10. New Zealand - Camping Start

There was a lot to prepare for the entry into New Zealand. We were repeatedly warned not to bring any food (in fact, only fresh items and fruit are a problem) and outdoor equipment with dirt (like shoes or tent) as there would be extensive checks at the airport. So, Martje and I polished our shoe soles to a shine with a toothbrush in Kuala Lumpur. On the plane, we then finished our last supplies of fresh fruit like passion fruits, an unknown variety of lychee, and bananas. That wasn't a problem at all as the plane food didn't exactly delight our taste buds (it was the same thing twice).

The immigration control at the airport was fully automated: a small box that lets you in when it likes your passport (at least it doesn't look at you as seriously or grumpily as its human counterparts) and you answer a few questions correctly on a display. It felt like a quiz. Once you enter, the box closes, takes a photo, and then opens on the other side. First level completed.

Then we had to pass the Biosecurity Officer. To our surprise, he was very friendly, benevolent, and convinced by our honesty regarding our information.

The clean shoes and the statement that the tent was new opened the doors to Auckland and New Zealand for us in just 2 minutes.

Thanks to Supershuttle, we quickly found the accommodation and only had to carry the luggage to the 18th floor... by elevator.

Since we were saturated with Asian food after 3 and 6 weeks in Asia, which admittedly was very tasty, we wanted to sink our teeth into something 'real' again... Pizza!! With that and a slight jet lag, we also had the necessary sleepiness.

The next day, we had to make a dramatic adjustment in the morning. We had to cook our own food again! With the local price level, constantly getting meals cooked for us, for example by hiring a private chef ;-) would quickly exceed our budget.

Early in the morning, we set off through the rain towards the shopping district in search of missing camping equipment. We found a street in Auckland with 6 outdoor stores in close proximity. We tried, advised, compared, tried some more, and after a good 5 hours (!!!) we were proud owners of lightweight sleeping bags that keep us warm even in negative temperatures (and are therefore more expensive), as well as gas burners, gas canisters, plates, bowls, cutlery, a blanket, and another headlamp.

The first destination was the Coromandel Peninsula with its wonderfully rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cows, adorned with small groups of striking trees.

The first campsite was a direct hit. Completely alone (except for a few mosquitoes and lots of birds) in a large, beautiful park away from all cities, the Milky Way spread out above us at night, including the large and small Magellanic Clouds. I had never seen the Milky Way so clearly anywhere else.

We later found that the government-run campsites, which are usually in great locations, don't accommodate as many people, but they offer no comforts beyond toilets and running water. We liked them much better, like the one with the fireflies.