UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS!

We have arrived Down Under!

We have been here for one week, now and finally have a chance to check in.

After a 2 hour delay in Honolulu, we boarded the plane to Auckland at 2:00 in the morning. The flight was fine other than the symphony of snores that prevented us from getting any sleep. We arrived in Auckland an headed off to pick up our camper van and a couple of hours later, we were a bundle of nerves heading down the wrong side of the road, with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the vehicle, navigating round about's and pretty much freaking out! What was to be our home for the next 2.5 months, was a monster! A Mitsubishi 4 Berth Motor Home, that was more like a tank than a campervan. It was very new and roomy inside, but a bear drive. As we learch, grumbled and groaned through the city, I was sure we were going to run off the road of take out several highway signs at least! We made it about an hour north of Auckland and stayed at a delightful holiday park right on the sea. We immediately had a cocktail to settle our nerves and considered the vessel in which we were going to be touring and living, in for the next 2.5 months. Without too much thought, we decided to drive back to Auckland and trade it in for a smaller model. Our new model a 2 berth Fiat, is a dream! Much easier to drive, and very comfortable in every way.

So..... Off we go again...North of Auckland to Uratiti Bay. That's right...U-r-a-titi. It was beautiful! We had a much needed night of sleep and awoke to a rainbow over the campervan! The beach was a very long white sand beach, very scenic!

From there we traveled north to Whangarie, tried to explore some glow worm caves, but were lacking a torch so we were unable to go farther than the opening. We had a nice tramp through the countryside sharing the trail with sheep and it was delightful. That evening we ended up at Teal Bay, after taking a side road to check out the local scenery. We talked to a local couple walking the beach who said there were 8 people who lived there year round, and no one would mind if we camped by the boat launch. What a treat that was, a private beach! Quiet and beautiful!

From Teal Bay we traveled north to Russell in the the Bay of Islands. What a quaint and quiet town. We fell in love with an original watercolors of two penguin's and had it shipped home.

That evening we enjoyed a handle of beer at the local RSA, like our VFW, it was fun to talk to the local chaps! The Mayor of the town invited us to his table and said he could pull some strings if we wanted to move to NZ. We nearly took him up on it!

The next day we enjoyed a nice lunch and a stroll around the Treaty Grounds. Very interesting and beautiful. That night we stayed at Tauranag Bay, another beautiful beachside Holiday Park! Had homemade calm chowder in Mangonui at Douubtless Bay. Got a bit turned around and spent an hour on a road that went to no where. Stopped at a road side stop and had a handle enjoyed a Chat with some colorful locals. Went to the Kauri Forest to see the largest Kauri Trees, camped in the forest and shared our campervan with some hungry mosquito's.

After goofing around for an entire week in the far north, we rose early and drove all the way down, south of Auckland and are taking the scenic highway to Comorandel Bay. Tonight we are at another delightful Camper Van Site in Miranda, with a beautiful hot spring pool.

Our impression of this country so far is absolutely positive! The people are amazingly friendly and caring. We have been taken back by the beauty of the fluorescent green,rolling hills, with wild calla lilies, and daffodils, blooming everywhere. Spring time brings new life everywhere, baby lamb, and cows are abundant. The beauty of the sea, and the tropical vegetation is very similar to tropical Hawaii, however the weather is cool and comfortable. We are loving the whole experience so far, and the Big Dog keeps talking about buying a camper van!

WE ARE HAVING A BALL! XXOO