Day #1 Auckland

Hello world!

We landed this morning around 9AM (Auckland time) after a 12 hour flight from LA. Surprisingly, the flight flew by much faster than our Thailand trip last year. 

After an easy trip through customs we headed to pick up our Wicked Camper Van. Talk about an experience... 

Not the classiest (or the cleanest) place to grab a camper but it definitely has some character! Since it is summer here and Christmas break for everyone, camper rentals were hard to come by so this guy will have to do the trick. At least it will be tricky to tell if we scuff up the paint! :) 

Driving on the left-side of the road has been adjustment for the driver, Tyler, AND for the worried navigator in the passenger seat, me, but I think he has the hang of it now!

The van is equipped with a "chilly bin" (AKA a cooler) and an electric cook top so we stopped for some groceries before heading to the Viaduct Harbour. 

There was that gorgeous blue water I had been waiting to see! We stopped for a quick lunch and a local beer/cider at the Brew on Quay street. 

Minor Precaution: Mexican Nachos are NOT the same in New Zealand. 

There were tons of people out and about in the Harbor area and we loved checking out all of the cute restaurants and bars along the water. Wish we could have spent an evening here, I bet it's a fun place to be after dark! 

After a walk to the Sky Tower, a cup of Gloria's Coffee and a short drive to Mt. Eden, we laid down to take a short nap to catch up with the time change. 

5 hours later (at 10:30pm), we woke up and realized it was time to pick up Tyler's brother, Jordan, and his girlfriend, Annie, who were on their way from Australia.

We will spend the next 5 days with them so we can make twice the number of ridiculous memories here! Tomorrow we will head to the Waitomo Caves to see the famous glow worms and depart on a 5 hour caving adventure full of rappelling, rafting and more.

Goodnight everyone until my next wifi spot! 

XOXO Elissa