A wee little country!

Cape Reinga
Originally uploaded by camandkristin.

We have been in New Zealand now for 9 days, and we have finally stopped saying "Gracias", we (Cam), has learned to drive on the wrong side of the road (they say left, I say wrong), and we (Kristin), has become addicted to kumara (like sweet potatoes, but better!). We have also lost 21 hours of our life, and since we are circumnavigating the earth rather than doubling back, we'll never get them back...

We were met in New Zealand on Dec 27 by Cam's relatives who were unbelievably kind in picking us up at the airport at 4:30am. For those keeping track at home- the relation is that Helen is Cam's Gran's second cousin. Helen and Stephen Smith, and their kids Lincoln and Riley, have done an amazing job of making us feel at home, and it is such a great respite from travelling in South America where nothing feels like home, ever.

We spent a few days at the Smith (yes, Mr. and Mrs. Smith) household just south of Auckland (Pukekohe) and then headed off to tour the north tip of the North Island. It turns out that renting a vehicle is cheaper than the busses, so we did just that and set off for a 4 day tour where we covered 1400kms, and made it to the northenmost tip of the country- Cape Reinga. We spent New Years Eve there, and then headed back down the eastern coast passing through a number of beaches which were absoulutely "chocker". New Years is the main holiday here as it is both summer vacation, and a work holiday for most of the country. The northern beaches are the prime destination for most of the North Island residents, so we passed on through most of the beaches and found quieter spots to camp. Our rental car was a station wagon, which allowed us to sleep in the back and save a few dollars. We are still adjusting to the price differences between here and SA...

The whole trip was beautiful- we saw multiple sandy beaches (including 90 Mile Beach which stretches along the west coast of the northern pennisula), the ancient Kauri forests (the trees are upwards of 2000 years old, and the largest is 16m in girth), Cape Reinga where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet, and many, many, sheep and cows. We did not see any roads that were straight, or any hobbits. Too bad on both counts.

We have since returned to the Smith's, and will set out tomorrow to head south. Helen and Stephen have generously offered us their 1973, fully camperized, VW van ("the Kombi") to use for our whole six weeks here. Not only will that save us a bundle, but the freedom of having a vehicle is amazing in a place like New Zealand which has loads of nooks and crannies to explore. Plus it lets us camp, which is something we miss from home already! They have also alerted the rest of the family scattered throughout the country, so we have more warm places to find as we travel south. Helen's brother, Brian, is a South Island expert so we will stop at his place in Dunedin to get the lowdown on all the prime spots to hit. That type of advice is so much more valuable than anything the Lonely Planet can offer.

We are looking forward to our next 6 weeks on the road; if you don't hear from us as often, it's only because internet access here costs about $8 an hour...

Happy New Year to everyone at home!
Kristin and Cam.