Kel: The next day the campervan site owner strongly advised us not to leave cause of the storm damage on the roads that he expected. We took this as his sales pitch to get us to stay another night and left all the same. We wanted to head up to Cape Reinga the most northern point of the island and see the cool lighthouse so off we went. We didn't have any probs at all and thought reactions were all a bit dramatic.... until we got to the river. There was a massive car queue on the other side of a river with burst dams over the road. A 4x4 on our side went for it and made it. I had my head in the map working out de tours before I realised Matthew was already gunning for it. He kept saying we're a van we can handle it, while I just squealed with my hands to my face. But we did! And then drove past about 30 cars on the other side. It was a very happy moment for Matthew (I forget he's had his fair share of driving Kinnarps vans in his day). Onwards and upwards we made it up north via a few lovely little ports to the north.... almost. We got to 20km away and then the sealed road ended. A dirt track continued. We started out but were travelling so so slow, realised it would take us over 2 hours and than we weren't even insured on this stuff. So we had to turn back!!! NOOO!!! Gutting.

Instead we came back and stopped off at the amazing 90 mile beach. You literally can't see the end either way, the waves are spectacular, so all in another awesome moment. We carried on down the road, via another ferry crossing to the beautiful port of Rawene (again at sunset) We settled down to a lovely evening in this wee campsite to couscous and tuna which we shared with a bunch of mozzies ... still lovely though : )