This morning I was woken up by the sunlight. Within seconds I jumped out of the bed and put something on to make pictures outside. It was stunning. Yesterday we couldn't see a thing when we arrived. But with the sun rising over the Coromandel peninsula and clear sky it was unbelievable beautiful. Later we prepare breakfast in the bright sunlight. We felt like in the middle of summer, although it is nearly winter here. After the breakfast we go for a little walk, while Luke and May are playing Read more [...]

This morning we woke up at Bob`s Landing close to Piarere. This is a small freedom campsite next to a river feeding the Lake Kairapiro. We arrived yesterday evening and had no light. But this space is really beautiful, as most things in NZ. I had my coffee in the morning sitting on one of our camping chairs. Later on we played some boardgames and the kids enjoyed the lake. Then we head off to our destination Hobbiton. We drive a short but awesome way to Hobbiton. Manuela wanted to visit this Read more [...]

This morning I woke up early and had beautiful sunlight. The whole parking space was covered in red morning light. Shortly after I took the pictures the light was gone. But May was up. Because all the others were still asleep we decided to have a hot chocolate at the diners across the street. The bar/restaurant was totally decorated in the style of the fifties. We had a beautiful dinner. After the other woke up we have to store things away before we can proceed to the Waikato Museum in Read more [...]

What a night. Sometime in the middle of the night it began pouring down and it never stops. When I wake up at around 7.30 am it is still raining. I`ll start reading a book. At 9 am all the others are awake too and we have a breakfast in the campervan. We have found a freedom campsite in Eltham right next to the library. At 10:30 am we start our journey for today. Because it is raining so much, we decide to drive to New Plymouth and visit a museum and go for a swim in the Aquatic Centre. While Read more [...]

In the morning I wake up early. I make myself some tea and watch the sunrise over the desert plains.  It is an awesome view, although it is really cold. 5 degree Celsius are not much. The kids are still asleep so I enjoy these precious moments in the morning. Manuela joins me around 8am and then we decide to let the kids sleep and move on while they are sleeping. We drive the desert road and watch the beautiful landscape. Unfortunetaly Mount Ruapehu and his companions stay in the clouds. Read more [...]

So, this is the day. We have to leave finally. The kids slept in the campervan and we had the whole batch for us alone. In the morning I prepare the breakfast for the last time in the batch. I hope it looks nice, with the last remnants of our black, red, yellow napkins. After breakfast we pack the last things into the campervan and have look back at the place we called home now for seven month. Luke helps us to do the final dishes. Originally the plan was to walk along the Read more [...]