We continued south from Murchison to Hammer Springs.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

We used the campground kitchen to make breakfast, since we felt like having toast, but didn’t have a toaster in the van:

A caravan / trailer chicken coop out the front of the campground:

We stopped at RD Petroleum to fill up:

Matakitaki River:

Maruia Falls:

“Feel the warmth of Buller”:

An unusual one way bridge, with a traffic light, no doubt due to being too long and curved to see if anyone is coming the other way:

Maruia River:

Picnic lunch at Lewis Park Scenic Reserve:

A helicopter and concrete mixer doing construction:

Hope River:

Waiau River:

Looking back at the bridge we just crossed, the Waiau Ferry Bridge of 1887:

Hanmer Springs:

We were a little early to check in to our campground, so decided to visit Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools first, and another private pool (not as nice as the one in Rotorua, and the front desk staff were a bit clueless; book online to save hassle):

Then we checked in to Hanmer Springs Top 10:

Our first sighting of another McRent camper (we later saw many more; they seemed to be more common the further south we went):

Our site:

Our towels were still damp from the pool, so we hung them on the clothesline (you can see our site in the background):

Later, we walked to Fire & Ice for dinner:

We traveled from Picton to Nelson.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

Vineyards:

One lane bridge:

Cows:

Welcome to Nelson:

Maitai River:

Old Electricity Department building:

Waterfront houses:

Beach Cafe for lunch:

Boardwalk to beach:

A walk on Tahunanui Beach:

Whakatu Marae:

Miyazu Garden:

We visited Jens Hansen Jeweler, makers of the One Ring from Lord of the Rings:

We checked in at Tahuna Beach Holiday Park:

Then pretty much immediately did some laundry:

That evening, we went out to Nahm for dinner:

Our table was on the outdoor balcony, so we enjoyed watching a sailing school during dinner:

Back to our site:

We continued south from Napier to Castlepoint.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

Heading down the hill:

We stopped at the dump station, for the first time dumping our waste tanks:

Our van has a cassette toilet, our first experience with one:

Dumping the toilet cassette:

Bluff Hill Domain:

Napier is known for its art deco architecture:

We stopped at a Mitre 10 Mega hardware store to get some more housewares for the van:

And Soho Cafe for lunch:

South of Napier:

Waipawa:

A classic NZ hotel in Waipukurau:

Dannevirke:

One lane bridge:

Pahiatua:

Kiwi sign:

Curvy road:

One lane bridge:

Arriving at Castlepoint Holiday Park & Motels:

Castlepoint map:

Our site, another scenic waterfront site:

Castle Point Lighthouse:

Walk on the beach:

The Shop, the only store in town; we wanted to get some fish & chips there, but they were closing:

Surfer:

We really enjoyed this area.

Continuing our journey, we traveled south from Rotorua to Napier.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:

Our van in our site in the morning:

The electrical connections are a bit different in NZ… some in better condition than others:

We brought our AeroPress and manual coffee grinder, and bought some local coffee and an electric kettle / hot water jug to make coffee in our van:

Some ducks in front of our site:

Heading out, we stopped at the Skyline Gondola:

Selecting a morning snack:

Snack and coffees with a view:

Watching the luge:

Gondola selfie:

Back down the gondola:

Souvenier photos:

Geothermal power plant:

Huka Honey Hive:

Huka Falls:

In Taupo is the world’s coolest McDonalds with a plane:

A waterfall viewpoint:

Arriving at Napier Beach Top 10 Holiday Park:

Campground map:

Rainbow:

Napier Beach:

Tiny cabin:

Other sites:

Our site, also with a nice view: