Location: This campground isn’t just a destination: make it a journey. The holiday park is an hour from Auckland and can be reached either by motorway and an easy rural road, or by an impossibly beautiful winding coastal road, one of New Zealand’s loveliest drives.
We took the scenic route from Auckland, past charming baches, sandy beaches and fishermen in secluded bays, to enter Miranda from the north.
Perfect for: Families and couples, swimming, unwinding, birdwatching and mountain biking.
Migratory shorebirds flock to the wetlands near Miranda. Photo / Greg Bowker
It’s a quick stroll to the coast through the Miranda bird sanctuary’s walkways and cycle trails. Pop into the Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre and get a map.
When the migratory birds are in town, the wetlands are smothered in birds feasting before they head north. You can hear the sky larks chorus over the lapping of the waves. It’s magical.
First impressions: Luckily, the managers are friendly. Who camps in the chill of late autumn? Everyone, apparently. We got the last powered site. There were kids everywhere, on hired trikes tearing round in happy gangs. One shy kid hung back until someone shouted, “Jump on!” He had the biggest grin on his face as he whizzed past.
Powered sites for campervans at Tasman’s Miranda Holiday Park. Photo / Supplied
The site: The sites are well spaced, grassed or hardstand. Our corner site overlooked the steaming pool and a handful of private hot tubs available to hire.
Facilities: The bathrooms were clean and the showers were free. The kitchen is spacious and was sparkling.
Things to do: Tennis, table tennis, mini golf, giant chess, a playground, barbecues. There’s even an Enchanted Forest within the park.
In the neighbourhood: An onsite coffee cart serves your daily caffeine fix. The nearest cafe, the Miranda Farm Shop, is a drive away, but it’s cute and barn-like, and farmers outnumber tourists. Hey, you’re in the country now.
The best bit: The pool is reserved for adults only from 7-9pm. Or head there in the quiet dawn as steam drifts across the landscape.
Room for improvement: The website is a bit slow, but it’s worth persevering.
Accessibility: There are accessible units and facilities.
Price: Our powered hard site was $78 a night; grassed sites are $52. Units start at $149; premium villas are a steep $645 a night.
Contact: Tasman Holiday Park Miranda, 595 Front Miranda Road, Pūkorokoro / Miranda, phone (07) 867 3205.
miranda@tasmanholidayparks.com.
The writer travelled at her own expense.