WAIKATO: OTOROHANGA

As we drove in to Kawhia, where we overnighted at one of the holiday parks, we noticed a rest area with a magnificent view out over the valley. It was on the other side of the road, so I just made a mental note to call in and have a closer look on the way back.

The farmland is pretty rugged on the way to Kawhia, with the roads winding up and down quite steep hills. While the roads are in excellent condition, it is a tiring, if exhilerating drive. So, the opportunity to break the trip back with a brief rest stop appealed, and we weren't disappointed.

On a nice sunny afternoon, it was a great location for a cuppa and a view. Most likely there is no problem parking overnight should you want to, as there was no sign saying otherwise. It's likely to be a bit isolated though, but there is plenty of room for more than one van if you are travelling with friends.

There are no toilet facilities, so any overnight parking would only be for self-contained vans.