A Long Journey South, A Haunting Campsite, and a Midnight Escape

Today was a long travel day as we repositioned ourselves further south on the North Island, making our way toward Wellington. Along the way, we passed through charming little towns and witnessed a stunning variety of landscapes—rolling farmland, towering mountains, lush jungle-like forests, and everything in between.

A Stop at the Stunning Lake Taupō

About a third of the way into our journey, we reached what has probably been my favorite place so far (though there’s still so much left to see)—Lake Taupō.

This place was breathtaking. A massive lake, surrounded by mountains, dotted with picturesque villages and towns. The entire area had this peaceful, almost untouched beauty to it.

We pulled off at a scenic roadside stop, took a break in the warm sun, and dipped our feet in the cool water. It was one of those simple moments that just felt perfect.

While we were there:

I collected black sand as a souvenir, just as I did in Hawaii with white sand from the beaches.

Xander found an actual volcanic pumice stone! Quite the find! Seeing how excited he was, I searched a bit and managed to find a few more pieces to bring home as well.

It was hard to leave such an idyllic spot, but we had more adventures ahead.

Gollum’s Pool and Mount Doom

Halfway through our drive, we made a major Tolkien pilgrimage stop—Gollum’s Pool!

It was a short 15-minute walk through a peaceful forest trail before we arrived at a beautiful waterfall—the exact spot where Gollum smacked and devoured his fish in The Lord of the Rings. As a lifelong fan, standing there in person was surreal.

And then—Mount Doom itself!

We got our first glimpse of Mount Ngauruhoe, the volcano used as Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, its peak was shrouded in clouds, but it was still incredible to see. Yet another life dream fulfilled on this trip!

The Creepiest Campsite Ever – A Night to Remember (or Forget)

The rest of the journey was a mix of winding roads and scenic views, with some stretches feeling tight and twisty in the campervan. As the sun started to set, we finally arrived at a freedom camping site… and let’s just say, this was one of the creepiest places I have ever stayed at.

This site, while free, was in the middle of nowhere—completely isolated. It was actually a historic site, featuring an old, abandoned school, a few other run-down buildings, and even a tiny library.

From the moment we pulled in, something felt off.

There was no one else there. No other campers. No signs of life. Just the quiet, empty buildings standing under the dimming sky. It wasn’t the peaceful kind of isolation you find in nature; it was the kind that makes you uneasy, like the place itself didn’t want visitors.

We stepped out of the van to stretch, but the silence was unsettling. In New Zealand, there are no large mammals; no deer, bears, or wolves. So when we started hearing rustling in the bushes, it was instantly unnerving. It wasn’t the wind either. Something was moving, but we had no idea what.

Sarah immediately said, “I don’t like this place.”

Even Xander, usually excited about adventure, seemed on edge. We tried to brush it off, chalking it up to just being a bit spooked by the isolation.

As night fell, the feeling of unease only grew. The old schoolhouse looked even more ominous in the dark, its windows like black, empty eyes staring at us. The air felt heavy, like the place held some kind of history we weren’t meant to disturb. It felt like the sort of place you would look over at and see a haunting figure standing in the window.

At one point, we thought we heard a voice, just a faint sound, distant but distinct. Maybe it was our imagination, maybe it was the wind carrying something from far away, but at that moment, it was enough to set our nerves on edge.

Then came the flashlights.

They weren’t close, but they flickered in the distance, moving through the trees. There was no road nearby, no houses, no reason for anyone else to be out here. Yet, there they were, small beams of light, shifting between the trunks, disappearing, then reappearing. They began approaching and then would disappear for several minutes before returning again.

At that point, we were done.

The Midnight Escape

At 11 PM, we decided we weren’t staying. We quickly packed up, started the van, and pulled out of there without looking back. Xander remained asleep in the top bunk while I drove away (carefully).

The drive to Feilding took about 30 minutes, and every second of it, I kept checking the mirrors. We weren’t being followed, but the adrenaline kept us alert. We hit a couple speed humps at about 30 km/h, not enough to really do anything bad but enough to send Xander bouncing in his bunk, he remained asleep the entire time though.

Once we got to town, we pulled into a McDonald’s parking lot, used the WiFi to find another free campsite, and were delighted to find we could drive another five minutes to a new spot.

This one was still dark, still a little eerie, but at least there were other campers nearby. That alone was enough to make us feel safe again.

We parked, locked up, and went to sleep.

That first camp site? Never again.

Tomorrow: Wellington awaits!

As always, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Embrace the adventure, cherish the memories, and I’ll catch you tomorrow for day 7!

#NewZealandAdventure #LordOfTheRings #DreamTrip #Travel #40thBirthday #MiddleEarth #BucketList #AdventureAwaits

-Rob ❤️