New Zealand - 5 in a camper van

The Maddogs did their usual thing as ever very last minute and booked flights on the last day of school term, and flew the next day meanwhile booking our camper van in the departure lounge at Chennai Airport! As always flying by the seat of our pants!



We arrived after an exhausting journey via Hong Kong and treated ourselves to a night at the Langham Hotel in Auckland and my first bath in weeks.



The we picked up our camper and made our way over to the Coromandel East Coast where we met up with our friends Lizzie, Henrik and their son and spent our days walking, snorkeling, spying on Stingrays. Then we headed over to Rotorua for visits to Geysers, Maori dancing/cultural shows, and the all important visit to a spa!



After that we made our way to Hawkes Bay to go and visit the vineyards and Art Deco city of Napier, where we spent Christmas day on a beach in the sun watching the surf.


New Zealand is just gorgeous, wide roads, green fields, mountains, fresh air, seafood, New Zealand Lamb, WINE!!!!!

Hot water beach on the Coromandel Coast where at low tide you dig your own hot water pool and the temperatures are as hot as a bath from the escaping water deep within the earth.

Coromandel Coast


Great to catch up with friends from the U.K. who were also in New Zealand at the same time.

Beautiful white sandy beaches