Around New Zealand

pohutukawa shade. Frolic a while, then head back to Otehei Bay for a snack and a cold beer before jumping back on the ferry to go home. Best reason to moor up: For the safe sandy beaches, epic snorkelling and back-to-basics camping. Kids love: Swimming, gazing at fish, climbing pohutukawa and exploring 208ha of heaven. Many families visit with third-generation campers for that oldfashioned camping culture, with kids in big mobs meeting up every summer to have the time of their lives. Best park: Nature. This place is a genuine jungle gym — tan sands outlined with crystal-clear blue water. Best facilities: There are three campgrounds. Sunset Bay is the smallest, with room for just 10 campsites. Book it out with friends and you’ve got your own private sandy bay complete with composting toilet. Cable Bay is a bit bigger with room for 80 people on 20 sites and then there’s Urupukapuka with room for about 120. If you can hold off till February, you’ll avoid the crowds and it’s even more delicious. Best walk: Urupukapuka Island walk is an easy 7.3km walk that takes about five hours. Travelling in a clockwise direction, read the groovy interpretation panels along the way. If that sounds too much like hard work, there are two shorter loops — The Urupukapuka Bay Loop takes about 90 minutes or do the shorter Otehei Bay Loop, about 30-45 minutes around one of the hills, perfect for short-stop visitors. Best view: Visit the trig station above Otehei Bay and gaze all the way up to the Kerikeri Inlet, over to Russell, Waitangi, The Cavallis and Cape Brett. Even though it’s sheltered, from up here you get a sense of being part of a bigger, more dynamic coastal environment. Best swim: If you need to ask, you’re probably not fit to go into the water, but perhaps Paradise Bay