New Zealand: North Island . . . Coromandel, Lake Taupo, Tongariro National Park . . . "Gudarn ya!!" :)

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After 5 months in Asia we arrived to we would call civilization. English speaking radio, radio advertising! road safety! supermarkets and people mostly concerned with the weather, we are nearly home 😊

Within 24 hours we had managed to secure a caravan and drove 3 hours over to the Coromandel Peninsula on the North coast of the North Island. Once we reached the coast line we were met with what can only be described as dramatic scenery. Coastline with a drop back of mountain scenery with dark clouds and sun shining through. I could only relate to something you may see in Scotland.

Our first night was spent drinking le vino and eating le cheese with the back of the van opening out onto the beach! it really is the hard life 😊 After that we headed south toward lake Taupo. The scenery along the coast was beautiful as was the road to Taupo. We stopped a night near Taupo and headed south again stopping off at Tongariro National Park.

The drive to the national park was spectacular. Vast open roads eventually opened out to reveal volcanoes in the distance. We stopped at various places to take photos and eventually found a DOC campsite to stay at, which had the snow topped volcano in sight. With no showers at hand we washed in the river down from the site, it was that cold it actually hurt! but was refreshing :O

With a hop, skip and 900km under our belts we reached Wellington, had a quick stop over there and were up at 4 a.m for the ferry crossing to Picton for our trip through the South Island. So far New Zealand has presented us with spectacular scenery, great driving and unbelievably quiet roads!! it's like the UK . . .but not!! . . . Same Same, but different!. . . as they would say in Asia 😊

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