After an early start in Brisbane we dropped off the car that had been a second home for almost four weeks and exactly four thousand kilometres. A three hour flight later we were in Auckland going through the most stringent customs we've ever encountered on any of our travels. My blood drained when the dog came and stopped at Aimee only for us to work out that she had a cereal bar in her backpack. Thankfully our hosts Kay and Derek came to meet us as we may not have found their Kawakawa home, as we had decided not to add New Zealand maps to our satnav. Finding our hire car was interesting enough, we've gone from snob to slob. We have a complete bomb which has done way too much mileage, has no wheel covers, the windscreen wipers barely touch the windscreen and it doesn't smell too kosher either. The rental office had minimal furniture and is/was a room in a huge warehouse. The salesman advised us to call first before we return it as we may have to drop it somewhere else. The good news is that our luggage fits in the boot and it should get us from A to B. Kay and Derek have spoilt us with gorgeous food and views. The house is opposite the sea and the back garden is a field.

Where we thought we had fallen in love with Australia we've realised that we're more in love with New Zealand with its stunning countryside and relaxed lifestyles. The jury is still out on the weather.

We spent today in the city of Auckland. For New Zealand's largest city it is very quiet with plenty of parking available. For a great view we went caught a lift 60 stories up to the top of the sky tower. Some insane people were paying good money to be attached to a harness and jump down which take about 11 seconds and looks terrifying. Thank goodness the girls didn't have enough of their own money to do the jump, there was no way on earth I was sponsoring that. After the tower and a wonder we caught the ferry to Devonport a hip town on the Waitemata Harbour full of cafes, fun shops and parks. At the moment Devonport's most famous resident is Lorde, the girls were on the lookout for her but were disappointed. After a full afternoon of lunch and hanging out with Michelle (another school friend Craig hasn't seen for 20+ years) and her gorgeous children we headed back for another feast and swim for the younger people at Kawakawa Bay with Kay & Derek. Oli has a new past time here as a duck and Pukeko chaser spending all his free time chasing the ducks away from Kay's vegetable patch using a giant water pistol.