Day 3 – Finally in New Zealand!

After what felt like an eternity of travel setbacks, we finally landed in New Zealand at 5 AM. With no hotel to crash at due to our changed itinerary, we had a few hours to kill at the airport before picking up our camper van. Thankfully, JUCY camper vans came through for us, allowing us to pick up our van earlier than planned.

Before heading over, we grabbed a quick breakfast at the airport McDonald’s, then hopped on JUCY’s free shuttle. The team walked us through everything we needed to know, handed over the keys, and just like that—we were off! And oh right… now driving on the left side of the road!

Driving on the Left (While Running on Empty)

To make things even more interesting, the weather decided to throw in some mist and rain for good measure. Combine that with the exhaustion from our insane journey, and let’s just say that first stretch of driving out of Auckland was not a relaxing one. Every turn, every intersection, every merge took all my concentration, and tensions were definitely high.

Once we made it out of the city, we pulled into a small town for a much-needed afternoon nap. Between the high humidity and sheer exhaustion, we just needed a break. After an hour or so of rest, we stocked up on groceries at a local store and hit the road again.

Changing Plans and Our First Night in Waihi

The original plan was to make it to Tauranga for our first night, but with the relentless rain and our energy running dangerously low, we decided to stop in the coastal village of Waihi instead. We found a freedom camping spot right by the ocean, meant to hold only three camper vans—but by the time night fell, another four or five had squeezed in. Luckily, everyone was respectful, and it was a quiet spot so we really didn’t mind.

The storm made for a dramatic first night. We couldn’t see much of the beach through the rain, but we could hear the waves—massive, crashing relentlessly against the shore. Easily some of the largest waves I’ve ever seen. It felt almost surreal, sitting inside our cozy camper as the wind howled outside.

We kept things simple for dinner, making sandwiches before turning in early. By 9 PM local time, we were finally getting our first real sleep in New Zealand. After everything we had been through, it felt like a victory just to be here, safe, and ready for the adventure ahead. As the wind gently swayed the van back and forth, it lulled us to sleep.

The following day, the real adventure would begin.

As always, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Embrace the adventure, cherish the memories, and I’ll catch you tomorrow for day 4!

#NewZealandAdventure #LordOfTheRings #DreamTrip #Travel #40thBirthday #MiddleEarth #BucketList #AdventureAwaits

-Rob ❤️