Catching fish in the morning, walking along the beach, sipping a cup of coffee is what a blissful day at Moeraki Boulders Holiday Camp (New Zealand) looks like.
The camp, previously known as Hampden Beach Camping Ground, had plenty of enthusiastic campers and caravan dwellers parked during the Christmas to New Year.
Loyal visitors, 74-year old Faye O’Rourke and her daughter Sonya Iggo, 51, have been frequenting the camping area for the past 26 years. There are four generations of the family at the park at various times over the holiday season.
O’Rourke stated that she has always enjoyed the camp because it was safe for children and could be seen all the time.
“I came with my children, and now I have great-grandchildren here,” she said. “A lot of different people have come through here over the years. Some have moved on – gone to a different place.”
“But we’ve always liked it here. It is a great group of people, and we all get along so well.”
“They may go away for a couple of years and then come back again,” O’Rourke added.
The park has approximately 25 powered sites and a spillover area for pitching tents.
Iggo owns a permanent caravan on-site, and the family visits on most public holidays, even in winter.
A bonfire was scheduled for the beach on New Year’s Eve, and campers came together to welcome the new year.
The family-owned a boat, which was used to its fullest.
The male family members would often go fishing for blue cod in the early morning, and later it could be consumed fresh, either for tea or lunch.
“Fresh is the only way to eat it,” O’Rourke said.
If the tides were right, you could take a walk along the beach until you reach the cafe located at Moeraki Boulders.
O’Rourke claimed that the weather has changed over the years.
“It used to get a lot hotter, I think.”
“Now it is more fickle. You get a lot more showers. Clouds come over.”
Isn’t it amazing to witness how each family member’s joy contributes to the heartwarming tradition at the Moeraki Boulders Holiday Camp? Surrounded by the peaceful New Zealand beach, every shared experience weaves new memories into a tapestry of love and connection during our yearly get-together.