A hot Auckland December yearned for a cooler Christmas getaway. Everyone including our chocolate Labrador, Acamo, deserved a good break from a year long routine of Auckland city air, cars and work. Deciding we would make this vacation a little holiday for every member of the family, we went off to search for a good holiday accommodation that was clean, green and most importantly pet friendly.
As you would imagine, most hotels and lodges in New Zealand that we found were wonderful with everything we were looking for, except a place for our beloved dog. Determined to find the ultimate holiday destination, we surfed through the internet and came upon the perfect place - Taumarunui Holiday Park! A gushing Whanganui River along the north and lush green woods flanking its south-east border, Taumarunui Holiday Park offers a quaint holiday destination perfect for families, backpackers, couples and pets! Yes, you read it right - pets are allowed - as a matter of fact, they have a friendly dog of their own on the premises!
To top it off, as Taumarunui Holiday Park is located in the breathtaking Central Plateau of the North Island of New Zealand, many family friendly outdoor activities are in close proximity - riding the Forgotten World Adventures Rail Carts, canoeing or kayaking down the mighty Whanganui River; walking through wooded bush walks and the must-do Tongariro Alpine Crossing, hiking or cycling through the ancient forested Timber Trail, fresh water fishing, mountain and motor bike riding with friends and family, and so much more. Driving southward for under an hour, you will meet the Tongariro National Park and the beautiful Whakapapa Snow fields on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. A one and a half hour drive toward the east would take you to the junction of Ferry Road and Lake Terrace where you are greeted by the calm and sparkling clear waters of the majestic Lake Taupo. Whatever activity excites your wild side, you will definitely find it at your finger tips here!
Besides the natural features, varied attractions and activities within a stone's throw of each other, Taumarunui Holiday Park offers shaded camping grounds and many cheap accommodation spots (with or without electric power) to choose from. It offers affordable stand-alone wooden cabins a few steps away from shared toilets and showers, free parking, a large common kitchen and an outdoor BBQ cooking area. These separate cabin units are designed to suit all sorts of travellers, from parties of singles, doubles to three or more. And for those holidaymakers who wish for a more private accommodation, the park offers a self-contained holiday cottage, by far the most popular choice for a family with children. Being just two adults with one dog and a small budget, my husband and I immediately booked a standard stand-alone cabin with a double bed for two nights over the Christmas period at the Taumarunui Holiday Park.
A four hour drive from Auckland city via State Highway 1 and 4, through green hills and plains, we arrived on Christmas Eve to be greeted by the friendly owners and a clean little cabin-for-two at the quiet Eastern border of Taumarunui Holiday Park. Once settled in, we drove to buy meat, vegetables and supplies from the local supermarket about fifteen minutes away for a delicious Christmas Eve barbecue dinner back at the Taumarunui Holiday Park. Our Christmas morning started under warm bed sheets and a cool crisp morning. A brisk walk through the wooded bush to refresh the senses ended at the banks of the Whanganui River where Acamo enjoyed a morning swim in the cold clear running water with the owner's dog. Acamo spent the rest of the day at the Holiday Park, while we drove to the grassy plains of the Tongariro National Park and took in the vast openness of the reserve. The day took us to the rocky slopes of Mount Ruapehu where we rode the scenic chairlifts to the top to tumble and play in the snow. After a scrumptious lunch at one of New Zealand's highest cafes, Knoll Ridge Cafe, we headed back to Taumarunui Holiday Park to spend a quiet restful evening by ourselves. The next morning, after a light breakfast and a hearty conversation with friendly European backpackers in the common kitchen, we packed our bags, said goodbye to our little cabin and set out to a crystal clear Lake Taupo where we enjoyed a refreshing swim in one of the best fresh water lakes in New Zealand.
The short getaway wouldn't have been a success had it not been for the affordable accommodation we booked; this enabled us to prioritise our expenditure and really spoil ourselves! In our opinion, Taumarunui Holiday Park provided everything it promises and our stay was inexpensive in comparison to the great service we received, the friendliness of the owners, the cleanliness of the facilities, the proximity to such great activities, and most of all, the fun our chocolate Labrador had swimming and playing with the owner's frisky pet dog!Written by: Simone Garcia
Photography by: Simone Garcia
Edited by: Miguel Garcia
Planning a trip around North Island, New Zealand? Here's some more information to help you out:
We always find honest reviews and affordable booking prices on TripAdvisor, and therefore recommend their site to family and close friends.
Taumarunui Holiday Park
487 Totara Street, Manunui, Taumarunui, North Island, New Zealand
Forgotten World Adventures Rail Carts
9 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui, North Island, New Zealand
Canoe Hire for Kayaking or Canoeing on Whanganui River
292 Hikumutu Road, Taumarunui, North Island, New Zealand
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Tongariro National Park, North Island, New Zealand
The Timber Trail
198 Barryville Road, Pureora Village, Pureora Forest Park, North Island, New Zealand
Click to read reviews on The Timber Trail.
Seriously Outdoors - Freshwater Fishing
89 Hakiaha Sreet, Taumarunui, North Island, New Zealand
Tongariro National Park
Visitor Centre: Whakapapa Village, State Highway 48, Mount Ruapehu
Click to read more information on Tongariro National Park from the Department of Conservation, New Zealand.
Ski and Board Station - Ski and Snowboard Hire
Now associated with SLR Ski Rentals at Ohakune Shopping Centre, 17-19 Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, North Island, New Zealand
Click to read reviews on Ski and Board Station.
Knoll Ridge Cafe
Along the chairlift ride to the top of Mount Ruapehu
Planning an International trip to New Zealand? Here's some useful tips to plan your overseas holidays:
Air Flights to and from New Zealand
We use TripAdvisor because we often find good flight deals that suit our budget. You can click to Search Flights on TripAdvisor to check out various air flight options.
Travel Insurance
It's a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. World Nomads provide travel insurance for travellers from over 140 countries, backed by reputable insurers and 24 hour assistance providers. You can click on Travel Insurance from World Nomads to get a quote. Please read the policy details to ensure that it's right for you.
Transport Rentals
Jucy Rentals has got some great options to rent a car, campervan or motor home in New Zealand. Click to get a quote to rent a vehicle with Jucy Rentals. If you plan on renting transport in New Zealand, please check out the rules on Driving on New Zealand Roads from the NZ Transport Agency.
If you found this article interesting and helpful, please comment below and share this link with friends and family! Thank you :)!
Air Flights to and from New Zealand
We use TripAdvisor because we often find good flight deals that suit our budget. You can click to Search Flights on TripAdvisor to check out various air flight options.
Tour Options for Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands
If you are someone who likes their holiday planned for them, you can click to check out tour packages around Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands through TourRadar.
Travel Insurance
It's a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. World Nomads provide travel insurance for travellers from over 140 countries, backed by reputable insurers and 24 hour assistance providers. You can click on Travel Insurance from World Nomads to get a quote. Please read the policy details to ensure that it's right for you.
Transport Rentals
Jucy Rentals has got some great options to rent a car, campervan or motor home in New Zealand. Click to get a quote to rent a vehicle with Jucy Rentals. If you plan on renting transport in New Zealand, please check out the rules on Driving on New Zealand Roads from the NZ Transport Agency.
If you found this article interesting and helpful, please comment below and share this link with friends and family! Thank you :)!
