WELLINGTON: NORTH WAIRARAPA

Just across the bridge from the Gladstone Reserve is a country inn where you can enjoy a very pleasant meal or coffee break.

We had had stopped to have lunch at the public reserve, and were told about the inn by two of the local farmer's wives who were out exercising their dogs along the river.

Pity we'd already eaten, as the inn looked great, with quite a few locals sitting outside finishing off their lunch. The menu looked good, and it would also be a very nice place to stop on a wet day.

Chatting to the owner, she was happy for self-contained motor caravanners to park overnight - you just need to ask nicely at the bar. They have parking on both ashfelt and grass

She also told us that the sports complex next door would also be happy to have self-contained vans stay overnight.

We enjoyed our short stay in Gladstone. It would be a great location for fishing in the river, having the occassional meal out, and just chilling out in a country environment. There are no shops, so your nearest town to buy supplies is in Carterton, around 14 km away.