KIA ORA AOTEAROA

Heading to the land of the long white cloud

It is not even light yet but we are already in the car, heading for the airport. It is an uneventful journey to Auckland. Our plane lands, we pick up the car and off we go. Jenna and I spend a night in Auckland before heading off towards the Bay of Islands the very next day. It is a long drive, but not the longest of the trip. The sun is shining, we have the Harry Potter audiobook playing and vow not to talk about work until we are back in Australia.

​Our journey north takes us through tiny towns and odd little lookouts withfree range chickens and views across valleys. ​​We find a bookstore and I pick up yet another copy of Harry Potter. My first and certainly not the last book I buy on this trip. We try (and become addicted to) New Zealand lollies and chocolate, as well as L & P, the local soft drink. I don't mind it, but Jenna says it tastes like medicine. Our hire car is the funkiest looking little Suzuki, but we have no problems with it and affectionately call it Iggy. In what seems like no time at all we arrive in Paihia, our base for the next few days. Our hotel manager is kind enough to upgrade us to a two bedroom suite, much to our delight. It is a good start to a fantastic trip.