WAIKATO: WAIKATO

We stumbled across Manu Bay as we were driving south from Raglan to check out the Toto Gorge lookout - which offers free overnight parking for NZMCA members. 

Manu Bay is in a stunning location, with a surf beach, well used by local surfies, even in mid-winter when we called in. Excellent facilities for toilets and changing rooms, plenty of parking, and lots of action on the water, which was entertaining to watch while we enjoyed a lunch break.

Unfortunately, Manu Bay is off limits for overnight parking - with a large sign to that effect in the entrance.

There is no obvious reason why. To us, it looked like a choice location, and one that would attract motor caravanners to Raglan. We can only imagine that the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park didn't want competition from a free parking area, and lobbied the local council for the ban.

This is yet another reason to support the NZ Motor Caravanners Association as it is lobbying hard with local councils to ensure that we can all enjoy these beautiful locations, including being able to park overnight.