Transfer from the equator to the Tropic crossing with a loss of 20 ° C, I fly to Sydney and Sydney to Auckland. I am just arrived to the land of volcanoes and hobbits (for others). I arrived August 4, Laurent arrives from France tomorrow, after almost 24 hours flight. After three days in Auckland to recover from jet lag and visit the town (which incidentally is not very nice). We rented a van to tour New Zealand in 17 days. Go for the Northland over Auckland, the landscapes are beautiful already, but the roads are very very twisty.

We going to the top of the island north to Spirit Bay, the bay where Maori spirits come after bodily death to dive into the sea and revive the other land ...

U-turn on the beach at 90miles (90km) range that serves as a road for some 4x4 and van's. At the end of the beach, there are still wrecked cars half buried in the sand ..

Two days later back to Auckland, the second battery in the van is boiling, makes strange noises and feel very bad ... We change of van before hitting the road to Rotorua, the center of Maori culture. Here, the earth does not sleep? When we arrived, the smell just hit the nostrils, the sulfur! I finally found where the clouds are made ... it is in Rotorua ... after they are dispersed around the world ...

We take advantage of intense geothermal activity to get an SPA in water at 40 ° c. .. ahh, it's relaxing ...

Anyway, we follow our merry way near Lake Taupo, central North Island, beautiful scenery ... a little further south Tongarirau the national park. We discover the first ski resort ... Snow in August, a first for me ...but, no ski for me for a day after $ 200.

There is therefore a short hike that allows us to admire the snowy summit of the volcano. The last eruption dates back only 30 years.

Time is goes, we going to Wellington, capital of New Zealand, but also the most beautiful city (my taste), there remains a day before taking the ferry to South Island and arrived in Picton to the fiords.

Picton is an ugly city, suddenly, we decided to visit the party a little further north. This part is that I enjoyed in New Zealand ... I think that was, it must be a paradise on earth, a transparent glass water collected in the mountains, head in the clouds ...

The next day, Abel Tasman, where we made a short trip, others asked for several days ... and I think it really deserves it.

After 150 000 turns and high heart, descend on Westport, a coastal walk like in Quiberon, Laurent, as usual, forgets his camera after one of his many poses cigarette (hihihi, argh argh, revenge .. .). It is only 70km away and still full of turns it will turn around ... ... it was hopeless despair. After returning to the site, move to Westport police, passing the police (I forget the name), Laurent loses hope. It was only 300km away, we will find him, taken care by a couple who traveled ... relief, is celebrated here and it offers a Spa ... all cars are good, hee hee.

we do a walk on the two glaciers, a very nice coastal road with the mountains that plunge into the sea or the sea rises in the mountains ... Beautiful.

We decided finally to make a big day's drive to go in Fiordland the most south ... we do not regret the trip ... again, turning roads, but also avalanche ... yes, they are triggered anytime and you can take your van but you are warned. And to see the condition of the forest in some places, does not laugh ...

It rises very quickly on Christchurch (city ugly), crossing again very beautiful landscapes, and we realize that ultimately it was a day ahead .. On holiday ... So, we took the opportunity to go on the peninsula east of Christchurch for the night. We arrived in a village with French names, pastries, a French cemetery ... it was actually a French colony ... argghhh, the New Zealand could be French .... Anyway, we move from bay to bay and surprise to surprise, the opportunity to get stuck with the van on an unauthorized way ... we do not get tired, always different landscapes and magnificent ... we will end up spending our last night on a road near the airport, we take the plane to Auckland. Laurent must buy souvenirs and wine. (By the way, how is it?).

Another step that ends, Lawrence takes the bus to the airport for my part, I fly from 5am to Sydney, I will not sleep at night ... there's the world to discuss in airports! 7 o clock the next day I am in Sydney with $ 8 in my pocket, I must find myself a job in the week. Done, I'm working on now in Sydney a bakery / cafe, I tell all this in the next message

Take care,

The Pirate