So, our first real road trip since arriving in NZ.� Needless to say I was very excited, not only at the prospect of leaving Raglan for a weekend, but actually seeing something other than Waikato Hospital!!!� Amazingly I was also looking forward to getting back in the van and living on a campsite.� So once we were fully loaded we set off.

The drive itself was pretty dull til we got to Rotorua as we'd seen it all already.� The first thing that hits you as you near Rotorua is the smell - rotten eggs!� Gross.� How anybody lives here I'm not sure.� Thank goodness we're not stopping! �

From here the drive got more scenic as we headed towards the coast and Whakatane.� We stopped several times along the way, for coffee, to take photos where possible, and basically just taking in the views.� It was at Lake Rotoma that we met a guy called Bob who told us about the Awakeri Springs Campsite.� Seeing as though we were both getting tired we took down the details.

The campsite itself is an FPNZ one, like Raglan, so we knew what to expect.� The added bonus was the natural hot spring bath.� After sorting out the van, cooking our dinner we hit the pool.� Bliss!� It was like walking into a bath.� We were told the heat of the water in the ground is 75C.� I could definitely get used to this, maybe we'll speak to Shane and Jenny when we get back about getting one at theirs!

We headed off early next morning for the final leg of our journey.� It's safe to say that there is pretty much nothing along this windy road and we were very glad to finally arrive in a town - Gisborne! �

A quick look around the area and we settled on another campsite at the Waikanae beach right in the centre of town.� After our long and tedious journey there was only one thing to do to relax - wine tasting!� Having consulted our guides of Gisborne we headed to The Works,� where we bagged ourselves a table in the afternoon sun.� For $10 we got to sample 5 different wines along with a cheese-board - perfect.� The hardest part of course was deciding on the wines! � After the sampling we picked our favourite and had a proper glass - well it would've been rude not to!

For dinner we went to a fish restaurant in town, amusingly called "Something Fishy!"� Having ordered we settled back and looked around at the horror on the walls - ships crossing the Cook Strait, in bad weather!!!!!� Oh my those are some big waves!!!!!!� Renowned for it's choppy crossings at the best of times, I make a mental note to invest in a very large pack of sea sickness tablets!� After a lovely meal we headed back to our campsite - it's great to be back in the van (yes this is Hayley, not Richard, writing this too!)

After a lazy morning we decided to explore the various beaches around Gisborne.� We started at our own, Waikanae beach.� Probably the most popular with plenty going on from surfing to knee and boogie boarding.� After a sufficient sitting here, and a huge burger from the Captain Morgan's cafe nearby, we moved on.� Working our way out of town we stopped at the Captain Cook statue marking the spot where he first landed in New Zealand.� The statue itself is of him standing atop a globe with his many routes around the world marked out.� Amazing to think how long they were at sea back then.� New Zealand was actually first spotted by one of his cabin boys, and there is a stature in his honour too, aptly named the statue of Young Nick!� A few more stops and we ended up at the ????� beach.� It was here that Richard showed off his silky surf skills - not that I saw as I was too busy sleeping on the beach!!!

A pleasant evening back at the campsite with some cheese and wine that we picked up on the way back.� After all this sea and activity I'm sure to sleep well.

Our return journey was made not actually knowing what time of the day it was.� We'd awoken quite early due to the light in the van, but Richard had misread the watch and I'd therefore managed to get him up and out before 8, as opposed to 9, which is the time he thought it was.� Then half way back we remembered that someone had told us the clocks were due to go back this w/e too.� As always happens when you want to know something we didn't find the time out for a good few hours more.� We took a different route back, going South to Napier and cutting up to Taupo.� Here we stopped for lunch at the lake.� The joy of having all your things in the van is that you always have a picnic on hand!� After a beautiful weekend we arrived back in Raglan around 8pm to heavy rain.� A thoroughly exhausting drive back - 1,100 km in 3.5 days - and still have the van to unpack, great, welcome back indeed!!!!!