Let's see if this one works!
Nope... Looks like I won't be able to post pictures until I get back to the US.
So, non- photographic synopsis of our trip so far!
We landed at 4:30 on Wednesday morning NZ time, thanks to a strong tail wind aiding our trip over. With 3 1/2 hours to kill before the Campervan company opened, we had breakfast at the airport - ah, for the love of kiwi coffee! - then hopped a shuttle to the rental company.
We got ourselves all settled in to our home away from home, then headed out to the Coromandel Peninsula for our night at the vineyard.
Side note: Getting used to driving a Campervan, on the right side of the car & left side of the road, didn't take as long as I thought. Though at this point I'm glad I'm not driving immediately upon arrival back to the US. Oh, wait, I'm renting a car for the day in LA - I guess nothing quite like diving back in to keep a girl on her toes, eh?!
After a lovely drive through essentially Mordor, we made it to the Peninsula and it is GLORIOUS. We were staying the night at Mercury Bay Estate Vineyard in Cooks Beach, and Simon & Veronica couldn't have been nicer. We arrived early, so ended up getting a bite of lunch and then heading out to explore the area. Most things are named after Captain Cook, who 'discovered' it (if you don't count the natives, of course) and tracked the passing of Mercury in front of the sun (hence Mercury Bay). We went up to Shakespeare Cliff, down to the ferry landing, over to the beachfront - basically everywhere. Stopped in at the local Dairy (think corner store, not milk production) and got a few essentials then headed back to the vineyard for the evening. Veronica made us a beautiful - and tasty - cheese and fruit tray for dinner and we ate, unpacked, set up the beds in the camper, (Hali took the top bunk, I took the back of the bus) and hit the hay by 7pm. It was a long trip here!
