This morning we were picked up at the hotel by a taxi, which took us to an industrial park near the airport where our motorhome (aka “campervan”) was waiting for us. We were happy to see how big it was, not just a converted van like we thought — it’s more like a small delivery truck outfitted for living. Plus Chris can stand up in it without bumping his head (well, if he takes off his shoes). The Wilderness Motorhomes folks welcomed us and instructed us on how to use the beast. 
Also their dog Georgia (!) made us feel comfortable, and vice versa.
It’s got a manual transmission, which was a surprise to Chris, ’cause he wasn’t expecting that. Of course we love manuals in our cars, but for this trip Chris was looking forward to the simple “go button / turn wheel” mode of driving. Ah well. More on the driving on the “wrong” side of the road later.
We had received a little keychain made by Bridget when we were in San Franscisco a few days ago and promptly applied it to the job!
Stopped off at Foodtown to get supplies first and then we commenced our drive! It started out on a highway proper (well, once we found the highway) but then became more of a jaunt down side roads in the countryside as we got a bit inadvertantly detoured. We’ll get the hang of this map reading thing sooner or later. Actually, we’re beginning to think that except for right in the cities, there are no limited-access highways like we have in the US and Europe, rather just fast rural roads. The speed limit is 100 kph (60 mph) which is plenty fast for the van. Lots of rolling hills, cows, sheep, farmland and little towns. Lots of corrugated metal art and signage here for some reason.
So we drove from Auckland, down through the farmlands around Hamilton and Cambridge, and ended up at Rotorua. Stopped for fish and chips at a windblown cafe on the side of the road. It felt like we were climbing a gentle slope for an hour as we approached Rotorua, and later we learned that the Rotorua region (a large town and surrounding countryside) is actually the caldera of a huge ancient volcano. The low mountains surrounding us on all sides are the rim of gigantic crater.
In Rotorua we went to the eeeexcellent regional museum, which had several different exhibitions, on the old mud baths “health cure” enterprize that operated there, on the Maori culture, 
on historical European artist interprations of the culture and the clash between the two. Another great NZ museum.
Outside, the museum was sited on the shores of Lake Rotorua, specifically adjacent to Sulphur Bay, so named for the sulphurous springs that rise out of the ground there. Oh what a mighty stench! 
We walked right out onto the beach and observed the bubbling and steaming and wrinkling of our noses.
Sharon is obsessing at bit about the birds and wildlife. 
Here’s a Pukeko running away as Sharon stalked it at the museum. It’s one of the few birds that’s not endangered here. Centuries ago the poor NZ birds were all flightless because they had no predators. Then the Brits arrived and decided to bring in sport animals that started eating all the indigenous flora and fauna. We found out that NZ has hedgehogs and wallabies (bonus animals!). Again, imported “accidently” from other countries, much like the rabbits, stoats, snakes, cats and Australian possums used to kill off the “pest” animals that the Brits let overrun the country.
Our long day ended at a Belgian bar with a full meal and some great Belgian beer. We drove to our home for the night, the Redwoods Holiday Park. Our first visit to a motor park and it’s a bit odd. It’s a cozy spot with roads and spots to pull in off onto grassy areas with power and water hookups. 
Our van is amazingly appointed. TV, dvd/cd player, shower/toilet, gas cook top, small oven and a sitting area/dining table in the back that converts to a bed at night. Just the right size for short little Sharon, a bit cramped for Chris. He’s sleeping a bit diagonally.