Sunny/cloudy this morning, sad to leave this site, the position is fantastic with the camping just behind the dunes and short walk to the beach. Dawdly drive to Auckland
arrived at Remeura Motor Lodge just be for 1pm ($78 for 2 nights most expensive yet), for an inner city campground it is very nice even has a a swimming pool (not heated), site owner very helpful and gave us details of buses into centre. Had lunch and put in washing as weather now hot and sunny. got talking to the bloke on next but one pitch, he is off to Singapore tomorrow after 2 months in NZ following the Rugby, he had a friend who was due to travel to Oz but has had to go back to UK, spen all his money on the social side of NZ.
A few more vans have arrived and we have new neighbours from Essex- daughter backpacking and mum came to meet up with her for 2weeks, then dad flew out a week ago to finish the trip with them, they fly back tomorrow, whilst daughter continues her trip. Colin then got chatting to an Ozzie couple also flying back tomorrow, they do a lot of caravanning and told us about a book called Camp Australia Wide which lists all the free camping in the country, also gave us info about how to behave around snakes- bascially make a lot of noise and scare them away. gave us their address details should we be passing. Found out a toilet bag in Oz is called a Dilly, colin is having fun with taking the dilly to the Dunny.
really good company tonight didn't get to bed till after 10pm.
31 October Monday
sent text to Sandra as is her birthday.
Up early looks to be a hot day. Colin is wearing his cap as head burning.
Walked to local library (1.2km according to satnav), caught up with blog and had a chat on facebook with Emma and Ricky which was nice (they were up late), on way back to site stopped at a salon and got my legs waxed (whoopee-ready for shorts).
We checked Quantas again as they have been on strike, but seems they have gone back so just turn up at airport, rang hotel and they agreed we could drop off the luggage early and check in later, half packed before dinner, site isa bit quieter today.
1 November Tuesday
Rain in the night, Colin didn't have good night.
Cleared van and gave butter to French couple and left soup/oil in kitchen. Finished packing and left site just before 9am, hit traffic going to Motel, when we arrived expecting to leave luggage with reception they gave a room starightaway andtold us which bus to catch back from the city.
Drove back to city
to drop off campervan, very straightforward and got refund of oil bought- odometer 270651 so have travelled 5291 kms this trip. Walked towards center and had drink in Burger King todecide what to do, weather brightening but still drizzley, fancied the Palantarium but not in centre so went onto Sky Tower, we were looking at the cost when a wise guide suggested if we had lunch in restaurant it might be cheaper as you get access to observation deck included. went round gift shop and tshirts for us and kids only $10 each, when we paid the saleslady also a twin gave us 2 rulers free.
Sky tower access cost $28 each, decided to have lunch in revolving retaurant minimum spend $25 each, we were booked in for 12.45 so went to observation deck first in the lift with a glass floor (floor 51), as does observation deck. It was strange moving slowly round the building whilst eating lunch, Colin had red duck breast with sliced pear and maori chips and lettuce, I had chicken linguini with spinach, they were both delicious, with drinks only $62 our first meal out this trip.
whilst eating you could see the weather closing in and by the time we got out continuous heavy drizzle. Bought postcard for kids and posted in the Sky tower.
Walked to Britmart (bus station) and found out where to catch the bus only $5.60 each, the journey took 50 minutes and the bus driver took no prisoners. Chill out in room for rest of day. Lady brought us our breakfast at 7.30pm for tomorrow.
36 REAL LAND ROVERS SEEN.
2 November Wednesday
LAST DAY IN NEW ZEALAND.
sent text to Heather as her birthday. It rained heavily in the night, breakfast was cereal and toast took muffins with us. Taken at 9.30 to airport by free bus shuttle to airport, checked in quickly to find flight now 13.15 instead of 12.25, didn't fly till 13.25, and arrived 14.40 sydney time which is 2 hours behind NZ but 11 hours ahead of UK. Had to complete cards for Ozzie customs and as a consequence when we went through passport control I got noted on my card as had been near lake/stream whilst Colin got noted for the same but they also ringed his answer about criminal convictions. Colin got pulled over for a chat and when we showed our visas they were happy and complimented us on our preparation, then onto quarantine where they pulled us aside and just checked the soles of our boots, we were through in less than an hour-impressive. Caught shuttle bus to hotel $6 each and booked in ok. Colin rang shipping agent to be told landrover in a queue for cleaning, we have to ring back tomorrow after 10.30 to find out more. The hotel is opposite a Krispy Kreme doughtnut and coffee shop,
Not the view from the bedroom window we've been used to!
but we went to Mcdonalds for food, even COLIN ATE MCDONALDS, the internet was very slow in Macs, back to hotel for early night as anticipating long day tomorrow.
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