I’ve been delaying this post because I’ve been in denial. The past few days have been rough on Tanya and me, for at 10:00am on the 18th of February 2006 we had to return Moses. We knew the time would come, but still. He was so good to us. So much more than just a campervan.

We picked up a regular old car in Auckland and, though it of course wasn’t the same, it did the job. We cruised along the northern peninsula up to the Bay of Islands, the site of the first European settlers. There are lots of buildings and places with historical significance (if you’re into that stuff), but the scenery and sailing are what attract most people. The following day we hopped on board and explored the area, stopping to swim and hike around the largest island in the bunch. Most people found a nice spot on the boat to lounge for the day, but – for the record - I helped pull the sail at one point.

We returned to Auckland the next morning for a final day of touring. From a distance, most of the skyline is obstructed by masts in the harbor, giving it the title: “City of Sails.” I could’ve jumped off the highest tower in the southern hemisphere, but I decided to keep both feet on the ground and leave something to come back for.

I had to post a map in order to do justice to the past 2 weeks. The grand total from Start to Finish was – drum roll please – 2,550 miles. And the grand total of bugs on our windscreens would probably beat that number. We were in a different place every night during our campervan tour of the islands. On more than one occasion, I woke up, opened the curtains, and turned to Tanya to ask, “Where are we again?”

2/8 Brisbane to Christchurch, met the O’Gorman family
2/9 Drove to Punakaiki and then down the west coast
2/10 Hiked on Fox Glacier and drove to Queenstown
2/11 Fell off a wild donkey amidst touring the city
2/12 Boat ride around Milford Sound, drove to the Otago Peninsula
2/13 Albatross Colony and Cadbury Factory in Dunedin
2/14 Whale-watching in Kaikoura, drove to Nelson
2/15 Took the ferry at Picton, passed through Wellington
2/16 Wandered around Lake Taupo, jet boat surprise
2/17 Experienced the Zorb in Rotorua and a Maori culture show
2/18 Cruised through Auckland and up to the Bay of Islands
2/19 Sailed around the bay
2/20 Returned to Auckland to sightsee
2/21 Fly to Rio

It was a speedy trip, but the perfect introduction. Spectacular landscapes flew by one after another and, while I often wished we had time to detour, I now know how rich this small country is.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 20th, 2006 at 2:16 pm in XVI. NZ. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.