Today we got up and took the bus to the museum to have a look at the collection of south pacific and Maori artefacts they have there. It's one of the best collections in the southern hemisphere and includes a traditional Maori storage house and Marae and loads of cool carvings of terrifying looking dudes with their tongues hanging out! After this we headed back to the centre of town for some shopping - world cup memorabilia and some art work for the house! Then a...

Today Dazzler took us over to Devonport which is a very cute suburb on the north shore. We had a stroll, bought a few bits and bobs and then we headed our separate ways and we took the ferry across to central Auckland while Dazzler headed home. We have kindly been able to leave our van in Karaka while we explore Auckland for a day. We were accosted by 3 elderly but massively enthusiastic volunteers at the ferry terminal and were given all the maps and info we cou...

Yesterday evening we went to shorebird centre near Miranda where we saw loads of bar tailed godwits who had flown non-stop from Alaska and Siberia to get there. It takes 8 days! We also saw Wrybills which are unique to New Zealand and have a bill that curves to the side - weird! We then pitched up at Miranda camp ground to find they had there own hot springs (don't mind if I do thank you!). We watched the New Zealand v France game in the TV room with lots of exci...

Yesterday we spent a relaxing day in Mount Manganui when I sent howellsey off to walk round the mountain and to have a swim in the sea while I bought some 'essential' clothing (you'll see why when I show you it!). We read, snoozed, wandered and generally didn't do much at all - perfect! We headed off this morning towards Auckland and stopped off at Katikati for a coffee where the first and only Ulster settlers arrived in the late 1800's. There was a massive rugby...

Today, we left smelly Rotorua, and headed up through Te Puke (the kiwi fruit capital of the world - 80% of all kiwi fruit in the world is grown in this area apparently). The local signs emphasise this point with cartoon kiwi fruits telling us to drive carefully and put our litter in the bin - cute! We drove through as we fancied a wander up mount Manganui and then decided to stay. It's a lovely place with an excellent campground right by the mountain and beside t...