After a wonderful dinner at the Duke of Marlborough restaurant on Russell’s foreshore and playing on the beach with Brookie, we headed back to the slightly quirky, dog friendly, Russell -Orongo Bay Holiday Park.

Brookie enjoying the beach at Russell.

Snuggling into bed in the original cottage on the property, we drifted off to sleep listening to the distinctive squawk of kiwis.

This is the orginal cottage at the Russell -Orongo Bay Holiday Park.

The holiday park is part of a kiwi and weka protection zone, with kiwi and weka breeding in this semi-urban environment. It’s unusual the holiday park is dog friendly but our interesting host Angela, believes dogs can co-exist with kiwi and other birds as long as they are controlled by their owner and on a lead.

Some others don’t share Angela’s view.

At the rear of the holiday park grounds is an area where guests are encouraged to visit at night and spot our national bird. By putting red cellophane over the lens of a torch, the birds are not frightened and can be seen in this unique environment.

Next time we will go kiwi spotting at night.

Today’s experiences…

Russell beach 10/10  -no signs telling you dogs are not allowed

Russell -Orongo Bay Holiday Park 10/10 – while this accommodation is not luxurious, their attitude to dogs is faultless.

After our wonderful few days in the Bay of Islands we are off, back to Auckland to write our story of pet friendly accommodation for the Weekend, NZ Herald.

Come on Brookie, in the car. Sadly we’re heading home but we will be planning another trip away soon……