WELLINGTON: SOUTH WAIRARAPA

Gravel parking on the beach - DON'T go there!

 

This is a better place to park

 

 

Ocean Beach is in Palliser Bay, at the far south of the North Island. There is a small community of holiday homes, and freedom camping is allowed for self contained motor caravanners.

This is a rugged environment, with rugged scenery to match! Half surrounded by cliff faces, the stony beach covered with driftwood generates an untamed atmosphere, softened only by the 48 baches overlooking the bay.

In spite of this, there were people out fishing, and walking along the beach. This is a great place to get away from city life.

Just be careful where you park. The stony beach is softer than it looks, and we got stuck - a piece of driftwood got caught under the real wheel and the front wheels just dug into the stones. Fortunately, one of the locals helped out with his 4-wheel drive and gave me a tow to get back onto the road.

There is plenty of on grass parking, so you really don't have to drive onto the gravel beach.