Coromandel PeninsulaAfter leaving the Bay of Islands we set off with the intention of driving to the Coromandel Peninsula, or at least the beginning of the area. Ken and the map agreed that this was a drive of around 500km's so despite our surprise at the winding roads we still figured that was doable in a day. Unfortunately this was about as wrong as you could get, and by the time we had travelled to about 30km's short of Auckland we were both ready to stop. It ...

Russell & the Bay of IslandsWe pootle up north, having asked Ken to take us to a Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite about three hours' up from Auckland. It's a pleasant drive, initially on the State Highway and then into rolling, lush green hills and wiggly roads (and past the impeccably named Hodgson Road), as we approach Otamure Bay for our first stop. The scenery is beautiful, but it hasn't blown us away yet... I suspect that we are becoming a littl...

Auckland – Friday 13th February Tired, and a little bit emotional after leaving behind Australia, our home for the last year, and after saying goodbye again to Dave’s parents at the airport, we arrive in Auckland at 5.30am, after a pretty good Air New Zealand flight. The inflight entertainment system had gone pop an hour or so in, and since from watching various airport reality tv shows we’re aware that this is akin to a major disaster for the air steward...