So after we'd rested our weary heads, it was time to head down to Wellyboot and catch up with some family in the shape of my cousin, David and his wife Rachel and their 2 kids, Fiona and Sam, who'd very very kindly offered to put us up, despite literally just arriving back from their 3 week trip round the south island the same day - we were looking forward to some top tips from them. Stayed with them in Churton Park, just north of the city, and loved that they l...

While we were in Rotoura, we'd decided to change our planned route after finally having a bit of a read of the Lonely Planet. Just south of Lake Taupo is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing - the "best day hike in New Zealand" if not the world - so who were we to argue with that. So we decided to sack off Napier and the Huka Jet boat at Taupo and do the walk instead. We managed to fit a brief side trip to the Huka falls just outside Taupo which were a LOT ...

So got to Rotorua after our wee detour via the Coromandel... having had a night of crapo accommodation up there, we'd booked a "self contained unit" at the next place - and there was much excited anticipation as to how good our "secure unit" was going to be... I think Paul especially was in need of one at this point... We weren't disappointed - it was literally the size of a holiday apartment, with its own lobby, sitting room, kitchen, bathroo...

We had been planning on heading straight from Bay of Islands to Rotorua - having looked at the map, it looked do-able, until we spoke to the YHA manager who laughed us outta town. hence a bit of a detour via the Coromandel, where Aucklanders like to head off on hols. Amazing twisty-turney coastlineon the way - absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately the same can't be said about our accommodation choice in Coromandel town that night - where we encountered the first...

So we said whatever the opposite of "Kia Ora" is to Kate and Andrew at the airport after they'd kindly given us a lift to pick up the hire car. although small, it feels seriously nippy after hefting the campervan around corners. We got on the road north first, heading up to Pahia in the Bay of Islands up in the Northland, with a small detour to Kawa Kawa for a look at some funky public loos - and they didn't disappoint!! They were designed by an Aust...