Our road trip to the Northland begins

Today we started, waking up E easily because she fell asleep again at 6, then having breakfast and driving to our first destination: a farmers market on the way in Orewa.

The camper is easier to drive, but the winding, narrow roads are something.

It's been raining and raining and it's not looking any better for the next few days, we'll see.

After the small farmers market (but with live music) we went to the beach in the rain (E still liked it) and then spontaneously went shopping in New World (yes, the same products are more expensive there than in Pak'n' Save).

Then we had a delicious sandwich in the camper and since the whole thing took longer than planned and it was raining anyway, we skipped the Waipu Glowworm Caves.

We made an unplanned playground stop in Whangerei, it was sunny and warm, then windy and rainy and warm again (all seasons within a few minutes - it's true what they say about New Zealand).

The journeys actually all take longer than indicated on the maps and so we didn't drive any further to Paihia but instead drove to our first Freedom Camping Ground in the early afternoon. There happened to be a Christmas gathering with (cheap) Santa Claus and free drinks, ice cream and sandwiches - cool surprise.

Still in the rain, with a few short breaks, we explored the area and looked at the colorful tiled toilets that were apparently worth seeing. Yes, it's nice, but if it wasn't on the way now we wouldn't have done it. Here, too, it is swarming with Germans.

For the evening we had fresh salmon and rice and sweet potato pancakes - delicious. And then the others were tired again and we got ready for bed and my two fellow travelers slept before 8 :D Well then - good night.