Civilisation at last - well almost, New Zealand!

Well, here we are in a civilised, english speaking, fish and chip eating, toilet roll flushing down the toilet country - Yee Haa!

After around 30 hours on planes, waiting in airports, more planes, more airports, buses and many other interesting things associated with globe trotting we landed in Auckland, New Zealand, at 4 in the morning having lost a day and not knowing up from down. Once our tent had been a-ok'd by the ministry of dirty south american diseases, we were cleared and ready to roll, but had to wait for the buses to start so sat some more in the airport - well it had been 13 hours since our last airport stint so we were having withdrawl symptoms!

We arrived at our swanky hotel (booked by paulines old school buddies - thank you very much!) and were able to book in straight away which was brilliant. The room was lovely, the bed was a monster and we looked truly out of place with our smelly clothes and large rucksacks. Not wanting to waste time we took an emergency nap and went straight to sleep. A few hours later we were ready to face Auckland so departed and found, what i had been waiting for since we left, a cafe that served a proper english fry up. Oh yes. Bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, toast - it was indeed the crowning moment of New Zealand so far. Now ready to take on the world, we started on our mission to try and find a campervan. We went to a place we thought was just for information but were greeted with a whole host of vehicles and so took a couple for a test drive and before we knew it we were putting in an offer, bargaining a bit and then, from nowhere, buying a campervan. Job done. The van passed it tests the next day so we were ready to roll. We couldn't leave Auckland without having a meal in the revolving restaurant at the top of the sky tower. It was a fantastic meal, even though due to my man flu i couldn't taste a damn thing.

Heading north from Auckland we went to a little place called Goat Island - which, yes funnily enough, is near another island called Chicken and Hen Island! Brilliant! Here the water is crystal clear and just by walking alnong some rocks we could see a whole host of multicoloured fish. The next day we were up early and in the water snorkelling - we only lasted 45 mins though as the water was a bit nippy!

From Goat Island we went up to a place called Whengarai (or something?) where we had an exciting morning of firstly trying to get our back door open, then getting a brake light and finally getting our tyres pumped up - the fun never stops!

After that craziness we needed a rest so headed further north to the Bay of Islands, which is lovely. We spent a few days here and along with eating some tastey ice cream, went sailing on a yacht for the day around the islands which was great. On our last day here we went for a bit of culture at the Waitangi Treaty house which is basically where New Zealand became New Zealand, and us British skanked the Mauris into giving us there country - good ol'blighty!

Our last stop north was at Cape Reigna which is the most northerly tip of New Zealand, and contains nothing more than a lighthouse. But still, since we'd come all this way we thought we'd go and see it. Stretching down the west coast from here is 90 mile beach (not quite 90 miles but massive none the less) which is particularly windy! We took a bumpy gravel road out to it and, on the way back hit a pot hole the size of Luxemburg. Slightly shaken, but not stirred, we pulled over and noticed a slight leak coming from the underside of the van - hmmmmm. We decided that the engine was still running and there were no warning lights flashing so pushed on to the next camp site. Unfortunately this morning the warning lights were flashing, so it was a swift call to the AA and toed to the nearest garage. Eeeeexcellent. We are now awaiting the news (and no doubt bill) that our van is fixed and all better.

Ah yes, we also decided to name the van. And after many too-ings and fro-ings decide to christen it Rodders. So we both hope Rodders gets well soon.

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