All told, we slept in different towns each of our three nights on the road. Friday night we stayed i

All told, we slept in different towns each of our three nights on the road. Friday night we stayed in Mount Backpackers, in Mount Maunganui.  Seeing as it was only a place to rest our heads, it was a decent spot to stop (we were there for less than 12 hours).  We were in a mixed-sex dorm filled with bunk beds and one single bed; I think it slept 9 people.  Walking into the room you were hit with the hostel smell, imagine a slightly less-pungent change room at a hockey arena.  I don’t think I could stay there for more than one night; thankfully that smell wasn’t in any other bunkhouses we slept in.  $25/night; no photo of this place, sorry!  Saturday night, we stayed in Te Kaha, at the Te Kaha Homestead Lodge.  Essentially, it was a bunkhouse located on private land, run by a middle-aged woman, and her son.  Her grandson, two dogs, a litter of puppies, and a lone cat made up the rest of the occupants.  They were pleasant people.  The house and bunkhouse weren’t insulated well (or at all, really), so they had a space heater in our room.  There were also duvets on each bed.  And bonus: the shower in the bunkhouse had very hot water, and the water pressure was also very strong.  That alone gives it very high points.  The property actually backs on to the Bay of Plenty, and they have an amazing view.  There’s actually a hot tub located on a lower deck, but we didn’t use it.  We sat on the upper deck, laid with some intricate tile patterns, and watched the sun set over the water.  We were the only guests that night.   While we began to cook our pasta that night, the son of the owner actually gave us part of the meal he was sharing with his son and a friend.  The two men had been out on the water only a few hours before, and had caught some snapper.  They brought it home, cleaned it, and deep fried it using a fryer they have in an outbuilding.  Fresh fish and chips, with Watties tomato sauce from a tin, washed down with L&P.  Yum!  Later that night I watched the Blues vs. Chiefs (Super Rugby) game on their big screen with the two guys.  We were in Chiefs country, and they were the victors.  Their home is very cosy, decorated with Maori carvings and artwork (they are Maori themselves).  I would definitely recommend this place to anyone passing through ($30/night). Sunday night, we stayed at Eastwoodhill Arboretum, in Ngatapa, a suburb of Gisborne.  It was another beautiful place.  Here, it actually smelled like autumn, with the cool air, fallen leaves, and wood fires burning. The bunkhouse was sectioned into three separate dorm rooms, capable of sleeping eight people each, in bunk beds.  There was also a kitchen/common room, laundry room, showers, and toilets.  The whole building looked brand new.  Again, we were the only guests. Our sleeping quarters had a heater, and a heavy duvet on each bed.  Each bunk also had its own separate reading lamp, which was a nice luxury.  The kitchen was well stocked cookware and utensils.  The fridge even had some milk in it, and the cupboards had tea and some spices. The arboretum itself is packed with walking trails.  We went on a quick trip up one trail Monday morning, and what we saw was very nice.  It must be quite lovely in the spring and summer, and filled with many pleasant smells.  At night, when I went stargazing, I could hear sheep bleating nearby (though I don’t know where they were) and nocturnal birds calling out to one another.  It reminded me very much of camping in northern Ontario. I think the highlight of that place for me was the wood stove.  I grew up with one back in Canada, and I delighted in playing around with it that night, making sure that it was well stocked so the common room didn’t get too cold.  Again, I would highly recommend staying here; $30/night. Photos 1-5: Te Kaha Homestead Lodge Photos 6-9: Eastwoodhill Arboretum -- source link

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