Tag 115 - tired

23.08.19

- Jonna

The first real day in New Zealand can begin! Not really well-rested, we first go to Vodafone to get a mobile phone contract. For 35€, we get a month of free social media usage (WhatsApp, Instagram, and co), 10GB of data volume, and 200 free units to Germany and NZ. At the baggage service, we want to leave our new number and hope a bit that our luggage might have arrived, even though we haven't received any message yet. Our hope becomes reality and after signing, we have our luggage back with us and a bit overwhelmed that it went so fast and easy, we head towards the car rental. 

Because we are still very early and wanted to go to the Warehouse anyway to buy some clothes, we are the first customers at 7:30 am and enjoy the store in absolute peace. We try on a lot of things, stroll through all the aisles, and in the end, buy a pullover, a shirt, long underwear, corduroy pants, a camping lamp, and a long-sleeve shirt for an unbeatable price of 25€. This won't be our last visit! Here you can find everything at unbeatable prices (and no, unfortunately we are not famous enough to receive money now because we mentioned the store, I just really missed snuggling (but if @thewarehouse is interested in a cooperation and our gigantic reach, we are of course available). Wrapped up a bit thicker, we continue walking in light drizzle and are already impressed by the beautiful path through meadows and grasses.

After a short briefing, some signatures, and the final payment, the nice men from the car rental company leave us to our fate and we get very excited to get into our home for the next 40 days. 

We specifically chose a campsite nearby so that we can arrive there first. But before we can relax, we have to tackle the first big shopping trip. Alex manages the drive back to the supermarket at the airport without any problems. We know how to drive on the left by now and the camper is an automatic, so even the gearshift doesn't cause any problems.

We stock up the fridge and cupboards with the annoying essentials (spices, flour, sugar) and everything else we need for the first few days and get back on the road. Not even 15 minutes later, we reach our first overnight stay. We pay the $20 camp fees online, receive the code for the curtain lock, and drive through cow, sheep, and horse pastures to a cozy spot in the green. There are toilets and even warm showers in the main building! Great! We put away our clothes and make ourselves comfortable in the camper. We have the winter equipment, so hot water bottles and two sleeping bags for each of us! The bed is quickly set up and after a three-hour nap, we feel ready to explore our surroundings a bit more. Right behind the trees at the campsite, the sea and a nature reserve begin. Wrapped up against the rain, we explore the hiking trail and only encounter sheep with their lambs and a few birds. We are blown away by the landscape. Although we are actually in the middle of Auckland, it is quiet, green, and incredibly impressive. We stroll along the sea and absorb the atmosphere. The moderately good weather doesn't bother us, we are prepared for rain and 15 degrees. 

We explore the huge farm where we are staying and visit goats, turkeys, guinea pigs, cows, sheep, lambs, insect gardens, and horses. Wow, it's like a little zoo and we are totally thrilled. Besides milking and feeding the animals, there are aluminum electric grills that not only look incredibly clean and cool but are also free to use.

We return to the camper, cook our long-awaited first dinner, and enjoy the camping atmosphere. It's already reminiscent of a camping holiday in rainy Denmark, but a thousand times more luxurious because we do everything in the camper.

As expected, our bodies demand more sleep and we cuddle back into bed early. 

- Jonna