We got to the campsite at Lake Rotoiti, full of midges and just as full of campervans.
Chose a nice quiet corner next to a babbling brook, among the trees and more midges than the grains of sand in the universe. Very peaceful. Until two large motorhomes turned up (those ones with side things that expand to give them more room inside. Brash. Parked about 2ft from our front door and started yattering away. Lowered the whole tone of the neighbourhood.
So we moved to an even quieter spot nearby. And just as we did three more motorhomes came along and parked right next to our erstwhile neighbours, got all their stuff out and started yattering. Serves them right.
We took off into the forest for a walk – peaceful, empty apart from birdsong.
And, just for the record, we heard the Kiwi trilling away that night next to us. A rare and shy bird which hides in the forest and is hardly ever seen. Woohoo.
best place to see kiwis in wild is stewart island – you’d love it there, as unspoilt …80% = national park and only a few miles road (which is why b n bs etc offwer free car hire there!) … enterprising fishermen take small parties out at night to beaches where kiwis feed on tide mark at low tide