After two idyllic days in rural Rangiwahia it was time to break camp and head off to our next stopover. Don and Pamela left us here and headed homewards. With the mighty Ruahine Ranges off to the side, we drove past the turnoff to the quaintly named “Peep-O-Day” and down past the Kimbolton Gardens which specialise in rhododendrons and azaleas. Our original plan to overnight at Cheltenham was scotched, Peter and Elaine chose to travel on to Palmerston North, and the three remaining vans decided to move on to the Ashhurst Domain.
Rolling farmland with the Ruahine Ranges in the background
The Domain was full of families enjoying picnics in the sunshine but the campsite was empty so it was just a matter of picking our sites, plugging in to the power boxes and we were all set. The camp is surrounded by mature totara trees and we were happy to use the welcome shade they gave as we had a lazy afternoon. The promised rain arrived overnight and soaked away into the hard dry ground. Although wet, the high temperatures were making us feel hot and sticky.
Just three vans still on safari
This campsite is a little unusual as just across the way is a large grave yard. Luckily non of the occupants bothered us in the dark of the night.
Our neighbours across the park
Ashhurst is a small country town of about 3500 people, and the first European settlers arrived here in 1877. A private English emigration company called the Emigrant and Colonists’ Aid Corporation bought a 106,000 acre block, known as the “Manchester Block”, named after the Duke of Manchester who was the chairman. The town was named after Henry George Ashhurst, a successful London merchant, who was a director of the Corporation. The two churches in town were built in quite different styles.
St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church
St Columba’s Catholic Church
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