Escape to Tarawera

Our totally cool Escape campervan came kitted out with bedding (sheet, pillows, duvets), ice chest, kitchen stuff (pots, pans, plates, cutlery, cooking utensils), 3 folding chairs, a cooker, seats that turn into a bed and loads of hidden storage space.  Thanks to Thomas' negotiating skills, we also got a BBQ, fold out table and solar shower thrown in for free.

Yumi on Tarawera in front of the real Tarawera 

Tarawera, the name of our home for the next 25 days, was also an automatic, which meant that Yumi could drive  (Yay!)  But this would be her first time driving on the left side of the road (Eek!) in a bigger car (Uhhhh) through winding roads (Scary!) using the metric system (okay, so she has been living in London for 7 years, but 100kph still doesn't mean anything to her).

An easy way to spot a foreigner driving in New Zealand?  Cars that drive no where near the centre line and windscreen wipers going on everytime they are about to make a turn.




After navigating our way out of Auckland, we headed north to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to find out a bit more about Maori culture.  It ended up being more about the history of Europeans in New Zealand.  We also watched our first haka.  There were only 3 of us in the audience watching 5 performers in a tiny theatre.  It wasn't the big show we were expecting, but it was still a good time.

We spent the night on Uretiti beach.  Although clothing is optional, it was a bit chilly so we decided to keep our kit on.