A campervan parked on the deluxe terrace site overlooking Russell. Photo / Brenda Ward
Perfect for: Location, location, location. Walk to local cafes, a good food store and ferries to Paihia every 15 minutes.
First impressions: It’s fringed by hedges, with cabins nestled in native bush, and a flat field ideal for tents in summer. The birdsong is magical and weka calls woke us in the morning.
The site: We were in deluxe campervan site 8, overlooking the campground and the bay. It was big, with its own picnic table and lamp and was near the steps to the bathrooms. All the terrace sites had great views, but they were at the top end of what most campers would be prepared to pay.
Inside a deluxe site campervan with harbour views from the terrace. Photo / Brenda Ward
Bathrooms: Bathrooms were fresh and clean, and the showers were free, but timed to 5 minutes. A waste disposal point was 20 metres away from our site.
Facilities: There’s a light and spacious kitchen, dining and TV room, overlooking the campground. Eat on a sunny deck or on picnic tables on the grass. At Top 10 properties, all plates, pots and pans are provided. There’s even a covered barbecue area by the kitchen. Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available.
In the neighbourhood: The Duke of Marlborough is an iconic restored colonial pub with dining on the terrace overlooking the water. Make sure you book. And the Gables is a classy Italian osteria with white-tablecloth service and outdoor tables by the sea on a sunny day. Surprise find: the Long Beach coffee cart is a delight, surrounded by relaxed locals, beach walkers and swimmers in the morning. Cash only. Jump onto a ferry to Paihia ($19.50 per person) for shopping and lunch on the Wharf.
Ferries connect Russell to Paihia every 15 minutes across the bay. Photo / Brenda Ward
The best bit: The view.
Room for improvement: Travel directions on the website could be more specific. Larger mobile homes should be advised to take the car ferry rather than the potholed Old Russell Road.
Accessibility: There are ramps to the bathrooms and gently sloping access paths. There’s a studio unit with wheelchair accessibility.
Price: For two people, it’s $86 for a non-powered site and $98 for a powered site, but we opted for the Deluxe powered site, one of the highest prices we’ve paid at $107 (but worth it).
Contact: Russell Top 10 Holiday Park, 1 James Street, Russell, 09 403 7826, top10.co.nz.
The writer travelled at their own expense.