NZ is a country best experienced via road trip, so Jess and I packed up my camper van (a converted mini-van I bought for $2,600 at a car fair --- you've never seen someone so excited to drive off in what looks like a practical car for a family of 8) and headed to The Coromandel Peninsula.

We (attempted) to dig holes at Hot Water Beach (harder than it sounds), camped at Hahei Beach, hiked to Cathedral Cove and drove along pretty Thames Coast Road, taking in the rolling hills and rugged cliffs. It was a lovely little road trip.