Had an early start on Sun 5th as I took advantage of our new found cheap Skype rates to call home and have a chat with my lovely little brother and Dan took the opportunity to call his mum and wish her a happy 4th of July (as they are pretty much a day behind in Miami. After getting dressed and having breakfast we attempted to use our remaining internet time to upload pics and write up the blog but the STA website was not working properly and I refused to continu...

So.... we had a pretty early start on the 2nd as we were going to be driving over 400km past Auckland up to the Bay of Islands at the very North of NZ. So after leaving Kiwi Paka at about 9 we then didn't stop until about half past 1 for petrol and lunch in a random place called Warkworth. Jo's road rage at some of the ridiculous driving by the native drivers was on the point of boiling over when we finally arrived in Whangerei (pronounced FAHN-ga-ray apparently!...

Left Wellington fairly early on Monday morning (29th) to drive the best part of 400km to Taupo. Lovely weather for it.... started to chuck it down with rain as soon as we left and after quickly trying to decipher how to work the windscreen wipers and not indicate at confused fellow drivers, we were on our way. The drive was pretty crap, the rain didn't relent and in combination with seriously strong sidewinds and completely suicidal drivers on the roads, I am hon...

Had to kill some time in Picton on the morning of Sat 27th before checking in for the ferry at 1pm. Sat and waited in long lines to board before driving up a massive ramp and testing my Spaceship manoeuvring skills in the ferry car park. Managed to escape from the dark and smelly bowels of the boat and sat up in the TV lounge - or a bracket where the TV once was. Hancock wasn't a great film anyway let alone with no picture and just sound booming out the speakers!...

Left Hamner Springs before 10am on Tues 23rd and had arrived in Kaikoura by midday despite pretty slow progress on the amazing coastal road towards the end - the sea was an amazing colour and waves were crashing by the rocks right at the edge of the road. Pulled up into the A1 Motel and Holiday Park - quite dingy and muddy but the facilities were OK and it only cost $20 for the night. Plus we adopted a cat! (well, it adopted us in the hope of food!) Had some fran...