families went to cook and collectively admire each others smiling happy children. It was delightful.

Pearls of Wisdom

After 4 months of constant travel from Africa to Indonesia to New Zealand and Australia, I wish I could share with you some pearl of wisdom I have learned while traveling, some insight that can only come with time, travel and careful introspection. But sadly I cannot. I have felt very close at times, but it tends to pass quiet and unnoticed, kind of like gas…

That being said, I am gaining a better understanding of how the world fits together, how family, culture and human desires cross cultural divides and how incredibly fragile this world is upon which we tread. The lovely creatures of the world are helplessly going extinct, the worlds great reefs are dead and/or dying, the oceans and air are polluted to an extent that is utterly disgraceful, and the majority of people care, and badly want to do something, but don’t (me included).

Democracy and the growth of global economies based on a cycle of endless consumption must come to an end. Something that is surprisingly easy to do, yet difficult in size and scope.

No worries Mate! Can life really be this easy?

It is surprisingly easy to derive meaning from a job.

A job provides bookends for our day. A job gives our days structure, it provides us with a beginning, a middle and an end.

We can look back after a long days work and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that we merely survived or that we made a positive impact in somebody else s’ day.

Parenting can provide a similar form of structure.

With newborn babies it is more difficult but as infants grow beyond endless feeding, changing, playing, pooping, napping, bedtime, feeding, crying etc. etc…  To morning afternoon evening and night, with feeding, playing, napping, feeding, wiping, playing, feeding collapse rinse and repeat.

Watching our children thrive is where we can derive some sense of accomplishment.

Both are jobs with bosses, and sometimes having a boss isn’t as bad as it seems. Even if it is a 4 month old in diapers.

Structure Without Boarders

However monotonous it may seem; home, a job, church, gym, school, grocery shopping, community or social engagements… These things can provide more than just security, they deliver a sense of meaning and accomplishment that once removed can be difficult to replace.

When we left for Dubai airport on our way to South Africa three months ago I had a grand plan for how my days would unfold.

As with most things, this has proven to be an idealists’ dream.

The dream:

1. Write in the morning as my wife and children joyfully self-actualized their desire for homeschooling.
2. Spend our days traveling in the early mornings and mid to late afternoon, tramping through cities, discovering new foods, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures.
3. Enjoy dinner together as a family, lay our heads to rest together at night, satisfied from our day on the road looking forward to tomorrows adventure.

This paints such a pretty picture doesn’t it? Looking at this list now I can’t help but say “did you really think it would go down like this?” Yes I did, call me an optimist, plus that’s what all the family travel blogs said would happen 🙂 .

I like to hold onto this dream and believe that it will happen, if I just wait patiently enough.

The reality:

  1. My wife and daughter have had difficulty finding a roadschooling routine through no fault of their own. With constant travel and a nomadic lifestyle comes the grind of packing up and moving every 2-3 days. Check out times are early, bedtimes are often late and it is difficult to develop a consistent morning routine.
  2. Planning takes up a lot of our time. Finding an affordable holiday park or hostel for a family of 4 is complicated, sometimes stressful, costly and can be a time suck. Not to mention, pricing out and planning transportation, excursions, developing itineraries and grocery shopping for meals for 4.
  3. Kids like routine. I notice the worst days for my daughter are the days we arrive at a new place, even if she loves it, the constant transition and change has been tough on her, and it makes me sad when she is frustrated.
  4. Any picture I had of waking up, pouring a cup of coffee and taking in the fresh morning air with inspiration pouring through my fingers and into my Lenovo keyboard is gone. Writing has been difficult and curating content online even more so. Internet speeds are horrible, data caps are ubiquitous, doing research for articles can be almost impossible, and when you are crammed into a small place with 4 people with different agendas… Well you can see my point.

Boarders to Entry

  • While trying to do “everything” I am afraid I have done nothing well, and I often feel like a failure.
  • On our medical trip to Haiti last year I felt something come alive inside me, I have tried to replicate this through travel and it worked at the beginning, as we travel more I feel self indulgent and am burdened by the need to give back more, I am not sure how to solve this yet, especially as a family… but my wheels are spinning.
  • I continue to struggle with a poor self-image. This holds me back, but I am working on it.

Purpose and Meaning

One of the best parts of travel is that if you open your eyes wide enough, you will realize just how nice you have it. I am so thankful for this, thankful for every moment of time, thankful to have this opportunity while my kids (and I) are young.

Life is precious and I live a blessed life.

The greatest challenge in my life has been to find a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as belonging. I feel closest to this when I am surrounded by family and friends, or when I am involved heads down in a new project, especially one that helps others.

Taking a year off from my “normal life” and developing a consistent, meaningful routine on the road has been difficult.

What does this mean? I don’t know, but I am confident that out here somewhere there is an answer.

Nelson shares the title of the sunniest place in New Zealand and is also the geographical center… Welcome to the middle of Middle Earth!

Nelson offers fabulous outdoor activities such as swimming and a fun park at Tahunanui Beach a great place for a picnic or to enjoy the beach cafe there.

A visit to the Founders Historic Park – a “living” museum with an adventure playground is well worth the time.

Nelson has a very quaint and easy to navigate downtown, wonderful craft beer, a nice biking/walking trail right in the center of the city near the iSite. The “one ring” in the Lord of the Rings was created here in Nelson.

If you are lucky you may get to visit the Saturday market which is considered one of the best in the country. Not only all the fresh locally grown produce and products but many artists and craftspeople display their wares and crafts.

Top Things to do in Nelson with Kids

  1. Hike to the Center of New Zealand: A short hike that begins right in the middle of the city and will take you atop a mountain to the center of New Zealand. It is a mildly steep grade but short enough to be enjoyed by the entire family.
  2. Take a beer tour – In Nelson there is even a brewery in an old converted church. This way you can ask God’s forgiveness for bringing your kids to a bar while you enjoy a local craft beer!
  3. Go to Tahunanui Beach and the fun park
  4. Visit the Saturday Market if you can
  5. Take a bike ride down a bit of “The great wine trail
  6. Visit the World of Wearable Art and Classic Cars
  7. Play at the skate park

Also, as a runner I found Nelson a wonderful place for a trail run. Follow the river for miles through rolling hills, mountains and grazing cattle!

Where to Stay with Kids in Nelson

There are several holiday parks in the region but we opted for an apartment instead.

We stayed at the Nikau appartments which gave us a full kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms for the same price as it would have been to stay in the communal hostel.

The only downside that I see with apartment rentals is that it is easier to isolate yourself. But sometimes, for parents and kids alike, it can be nice to take a break and have a place to call “home” for a few days as you explore a city.

The Nikau apartments have a college dorm room feel but are still very nice for a short stay.

It took 1.5 hours and I had finally made it.

There I stood amid the ice laden glacial field at the endpoint of the famous Hooker Valley trek. Then suddenly, I heard what sounded like a bomb exploding.

Looking up, I spotted the sound, it was an avalanche at 11,000 feet.

It was here that an unstable cornice finally gave way, creating a remarkable spectacle of falling ice amid a plume of mist and rock that is beyond description.

I sat there for another 5 minutes taking it all in:

The frigid NZ air, the landscape, the grey/blue turquoise water, the dark muddy ledge of the retreating glacier.

For the first time in my life I felt the pulse of a living, breathing mountain; and it stole my heart.

New Zealand has resonated with me in a way I haven’t felt since the first day I walked into Red Square as an undergraduate at the University of Washington.

The view of Mount Rainier behind Drumheller fountain is breathtaking.

At this moment, standing at the base of Mount Cook, feeling tiny amid these geographical giants I felt a sense of home and a great sense of peace.

Walking back to the car I was greeted by my kids who were jumping up and down with excitement. They were yelling so loud I could hear them as far as the base of the first swing bridge.

I was delighted when they said they wanted to hike back out to the bridge with me.

I bundled them up in jackets and gloves and we headed back to the trail this time, holding hands.  We climbed to the first lookout point and then took turns jumping up and down on the suspension bridge.

How can I put into words how this makes a father feel? These are the moments that I call living.

Luca-and-Layla-720

I am sitting here now a day later writing from the water’s edge of Lake Tekapo. It is such a deep blue, as if God himself dropped his Aqua Marine Crayola Marker into the Southern edge.

I feel so lucky to be here, so grateful to have the opportunity to visit New Zealand… sad that we must go in just 9 days.

But as we all know, joy comes from the brevity of such beauty.

It took half a day for Mount Cook to reveal its summit, hidden behind the clouds I had no idea I was walking below such a great mountain.

This is a metaphor for life, and quite possibly a metaphor for this trip.

Cheers!

Are you a holiday park virgin?

Don’t worry my fellow New Zealand vacationers consider me your virtual pimp, here to take you on a journey to the end of this blog post.

And if you make it to the end, you will be a full-fledged holiday park whore!

OK, that may be a bit dramatic, but you get the point.

While in Bali and prior to laying foot on New Zealand we were told by many friendly New Zealand vacationers that even though New Zealand accommodations were  expensive, our family would be able to find very nice and affordable accommodations in “holiday parks”.

As an American, the term “holiday park” confused me. It conjured up images of both a Thomas Kinkade painting or scenes from The Blaire Witch Project. Both, are equally frightening.

When I would ask locals for a straightforward explanation as to what a holiday park actually was, I received varied responses, or confused looks.

So What is a Holiday Park and what are they like in New Zealand?

Numerous campgrounds of very high standard are found throughout New Zealand.

The term “campground” itself is a very loose term, they can be a very basic (grass and a couple powered sites) to full-fledged resorts.

They can be privately owned or public. In New Zealand public campgrounds are called “DOC” campgrounds, which stands for Department of Conservation.

DOC campgrounds are often more basic and limited to tents or campervan sites. If a DOC site does have a cabin it is most likely in one of the designated trekking regions such as Abel Tasman National Park.

Almost all campgrounds offer full kitchen facilities, BBQ areas, TV lounges as well as washing machines and dryers.

Along with this, most parks also have indoor facilities described often as “cabins”.

Kiwi Holiday Park in Bay of Islands:

There are usually three types of cabins.

  1. Kitchen Cabins – A cabin with a kitchen and shared bathroom.
  2. Standard Cabins – Just beds, no bathroom and no kitchen.
  3. Ensuite Cabins – Typically means a private bathroom and kitchen. Although not necessarily a kitchen so you are going to have to ask.

Cabins also come in different sizes.

Standard cabins often only have beds for two. If this is the case, most facilities will offer family cabins. You have to ask.

Many also have motel units which can also be called “tourist flats”

Almost all “holiday parks” or “campervan parks” will provide:

  1. Toilet and shower complex
  2. Laundry facilities
  3. Dump stations for the motor homes
  4. Internet facilities and NON COMPLIMENTARY WiFi – The WiFi will usually have a data cap which is very annoying.
  5. Recreation and lounge areas
  6. Playgrounds for children

Many also have

  1. Swimming pools
  2. Jumping Pillows (You have to see it to believe it)
  3. Trampoline
  4. Spa
  5. Thermal Pools!

Booking online is a complete and utter waste of time in the off-season. The websites will not represent actual availability and you will be amazed by what options are available when you actually pick up the phone and call.

Kiwi Holiday Park in Ahipara:

Prices

  1. Tenting site cost is about $10 per night.
  2. Powered site is around $40.
  3. Cabins vary greatly in price but are usually from $50 for a standard cabin all the way up to $95 for a full size ensuite cabin for a family.
  4. Motel units on the campervan park are around $100 – $150 US per night.

Holiday Park Chains

From our experience there are 3 Holiday Park Chains you should know about.

  1. Kiwi Parks: “Kiwi Holiday Parks are in prime locations and have a variety of accommodation options .  Of course we’ve got great camping sites but you can also choose from basic to deluxe cabins, a range of motel options and self-contained units that can provide for the whole tribe.”
  2. Top 10 Holiday Parks: “All TOP 10 Holiday Parks offer great accommodation options – all you have to do is choose. You can stay in wonderful motels or self-contained units in park-like surroundings. We have a range of cabins to suit every budget. Or if you just want to experience the freedom of camping and re-discover those great childhood memories in a campervan or tent – we have many superb powered and unpowered sites.”
  3. Family Holiday Park:  “At over 120 unique destinations across OZ + NZ”.

Holiday Park Discount Cards

Each of these holiday parks offers their own discount card which will give you roughly 10% off per booking.

  • The Kiwi card allows you to buy a short-term card at a reduced rate which will last for 3 months.
  • Your Top 10 card: Save 10% up to $40 per Stay at TOP 10 Parks Valid for 2 years.
  • The Family Holiday Park card is good for 6 months.

The top 10 card was $50 and  Kiwi and Family Holiday Park cards were about $25.

You can cover this with the cost of your first booking as you can use the 10% off. So very often the card will pay for itself which means it doesn’t matter if you use it only once. Make sure to ask about this the very first time you book so you don’t miss out and then end up kicking yourself later down the road.

Discount cards are valid in both NZ and Australia. Top 10 is known as Big 4 Holiday Parks in OZ.

Top 10 Holiday Park Waitomo (Near the Glowworm Caves):

Bedding

In order to stay at a Holiday Park you are often going to have to provide your own bedding unless you are staying at a tourist flat or motel unit.

The park will provide bottom sheets and pillows.

Parks will rent bedding for $7-$8 per day per person which defeats the purpose of staying at the holiday park in the fist place.

We found a very cheap way to solve the problem of bedding. We purchased all our bedding at a second-hand store. Look for Hospice and Salvation Army. These are the big chain stores. We spent about $30 on bedding to cover the entire family and lasted us for 40 days!

Kitchenware

In a basic cabin without a kitchen, even though the kitchen is public, you will have to bring all your own kitchenware. If you book the kitchen or ensuite rooms kitchenware and cookware will be provided for you. Often you will also be provided with complimentary coffee, tea and sugar as well as an electric kettle to heat you water.

The best apps for finding holiday parks:

We have found one app on our phone to be particularly helpful and again the name is self-explanatory:

  1. Wait for it…. yes it is called Holiday Parks they also have a great website
  2. Also consider the less useful Jasons App
  3. Campee they also have a great website
  4. Australia: Experience Caravanning and camping: They also have a good website

Campfires and Smores

Very sad for most Americans I know, you are going to be hard-pressed to find a place for a campfire. We came across only one on our trip around all of New Zealand.

Overall Impression and Final Thoughts

I have been impressed by the cleanliness of shower and toilet blocks and the comprehensive facility on offer at all our Holiday Park stays.

Campgrounds are often in scenic locations and the management is always happy to assist with information on local attractions and sightseeing.

It is recommended to book ahead especially during the New Zealand school holidays in December and January to ensure a powered site.

If you are booking cabins, kitchen cabins or hotel accommodations at the holiday park you better book well in advance during busy season or on weekends.

For anyone looking for more than just a motel room, holiday parks provide a much better option with more of an outdoor environment.

There is quite a lot more on offer than just an old campground with rustic facilities.

After having traveled throughout the country using holiday parks we have found it extremely rare to find one that is not top quality for cleanliness and service!