Touching down in Auckland still sporting Santa hats and a hangovers from our lost Christmas in the air, we checked straight into an airport hotel at 5am. Having only just drifted off to sleep we were rudely awoken by the (false) fire alarm at 7am. "Do you think we should get up and go outside?" a grumpy Emma asked, probably best. She soon cheered up at the sight of two strapping kiwi firemen!

We picked up our hire car the following morning and promptly named her Courtney (The Corolla). Heading for the Warehouse, where everyone gets a bargain, we stocked up on essentials before heading to Newmarket for our camping equipment. It was all going swimmingly, cruising SH1 singing along to bad 80's hits, until Jona noticed smoke pouring out of the bonnet. A couple of hours sat in a layby, the AA man having condemned the car, our next steed arrived, Bruce (number plate BRU3)

Too lat in the day and unexpected traffic jams (whoever said there is no traffic in New Zealand is wrong!) meant we were forced to stop at Waipu Cove for the night. We were pleased with the spag bol we knocked up on the trangia in the campsite bordering the beach, and then called it a night climbing into our tent tht would be home for the next 5 weeks.