Carterton Holiday Park

Our caravan club was staying at Carterton Holiday Park for Anzac Weekend, and I must say that this would have to be one of my favourite motor camps.  There have been several improvements made since our last visit here, including adding some drop down heavy plastic curtains around the verandah area of the kitchen/dining room.  There is new outdoor furniture in place and it all looks rather smart, and allows the area to be used as the weather gets cooler.

Enclosed veranda now

With so many lovely big trees around it does make finding the satellite TV reception a bit of trial and error.  Robin backed the van onto our site, tried the TV, no reception there.  So back it went another foot or so, and after going round and round, the dish finally locked onto the satellite.  Then the van was finally unhooked from the car, legs down, power plugged in and we were set for the weekend.  This camp also has drains on each site for grey water which is a real bonus, one less tank to empty when it is time to go home.

All set for a great weekend

We had quite a big group for this rally.  Nine of our club vans, three vans from the Hawkes Bay Club, and two prospective members vans.  It was a bit of a squeeze in the dining room in the evenings, but we all made it.

View from the top of the camp

Some decided to settle in a day earlier on Thursday but most of us arrived of Friday.  It was great to see Selwyn and Kath again, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to take a photo of Selwyn with his very special “Fisk” named coffee mug. 

Good morning Selwyn

Also at morning tea on Saturday, Helen and Stuart were inducted into our club, after completing three rallies, and deciding that yes, we weren't such a bad bunch after all and they would like to join us in our caravan rallies. 

Helen, Stuart and our President Owen

Paul and Wendy were visiting for the first time and what a surprise, they are now the owners of Dot and Derek's former Autotrail Savannah Gypsy Rover. 

We haven't seen this van for a while

The weather has been so nice we were able to enjoy Morning Teas out in the sunshine, and gather in the dining room for 4zees and later in the evenings.  Although the autumnal daytime temperatures have been nice and sunny as it usually is in the Wairarapa, once the sun goes down the temps certainly drop.

Robin cooked our usual Sunday breakfast on the Weber BBQ on Sunday morning.  Delicious as usual with bacon, tomatoes, and eggs cooked in a slice of bread.  Known as “Benton Eggs” we have been told, but we can’t claim this idea, we copied this method from another camper years ago.

Sunday breakfast on the BBQ

Visitors came to call at Morning Tea on Sunday, Pam and Terry from the Wairarapa Club, who live nearby.  It was lovely to catch up with them again, and Pam looked very elegant sporting her pretty flower sun umbrella.

Pam and her sun shade

We all had dinner on Sunday evening at the nearby Buckhorn Restaurant, and our large group had a room to ourselves.  Plenty of good food choices, lamb shanks for those who enjoy this dish, steak, burgers and chicken.  Something for everyone, and I must say, that when the meals were brought out, all the chatter stopped while we concentrated on our dinner plates.   The Buckhorn, as the name suggests, was decorated in Wild West style.

Inside the Buckhorn Restaurant

Monday was Anzac Day and the Motor Camp Mother delivered some “just out of the oven “Anzac Biscuits and Fruit Loaf for us to enjoy with our morning tea.  That was very thoughtful, and we certainly made short work of the home baked goodies.

A few couples were staying on for another night, and most of us packed up and got on our way, hoping to beat the long weekend traffic.  For a change, we decided to go home via the Rimutaka Hill, joining up with the new Transmission Gully Road at Pauatahanui Interchange to continue northwards. 

Heading home