25 & 26 April 2017 Leathfield Beach and Historic Town

Leithfields Beach Campsite

Wildflowers along the beach sandy walks

This was one of those campsites where there were a lot of permanent residents. But tidy and well-managed. This is something I'll write about soon - but suffice to say there is a 'hidden' element of Kiwi populations where you can 'opt out' of engaging in citizenship and live - a little like the UK traveller communities but without the stigma - in campsites around the country, largely 'unknown' by authorities and Government agencies...

at the beach adjacent to the camp - lots of driftwood

But more on that on the following post. Here in Leithfield Beach there was a beach that was a bit littered (eeeek - doesn't happen often) and the waves were so severe, no swimming for Dizzy. It was a comfortable campsite with all the usual facilities to take advantage of. It was a luxury to have power after all that Freedome Camping! Most attractive was the walk (doggie-friendly) from the Beach township (full of empty baches) to the 'Historic' Town, further inland. It took us all afternoon after walking through the sandy reserve and along the riverbank from the Leithfield Lagoons. Wow! so much bird life & insects here - and fungi!

One of the numerous toadstools in the woodland around Leithfields...

When we got to Leithfields town, we had to stop at the historic pub - which sadly wasn't as historic as it should have been because the original 1855 coach-house burnt-down in 1911. However, even so, this is probably the closest many people will get to experiencing an 'authentic-type' English pub in New Zealand!

The campsite is located literally right on the beach....

We enjoyed a cold beer in the sunny Autumnal beer-garden (with Dizzy - highly unusual in NZ) and the staff were friendly. 

It was interesting to see the residential sub-divisions in the town, interspersed with older villas. Very rural here and so sad to think that many tourists just speed past this picturesque village - or maybe stop briefly for an expensive coffee at the Pukeko Junction Cafe on the main road, including the profit-clinic-type souvenir shop (with Chinese tat (almost) reminiscent of UK service-stations).