EAST CAPE & COROMANDEL

Maybe its the beard - after six weeks of unchecked growth, it probably started to take hold of the brain. Or maybe it was something in the water - you're never quite sure if you've boiled it enough to make it safe for drinking. Either way - I've undergone a transformation. I'm now officially a fan of camping. Its great. I won't have a word said against it.

The following probably reads a little bit too much like an advert for the NZ Tourist Board, but our latest adventure has seen us camping beside more oceans and rivers, bathing with ducks and swimming under water falls. The roads around New Zealand's remote East Cape were long and winding, but every curve opened up a beautiful view.

From there it was up to the Coromandel - where, just to bring us back to reality - it rained. Not enough to stop us going to the famous Hot Water Beach however, where you can bury yourself in thermal sand pools while the tide is out - and then run into the chilly sea to cool down. The downpour continued while we tucked into takeaway Fish 'n' Mussels 'n' Chips in our final campervan meal.

By now the brightly painted van has gone back to the garage - and we have to start smartening up and think about finding a place to stay and earning some money in Wellington. The beard will probably have to go too - I've already had my first haircut in five months. But I'm sure it wont be too long before we carry on camping.