I cannot thank everyone who has put me up, or put up with me enough. My latest hosts were Katie and Jim Davies and were fantastic. They let me have the run of their lovely house, cooked for me and took me round Auckland showing off what a wonderful city that they've made their home. It was great to have some people you could share stories and laughter with and also tales of misdemeanours their eldest son and her girlfriend have got up to (only joking Lynds &a...

So after surviving the flight (I'm not being dramatic honest, well ok maybe a little) I arrived in Auckland and headed to my hotel for the night. I'd booked a hotel close to the airport thankfully so I could head straight off up north in the morning and also so I would be able to climb into bed very shortly after arriving. I had a minor panic when the airport looked pretty closed, but thanked the car hire guy for staying open. I didn't thank him when he said he...