Three Weeks in Northland: The 6 Challenges Explained

After spending our initial weeks studying and enjoying time with our classmates at the English school in Auckland, the moment we had eagerly anticipated finally arrived: the time to embark on our adventure in the van!

We spent several days scouring online listings, reaching out to owners, and testing out various vans. If only we had a chapter dedicated to the chaos of driving for the first time through the streets of Auckland! Ultimately, we found our trusty 1993 Toyota at a car fair. It was love at first sight; we inspected it, took it for a spin, and made the purchase. The van belonged to a lovely Welsh couple who were sad to let go of their beloved vehicle. Now, it was ours to cherish for the foreseeable future. (If you're interested in more details about buying a van in New Zealand, click here).

With our first challenge completed (choosing the right vehicle is no easy task), we quickly faced the next one: leaving Auckland without ending up in a mishap. Surprisingly, it wasn't too difficult, although we did have our share of close calls, like nearly veering into the wrong lane at intersections. We crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge (a clear homage to Sydney's version) and headed north on State Highway 1.

However, just a few kilometers later, we encountered our third hurdle: the fuel gauge was almost empty. No worries, we thought; a quick stop at the gas station would fix that. As Robert hopped out and approached the fuel cap, a wave of confusion washed over him: "How on earth do you open this thing?" There he stood, alongside a friendly Indian gas station attendant, both searching for the elusive button that would unlock the cap. After a bit of searching, it turned out to be under the driver's seat—a classic Japanese design quirk!

Following that challenge, we were swiftly faced with yet another one before we even left the gas station. "So, where are you headed?" asked the cheerful attendant. Lety and I exchanged blank stares, realizing we had no concrete plan. Somewhat sheepishly, we hopped back into the van and continued north on Highway 1, still unsure of our next stop.

Recently, traveling in a van in New Zealand has changed quite a bit. No longer can you simply park and sleep wherever you please (if that was ever an option). Now, to spend the night, you must find designated areas, most of which come with a fee, such as holiday parks or the government-managed DOC campgrounds. Some spots are free, typically parking lots with 24-hour restroom access. There are several mobile apps to help find the right place, and for us, the free ones are always preferred. So, we mapped out an itinerary that aligned our nights with these sites, ensuring we wouldn’t be caught off guard by a ranger asking us to leave or presenting us with an unwelcome fine.

One of our first nights was spent just meters away from a stunning bay (Urquharts Bay). We whipped up a meal using our camping stove inside the van and cozied up with blankets. The next morning, we strolled down to the beach for breakfast, enjoying perfect weather and a radiant sun. Everything seemed flawless… Until we packed up and tried to start the van—chic chic! “Emmm… Lety… umm… it’s not starting…” Our battery had drained while charging our phones the night before. How irresponsible! This brought us to our fifth trial: how to jump-start the van when the battery was dead? Just when it seemed we were off to a disastrous start, a kind fisherman arrived with his 4X4, offering to lend us a jump. He connected his battery to ours, and we managed to get back on the road! What a relief, and thankfully, we weren’t even insured!

With renewed determination, we pressed on, eager to reach the northernmost point of New Zealand, where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean converge at Cape Reinga. We made it, and Robert accomplished his ultimate goal—taking a refreshing swim!

After overcoming all these challenges, the journey felt even more rewarding. Sure, we may have missed out on some attractions, or perhaps even lost our way a few times, but we were treated to breathtaking sunsets from the comfort of our van, sunrises on the beach, deserted roads, vast beaches, and serene forests with rivers perfect for camping (although a tad eerie, especially after encountering a quirky local who smiled at us with a toothless grin!).

It’s been an intense three weeks for us, filled with even more trials than we could have anticipated. We spent countless nights in the van, cooking meals inside when the weather turned sour (rainy days were common towards the end), desperately searching for Wi-Fi to keep our blog updated, and washing up wherever we could (yes, a dip in the ocean counts!). We braved chilly mornings, endured moments of boredom, went to sleep by 9 PM, and woke up at 6 AM. We even celebrated Robert's birthday with some beers and a big Tex-Mex dinner!

Now, as we transition into the next phase of our journey, it promises to be a bit more relaxed. We’re heading into house-sitting adventures, where we’ll take care of all sorts of properties and their inhabitants: furniture, gardens, cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, sheep… the usual!