Tauranga... Freedom Parking at Sulphur Point

This was another place to freedom park that I had been told about.
I found it via my GPS. It is a huge marine park... The freedom parking
end is mainly used for cars and boat trailers.

 

Lots of space to choose from. There was a Gypsy Fair about
to happen so several of the gypsy homes were already parked...
Numerous containers just over the road as this park
is between the port, the cranes, the railway line and the harbour.

I tucked myself in here... Facing the sun and a picnic table...

 
 Looking at the harbour to the east...

And the harbour... Looking west to the road and rail bridge
in the evening watching yet another beautiful sunset.

Behind me... Where I drove in, is a big building that is being
renovated for Bay Marine Electronics.

And another building that is apartments, a cafe I discovered when
out walking... More about that...

In front of me,  a three lane boat ramp. On the weekend it
was like a busy highway intersection and the whole park filled
up with cars and trailers.

Past that is the Tauranga Fish & Dive Club... Open to the public and
dinner available on Friday and Sunday evenings.

Past that I found another large park... The harbour  on one side
and the road on the other...

That went round to a private marina and boat ramp...

All the Tauranga boating and fishing clubs had their club
premises round here...

Even Burnsco had a shop there... Very handy with
lots of easy parking.

This is the Game Fishing Club...

And over the other side of the parking area...
A huge marina... Ten piers all packed with boats...

Too numerous to count!

At the end it was just a stones throw over the harbour
to Mt Maunganui and the berths where the huge
cruise ships berth.

Tauranga... Free Parking at Fergusson Park

My next stop was Tauranga as I needed to do a few city things
including having my fridge serviced. I went to Jewell's Refrigeration.
They were marvellous, gave me fridge and freezer space
to empty my food into, kept the fridge overnight and the next morning
put it back working perfectly... All for a very  moderate charge.

 
For two nights I parked here... Fergusson Park. It's a lovely
Tauranga Council Reserve. Check their web site for by-law up-dates
as I was told they have changed since 16/10/13 as Tauranga embraces
the freedom parking laws and is making more parking available.


It's a large green area... For dogs...

And sport...

This walkway goes all the way to Sulphur Point and is very
popular place for walkers with dogs and also cyclists.

I walked quite a long way... The cranes at the port in the distance.

And the back of Mt Maunganui.

This part of the harbour has an algae bloom problem.
It looks like sea lettuce. 

It's thick and can be smelly but didn't deter boats and fishing.

Or these wind surfers.

From early morning...

Till sunset... It's a beautiful spot to park.
I also met other mobile-homers  who were parked there and a couple
I met last summer in the Far North who live nearby recognised my bus
and came to visit. It was quite a social weekend.

Dickey Flat, Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park...

When I left Miranda I drove through Ngatea then Paeroa and onto
the Karangahake Gorge. I had met a couple earlier in the day who
told me they were going to Dickey Flat, DoC, for the night...
So I decided that was a good place to make my way to.


After being parked  on the Shell Banks and the tidal mud of the
Firth of Thames... I was met by this green oasis.

It's a basic Department of Conservation camping area... A toilet block...

Beautiful green trees...

Licorice Allsorts parked for the night...

My neighbours over the way... There were a few tents among the trees
but vehicles are confined to the parking area. It was quiet and still...

The only sound the river... The fresh water supply... That was across the
car park and the grassy field in front of where I am parked, and the birds.
This photo is looking north...

This photo to the south.


The next morning after the mist cleared and the sun came over the hill
 I decided to explore one of the walks... The Crown Track...

Through the camping ground...

Along the track to...

The suspension bridge in the previous photo.

Over the other side...

And through the lush green ferns and bush.

It was a good track...

The 2nd suspension bridge...

Much more 'swingy' than the 1st one...

Beautiful views of the rivers and crystal clear water...

Some deep swimming holes...

And slow quieter areas. This river flash floods, there are several warning
signs, then it would be a raging torrent. I wandered on...

Until I came to this tunnel. It did say on the information board
that there was a 150 meter tunnel and to take a torch...
But I didn't feel like venturing into such a dark hole with only a pin-prick
of light at the other end. It was very wet underfoot and
water dripping from the top.
I hadn't taken a rain coat and was only wearing sandals...
So another day.

So it was back the way I had come to sit in the sun with coffee
and a mag. It was magic... So quiet... Listening to the river...
And the birds that had woken me up. I was reluctant to leave...
But there was no cell phone reception and I hadn't told anybody
where I was going. If I know I am going to be out of phone range
I tell a friend and my anticipated length of stay there...
Just to be safe.

 
This is the road out... And in of course. But I took these
photos on my way out.


I had the road to myself and could stop and start.


It really is a beautiful area.


I could spend a week there... Time out from my busy 'Life On The Road'.


Over the hill...  Slowly does it...



Back to farmland and civilisation.




And on my way to... Well I don't know till I get there!