From: Stuart Date: 8th May 2005 Subject: Campervan Crazies Place: Auckland, New Zealand It took me five minutes to fall in love with our mini motel on wheels. I was King of the Road, high above the other traffic; we could stop and brew coffee whenever we fancied, have a nap whenever we wanted, and [...]

From: Matthew (and Cameron said somethings too)Date: 4th May 2005Subject: From A to Z in New ZealandPlace: A Campervan A is for apple. We had lots of them and they were very fresh and juicy on a hot day. B is for bananas. We had lots for energy and we like them and also they [...]

From: KirstieDate: 1st May 2005Subject: What shall we do with the drunken sailor?Place: Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, New Zealand The children sat on wet rocks in the pitch black, chattering excitedly. “Could anyone help my pregnant wife down the cliff in the dark?” Stuart joked, as I hauled myself down the unseen rocks with a [...]

From: StuartDate: 29th April 2005Subject: We are sailingPlace: Opunga Cove, Bay of Islands, New Zealand  Kakapo rocked gently back and forth, the only yacht in the cove, her bright yellow paint no match for the rising sun. A light wind rippled over the waters beyond the shelter of the headland. The air was chilly and I [...]

From: KirstieDate: 27th April 2005Subject: Tied up in knotsPlace: Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand I lay in the damp tunnel, feeling claustrophobic, anxious and cold. I buried my feet deeper into my three season sleeping bag, which seemed to offer no warmth at all. Stuart lay about a metre away from me in his [...]

From: StuartDate: 26th April 2005Subject: The silent treatmentPlace: Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand “So Nadine… either we’ll bring them around to you or you can come and pick them up from us tomorrow morning and then we’ll go on to Opua somehow for our 9.30 start. Then in the evening we can work out [...]

From: KirstieDate: 24th April 2005Subject: You’ve gotta be jokingPlace: Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand As we packed up one adventure Stuart broached plans for another….. but Kirstie had her doubts “How about it then Kirst?” “You’re not serious?” “Course I am. What’s the problem?” “The problem is that it takes years of [...]

From: Stuart Date: 23rd April 2005 Subject: The end of the road Place: Cape Reinga, North Island, New Zealand “We will have a lolly at the light house Dad?”“Yes Cameron”“At Cape Ringa Dad?” “Yes Cameron”“I like lollies Dad.” “I know you do sweetheart”“Yes. And I like Cape Ringa and the lighthouse too.” “Dad”“Yes Matthew” “It’s [...]

From: KirstieDate: 21st April 2005Subject: Sun, sea and sandy nostrilsPlace:Waitiki Landing, North Island, New Zealand “Two days chilling out on a beach, just like any normal family weekend,” exclaimed Stuart, cycling across the sand and straight into the sea, to the delight of his excited passenger. “You’ll get salt in your cones. Your wheels will [...]

From:       Kirstie Date:        12th April 2005 Subject:   The (alternative) treaty of Waitangi Place:      Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand While in Waitangi it seemed only reasonable we should try and give the kids a history lesson, explain the significance of this place, in terms they could understand, perhaps [...]