Here we are, in New Zealand — the country where we might stay the longest… or maybe that’s Thailand? We’ll be here for almost seven weeks. Yep, seven. So if you’re not into sheep, hobbits, or hot springs, feel free to check back in two months when we’re somewhere else breaking new things.
Why Fiji Was Basically Our Training Wheels
We figured out Fiji was the perfect warm-up act before New Zealand for two reasons:
- It’s directly north, so no time difference (which means fewer jet-lag-induced meltdowns… mostly mine).
- They also drive on the left side of the road. That meant Joey got to practice driving on the “wrong” side in a smaller car before we graduated to a full-on motorhome. Did we still drive on the wrong side a few times? Of course. Especially after turns. Turns are sneaky.
Auckland Adventures (and the Case of the Missing Fleece)
We spent a couple of days in Auckland wandering around, running errands, and browsing secondhand stores for books, puzzles, and toys for the kids. I also needed a new fleece because — naturally — I lost my amazing new one somewhere in transit. (I swear there’s a secret black hole for my things)
We quickly learned that New Zealand’s weather is basically Canada on steroids. One minute you’re in a puffer jacket, the next you’re sweating in a T-shirt, then it’s raining sideways. Repeat every two hours. Layers are not optional; they’re survival gear.
We explored the city, found great playgrounds, and even took the ferry to Devonport — a cute seaside town with dangerously good chocolate. The view of Auckland’s skyline made the trip completely worth it (though the chocolate helped).
Home, Sweet Motorhome
An hour south of Auckland, we picked up our motorhome — our cozy little rolling home for the next six weeks. The kids were thrilled. Me too. Joey? Let’s just say he’s adjusting to the idea of being trapped in a metal box with us for that long.
To make it feel more homey, we hit up Facebook Marketplace for essentials (and by essentials, I mean blender for smoothies, soda stream, fluffy blankets, and scented candles, lol). We even rented a bigger camper than the one we had in Iceland, so the kids now sleep above the driver’s seat — leaving us adults free to use the table for grown-up things like playing cards and quietly crying after bedtime.
Everything was smooth sailing for about an hour… then the ladder yeeted itself off the bed and smashed a mirror. Not even the mirror was surprised—it had seen our future.
By day two, we’d broken a glass, melted a spatula, and turned the camper into a live-action “what not to do” tutorial. Pretty sure our good luck took the first exit.
Skipping Beaches, Finding Hot Water
We decided to skip the far north since it’s mostly beaches — and after a month in the Pacific Islands, we were all “beached out.” Instead, we headed to the Coromandel Peninsula. The drive was stunning, and our main goal was the famous Hot Water Beach, where you dig your own hot tub in the sand.
We arrived on a grey morning thinking we’d have the place to ourselves. Wrong. The beach was packed with people armed with shovels, all digging like gold prospectors. After several failed attempts, we found a promising spot… lukewarm at best. Eventually, we gave up and took over a neighbor’s abandoned pool. Then it started to pour rain, so we huddled together in our one-foot-deep “hot tub.” Romantic, really.
When we got back to the campground, we discovered they had a massive covered hot tub. Why didn’t we just start there?!
The next day’s hike to Cathedral Cove was gorgeous — until the sky opened up again just as we reached the parking lot. Naturally, we’d left our raincoats behind because the sky had been blue. Rookie mistake. Don’t worry, we’ve since learned our lesson (we think).
Of Hobbits and Glowworms
Next stop: Matamata — aka Hobbiton! Joey and the kids hadn’t seen the movies, so their excitement level was mild… until we got there. The place is pure magic. The tour was fantastic, and even though the interiors were filmed elsewhere, they’d recreated one of the hobbit homes inside. We all left impressed — even Joey, who now wants to live in a hobbit hole (mostly for the lawn maintenance benefits).
From there, we went to Waitomo to visit the famous glowworm caves. Photos don’t do it justice — imagine a million tiny stars glowing above you in total darkness. It was breathtaking. In another cave, we saw fossils of the extinct moa — a massive, prehistoric chicken that could have easily eaten our snacks.
North Island Surprises
So far, New Zealand hasn’t disappointed. We came in thinking the South Island would steal the show, but the North Island has seriously impressed us — especially the tropical vegetation. It’s 15–20°C right now, yet they grow avocados, lemons, oranges, and even bananas.
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