We smelt Roturua before we saw it. Another smallish town set on the shores of Lake Rotorua in a a highly active geothermal area. Commonly known as Rotovegas, we have no idea why! Not a casino in sight as we drove through town to our campsite. A wicked place to set up camp with a bubbling mud pool a stones throw from our tent, natural mineral pools on site and a hangi steam oven. Keen not to waste the day we headed to Mount Ngongotaha and climbed on the Gondola ...

Driving east through the towns of Hamilton and Cambridge we suddenly found ourselves in the Shire. We decided to skip the Hobbiton film set contenting ourselves that the rolling green hills passing by us did indeed look like the film. Driving up through the hills of Kaimai Mamaaku Forest Park we got fabulous views looking south down the North Island. Arriving in the Mount the town was getting ready to shut down the roads for New Years celebrations. Seeing all t...

With a day or two to kill before New Years Eve we headed to Raglan, briefly pausing in Kawakauwa to have a look, and go in, the Hundertwasser Toilets. A bizarre art deco affair with bottles and broken glass mosaicing the walls. Radio advert for the day. 'Nigel talks to everyone, Nigel even talks to poeple when they aren't there. Nigel's not all there. He's got dementure'. WHAT?! We drove up through the fern trees before continuing our drive south via Auckland a...

Continuing our drive north through Whangarei and Kawakawa we twisted our way round to the Bay of Islands and set up camp by the estuary in Paihia. A stunning setting right on the river with mangroves at our tent door. Our first kiwi BBQ then into the village for drinks. A strange pub, couldn't move for mullets and what we thought was karaoke was actually a hired band! Stealing ourselves away from the chip fat and hicks we found a 'trendy' bar for cocktails, altho...

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 promptl...