Auckland to Russell EV & Camping Roadie

While you’re in Kumeu, plug your EV in at the Vector fast charge station at Kumeu New World, just to give your wheels that extra boost for the road ahead. It’s a fair slog to the next charging point, so get her as charged up as possible to keep your mind at ease throughout your journey.

For history buffs, a stop in Helensville is like stepping into pure heritage heaven. Their museum and pioneer village is a charming collection of historical buildings, which have all been moved together and magically set up to depict life since early settlement in the South Kaipara district. Displays inside the buildings show many different aspects of life, such as education, business and communication, as well as different periods in history, from kauri digging to railway construction to farming. It’s like a mini theme park for people who like their theme parks with fewer rollercoasters and more education. Speaking of, the whole town has been described as being ‘just like MOTAT, only real life.’ And for anyone who has visited Auckland’s MOTAT, that’s the only review you’ll need.

If your battery power is looking low, give it a boost at the Warkworth New World. It’s about 40 km to the next charging station so if you’re EV’s got a decent battery behind it you might be able to make it, but it’s never a bad idea to recharge just in case.

Now for your last recharge of the day (finally!), hit up the ChargeNet station at the Four Square on Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Rd. This will give you all the juice you need to get you to your end destination of the day, but it’s about 78 km so do make sure you charge up as much as you can.

Grab a spot of lunch at Mangawhai’s Sandbar Eatery, which is so good it’s making us hungry just thinking about it. From their ideal possie in the heart of Mangawhai Heads, you can feast on one of Sandbar’s beautiful dishes, then bounce down to the estuary for a splash. Their Surf and Turf Fritters, made with an unexpected combo of market fish, cured pork and blue cheese, are a must if you don’t mind trying out new (but delicious, might we add) flavours. But you can’t go wrong with their Bang Bang Chicken either, which is embellished with toasted peanut, sichuan, sesame & soy. Too good. Sandbar’s slogan is ‘where the locals meet to eat,’ and everyone knows that if the locals love it, it’s a winner.

When you finally reach Whangarei, we wouldn’t be surprised if your stomach is a-rumbling. Luckily, we have the perfect antidote. No. 8 is fresh to the Whangarei dining scene (just having celebrated its first birthday), but was established by local champions of the game, Lloyd Rooney and Michael Fraser, who are bringing Asian/Kiwi fusion tapas to town with this latest venture. And with plates on the menu such as Pakistani Chicken (that’s chicken marinated in almonds, black pepper and yoghurt), sashimi (market fish, green nam jim and coriander) and crispy pork belly (with chilli caramel and sour herb salad), it would be hard to go past, without even mentioning their prime location by the Whangarei Marina. And that’s before you even get close to their deep-fried ice cream… There’s a good night of eating ahead of you, that’s for sure.

After a long day of travelling and touring, it’s well past time to hit the hay. At moments like these, the Whangarei TOP 10 Holiday Park becomes your best friend, with its lush bush surroundings and just-like-home facilities. The location of this holiday park is quite something; the tranquility of the bordering Parihaka Scenic Reserve would make you think you were miles from any city, when in fact all the life of Whangarei’s centre is less than 2 km away. If you are sleeping in your vehicle or planning on tenting beside it, make sure you plug in so your battery is more than prepared for the next day’s activities. If you feel like tonight requires a little more comfort, you could also check in to the Bella Vista Whangarei, which provides overnight EV car parking for guests.

Rise and shine Whangarei, there’s a new breakfast heavyweight in town. Biggie Bagels have been bringing doughy joy to Northland since December 2017, which can be enjoyed with many magical filling combinations, all made freshly right in front of you. Think manuka-smoked salmon, New York-style pastrami, or even a mouth-watering combo of blueberries, cream cheese and bacon. These hand-rolled sourdough bagels can be made for any dietary requirements, so anyone can jump on the bandwagon and taste the goodness. Make sure you bring along your Keep Cup too, so you can get 50c off your coffee. And do a bit of good for the planet, of course. All before breakfast.

On your way up State Highway One towards the far north, stop off just before Waro, where you will find one of the most unexpected roadside attractions in Northland. The Waro Limestone Scenic Reserve is an area of geological marvel, with a network of too-crazy-to-be-true limestone formations and a small but scenic lake to walk around. The 7.5 hectare reserve is dotted with information panels to explain the geology and human history of the area, including the coal-mining narratives of the Hikurangi district. While you’re off on your morning exploration, please keep to the track and leave the limestone formations untouched out of respect to local iwi. And watch out for sinkholes! Stuck below ground wouldn’t exactly be the best way to start your roadie.

How many towns can say their biggest attraction is their public toilets? We’re willing to bet not many, but arrive in Kawakawa and you will want to see nothing more than their main street loo. This offbeat attraction was designed by world-renowned Austrian architect and artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, probably the town’s most famous resident, who fell in love with the area and made it his home in the 1970s. Recycled materials were predominantly used to construct the quirky and colourful toilets, and any vegetation removed from the site was re-planted on the roof. Funky and environmentally-friendly! A pit-stop here is an absolute must, even just to sit on the throne (if you know what we mean) and appreciate the absolute creativity of the project.

Get your health kick for the day at this lunch stop, which serves up delicious wholefood goodies that will give you your 5+ a day in one sitting. Having opened in 2017, Elaine’s Kitchen is a relatively new cafe in Kawakawa, but it has built a devoted loyalty in many locals who previously had slim pickings for great food. But don’t worry, meals are just as tasty when you’re just passing through the small town. In fact, they’re so good, you’ll wonder how they can still be healthy. Especially the slices. Melt. In. Your. Mouth.

Hop on the ChargeNet station before you leave Kawakawa to give your EV battery a little boost for the next 20 km to your destination. Just along from the Hundertwasser toilets, this station costs a mere 25c/kWh + 25c/minute. Not a bad exchange for keeping New Zealand green and beautiful!

For exceptional dining in Russell, you can’t go past the Duke of Marlborough, a New Zealand institution which acquired the country’s first ever liquor licence. Established in 1827 by ex-convict Johnny Johnson, the land that the hotel and restaurant sits on was one of the first land sales to a European in New Zealand, with the hotel itself playing an important role in turning around the perception of Russell as the ‘hellhole of the South Pacific.’ No, we’re not joking, that was actually what this paradise was once known as. Pretty hard to believe today, right? With an epic view to match the epic historical facts, and a menu that blows both out of the water (Sichuan Peppered Calamari or Mustard Crusted Bacon Hock, anyone?), the Duke is the kind of place to put on your dining bucket list, and tick off time and time again.

And the best news? While you wine and dine at the Duke of Marlborough, your accommodation is right above your head. Perfect for many reasons, not least of which being the fact that you can sneak away to bed whenever you start to get sleepy. Or that you can stay as late as you want without having to worry about how to get to your accommodation. Whichever reason you choose, it goes without saying that the Duke is absolute premium accommodation, especially the waterfront rooms which let you wake up to the views of the oh-so gram-worthy Bay of Islands. Best of all, they are accommodating for EV drivers. Just contact them ahead of your stay and they will work something out to ensure you and your wheels are ready for the next day.

Get an early morning history lesson with a walk up Maiki/Flagstaff Hill, one of the most important landmarks in the Bay of Islands. It was here that powerful Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke cut down the Union Jack flagstaff four times in the 1840s, in protest of the increasing British control over Māori affairs and their dishonouring of the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi. Just a short 30-45 minute trek will get you to the summit of this epoch-making hill and back again, rewarding you with a pretty epic view of Russell, Paihia, Waitangi and the Bay of Islands at the top. Before you go, be sure to check tidal hours and the DOC website for information, because access to the track differs depending on water levels.