So after our Phoenix nights escapade, we headed up towards Abel Tasman, via a lovely little art centre at Mapua Wharf. Whilst we'd been failing to buy Dad some RM Williams boots in the only RM Williams shop in NZ - it was a no, when we picked them up and saw the $450 price tag (would have been useful to know the need for these in Australia, home of Mr RM Williams perhaps... ahem), we got talking to the shop manager who'd recommended a campsite up at Kaiteriteri ...

We picked up the campervan in Christchurch and headed north to Kaikoura for the night with Paul reassuring himself with the mantra... only 2 weeks in the van... only 2 weeks in the van... Fortunately this one is in better repair than the Aussie one. We stayed in a beautiful campsite just outside Kaikoura right on the coast, which was very windy and dramatic with all the driftwood on the beach. Made the most of the fact it doesn't get dark til much later than A...

So after we'd rested our weary heads, it was time to head down to Wellyboot and catch up with some family in the shape of my cousin, David and his wife Rachel and their 2 kids, Fiona and Sam, who'd very very kindly offered to put us up, despite literally just arriving back from their 3 week trip round the south island the same day - we were looking forward to some top tips from them. Stayed with them in Churton Park, just north of the city, and loved that they l...

While we were in Rotoura, we'd decided to change our planned route after finally having a bit of a read of the Lonely Planet. Just south of Lake Taupo is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing - the "best day hike in New Zealand" if not the world - so who were we to argue with that. So we decided to sack off Napier and the Huka Jet boat at Taupo and do the walk instead. We managed to fit a brief side trip to the Huka falls just outside Taupo which were a LOT ...

So got to Rotorua after our wee detour via the Coromandel... having had a night of crapo accommodation up there, we'd booked a "self contained unit" at the next place - and there was much excited anticipation as to how good our "secure unit" was going to be... I think Paul especially was in need of one at this point... We weren't disappointed - it was literally the size of a holiday apartment, with its own lobby, sitting room, kitchen, bathroo...