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 had no GPS units and had another panic. Thankfully with no cars on the road (it was close to 2am by this time) I bunny hopped off to the hotel.

When I woke up the next morning I was so excited about the forthcoming adventures but was still a little panicked about no GPS, the lovely guy on reception gave me some very accurate directions for a shopping centre & instead if the machine I wished he was coming along with me, anyway not to worry.

I enjoyed the drive up to the northlands, however my attempts to explore the fauna and flora of NZ were thwarted by a huge fallen tree (no not me smart arses) but I pressed on.

The GPS sent me on a track (not a road) which scared the bejesus out of me for about 30 mins but thankfully I survived it and ended up in beautiful Russell where I met the nicest hotel managers ever - John and Rogon. The place was so nice and it even had a hot tub/spa which I frequented every night. Plus they booked me onto two great trips.

Russell for those of you not in the know, was the first town in NZ, however it was seen as a bit of the hell hole and was full of reprobates and crooks.

On the first day I was on a coach trip to Cape reigna (the northern most point of NZ), we also visited a kauri forest, ninety mile beach, some brave souls sandboarded down the te paki dunes (I bottled it & was gutted later that day).

I also got my first introduction to hokey pokey and boysenberry ice cream - delicious! Oh also in Russell I had my first lime milkshake in NZ which was delicious and also tried the world famous in NZ drink of L&P (it's like a spicier lemonade, but v nice indeed).

My second day was spent on a dolphin cruise (it's not dodgy honest) and also visiting the hole in the rock (as per my pic for this post).

When I got back I had a bit of time to trek to Waitangi which is famous for the treaty being signed between the British and the various Maori tribes and establishing New Zealand as a country.

All in all both trips were fantabulous and demonstrated what a beautiful country NZ is. I've had so many 'oh wow' moments already and there are surely more to come.

I was sad to be leaving Russell and had another panic thinking I'd have to head back on the 'road' that left me cold on my way in but braved the ferry, which was fine.

After the coach driver hurtled round the bends of the roads up here the other day I decided I needed to be braver with my little yaris! Such a good start to my NZ adventures...