Thursday, March 29, 2012

Ruatiti Camping Ground

I'd have to rate this place as one of the rare gems of New Zealand. It's a camping ground I have been going to since I was two. So 20 years on and off I still go back there. Why?

Well it's a peaceful place away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, plenty of fishing, kayaking, rafting, swings, swimming, back yard cricket, touch rugby, native wildlife (blue ducks) and co plus plenty of other amazing things to do. The best part though is it's free to camp at! There aren't many places around NZ that are free to camp at anymore. This no fee includes camper-vans etc.

Ruatiti Domain is approximately 20-25mins out of Raetihi in the Ruapehu National Park district (North Island).

The camp ground is situated between the Manganuioteao River and the Ruatiti Stream. It has toilet facilities and cubicles to hang up solar or portable showers. All drinking water taken from the river, stream or taps is suppose to be boiled. Most popular time is around Christmas and New Years.

Here's a good website for looking up fishing spots, weather reports and regulations in the Ruatiti Domain area.
http://www.nzfishing.com/FishingWaters/Taranaki/TNKFishingWaters/TNKManganuioteao.htm

Also, if you're into hunting there's the Ruatiti Station just up the road that takes guided hunts for red deer and boar etc. For more information check the website below.

http://www.safarisupply.co.nz/Resources/Hunting+Guides++Access/North+Island+-+Central/Ruatiti+Wilderness.html

Directions to Ruatiti from various locations via Google Maps

From Taupo

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Taupo,+Waikato&daddr=Ruatiti+Stream,+Ruatiti,+Manawatu-Wanganui&hl=en&ll=-39.074644,175.874634&spn=1.142875,2.705383&sll=-39.302425,175.290298&sspn=0.284796,0.676346&geocode=FQS0sf0dQp5-CilbFksUd-9rbTHgCaNDYe8ABQ%3BFUQqqP0dxlVxCinFDIJuBNxqbTFg9t9lYe8AKg&oq=ruati&gl=nz&mra=ls&t=m&z=9&source=gplus-ogsb

From Wanganui to Ruatiti

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Wanganui,+Manawatu-Wanganui&daddr=Ruatiti+Stream,+Ruatiti,+Manawatu-Wanganui&hl=en&ll=-39.595107,175.388489&spn=1.134399,2.705383&sll=-39.074644,175.874634&sspn=1.142875,2.705383&geocode=FRe3nv0d0gRvCilLY3Z-dLhqbTEymaNDYe8ABQ%3BFUQqqP0dxlVxCinFDIJuBNxqbTFg9t9lYe8AKg&oq=wan&gl=nz&mra=ls&t=m&z=9&source=gplus-ogsb

From Palmerston North

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Palmerston+North,+Manawatu-Wanganui&daddr=Ruatiti+Stream,+Ruatiti,+Manawatu-Wanganui&hl=en&ll=-39.802206,175.578003&spn=1.131,2.705383&sll=-39.595107,175.388489&sspn=1.134399,2.705383&geocode=Fc5FmP0dlpF3CimDRKO9n61BbTEVmaJDYe8ABQ%3BFUQqqP0dxlVxCinFDIJuBNxqbTFg9t9lYe8AKg&oq=Palmerston+N&gl=nz&mra=ls&t=m&z=9&source=gplus-ogsb

From New Plymouth

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=New+Plymouth,+Taranaki&daddr=Ruatiti+Stream,+Ruatiti,+Manawatu-Wanganui&hl=en&ll=-39.093831,174.814453&spn=1.142564,2.705383&sll=-39.802206,175.578003&sspn=1.131,2.705383&geocode=FfcOrP0dXC1gCikNzmQj5vkUbTGg6aJDYe8ABQ%3BFUQqqP0dxlVxCinFDIJuBNxqbTFg9t9lYe8AKg&oq=New+Plymou&gl=nz&mra=ls&t=m&z=9&source=gplus-ogsb


I'll leave you with some pictures of Ruatiti Campgrounds so you can see what it's like! :)


1 comment:

  1. I was born in Raetihi in the sixties and remember this place too well, so beautiful you really dont know how lucky you are until you move away I now live in Australia I have been here since 1984.I have travelled alot of places in the World but nothing beats places like this unspoilt and its like it was Yesterday.i remember camping down the valley at the domain with all my cousins aunties and uncles and family we had no toilets or power and we drank the water straight from the river.Jumped off the cliffs and went down the river on tyre tubes and the hangis were out of this world thankyou for the great memories

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