City Central Auckland

... pas - denn in einem Zimmer und in einem Bett zu schlafen, war fur uns Unverheiratete natuerlich hoechst unchristlich!<br><br>Am Mittwoch siegte dann die Neugier ueber meine Schlappheit und ich fuhr mit Marc und Basti zum "Pak'n'Save"-Laden. Was fuer ein riesiger Laden! Alles oversize und bis unter die Decke vollgestapefte Regale! Hier trafen wir dann auch Kevin und Chris (die beiden Leiter) und bekamen sofort ein eigenes Zimmer mit Doppelbett zugesichert. Also alles ...

... people on the site too and they were leaving new zealand so gave us all their leftovers like bread, noodles, stamps, foil etc! <br>We left Auckland today and drove to papamoa beach to see bob and jaine. The driving was better, i am getting used to it! We made it here only to realise that i told bob we were coming in october and not september! oops!! We were a month early. Luckily we emailed them this morning as we left auckland saying we were on ...

... a mountain over Queenstown. Preferable to his first nickname which was Small Cock. Quite funny actually that one - for the Stray drivers go by their nikcnames for everything - such as calling up hostels and reserving our dorms. "Hi Jenny - this is Small cock from Stray...". Need I say any more. Skins is as sound as Nat my original driver.<br><br>Kaikoura<br><br>North of Christchurch on the way back to Picton where we'll ferry our way back over to Wellington ...

... reminding of names ('sorry, I've forgotten already?!') that firmly cemented the group together. Josh kept us entertained with a little bit of historical trivia and what were to become infamous sayings: 'wakey wakey hands of snakey...got any queries, comments or theories...nuff said, Joshie out.' I think the most amusing thing was the persistant referral in the third person. The first day we headed to Mercury Bay, travelling over the Coromandal Ranges, and it was during this time ...

503ks<br>We now know that it is exactly 1000km from Christchurch to Auckland and we were lucky to have a good fine couple of days to do the trip. It was also our chance to give the truck its first good run and to check out the new fuel system. Its reassuring to know that we can travel this far and still have nearly half a tank of Diesel left. This will be a huge advantage later I'm certain and ...

... we visited a Maori village, watching a Maori show complete with the Haka Warrior Dance (which you'll recognise as the All Blacks starting ritual, using every bodypart down to the eyes and tongue - making some pretty terrifying faces), and experiencing the Maori 'Hangi' which is their traditional cooking meat, potatoes &amp; veg in a dug up hole in the ground for 24 hours. It was yummy as you can imagine, but you'd have to be pretty patient to wait 24hrs for your meal ...

... side, which, as he has deep Jowls something akin to the Churchill dog tends to give them the appearance of flapping. To finish of this mental picture for you he has thinning white hair and an overall gummy appearance which makes me think he's spent years entering gurning competitions, and winning. I've called him headset Harry because each morning since we left his spent the time whilst we wait to get into the gym trying to get his ...

... though which probably isn't helping! Quite stressful finding out everything we do back home is wrong over here and that I need to learn a new way of doing everything. Laura was nearly screaming trying to plan her maths today. She should just take a leaf out of my book and not plan!! Far easier. About 4 kids in my class speak no English whatsoever though ...