Campervan day one

Auckland to Coromandel peninsula
Picked up the campervan on Sunday morning at 09:30. They all have names and this one is called ETTIE, I will get a photo on the blog shortly. She is an old bone shaker with over 420,000 kilometres on the clock. Unfortunately she is automatic and doesn't like the hills, either that or I cannot drive one very well. The journey was painless I got directions out of Auckland from the concierge at the hotel and then picked up the signposts for the coromandel peninsula..simples.  The roads after you leave the main highways are not the best...a bit like like Skye after a hard winter.  When I left the main roads it was very much like being in Skye, the high passes, the bikers (hundreds) and the old grey haired dude (me) driving the campervan at 45/50 mph.  The only difference is all the lush foliage at the side of the road...I can see why they want to adopt the FERN as their flag symbol.  I stopped briefly at two towns enroute, THAMES & COROMANDEL TOWN for comfort breaks and to investigate if I could stock up with provisions ..no success.  I crossed over the peninsula via a steep mountain pass to the larger town of WHITIANGA (pronounced FITIANGER) where there are two large supermarkets, so I am stocked up with essentials,they sell STELLA ARTOIS but I opted for TSINGTAO as it was a better deal.  I then drove round to the other side of the bay about twenty minutes away by road but around five mins by water taxi if you are on foot.   This is where I spent the night at COOKS BEACH RESORT...this is an upmarket campsite with loads of facilities and the kitchen / ablution areas are immaculate.  If the future one turn out to be like this I will be sorted.
Sorted out the van and went to the local chippie which is run by a Glaswegian Woman who has been here for twenty one years...the clue was in the the name of the shop"FRYING SCOTSMAN".  Hoki and chips = £3.90 the best bargain I have had since I arrived.
OBSERVATION...they have extremely strict controls on booze here and the onus is on the pub manager or supermarket supervisor (who must be named on a board) to be responsible for the customer.  Example: I was in a bar watching England getting cuffed at cricket when this young oz guy (24) came in to enjoy the spectacle.  Because he only had an Austrailian driving licence with him to substantiate his age he could not be served.  He would have needed his passport to prove his age.
The bar manager must not serve you if you are drunk.  The pubs in Falkirk would be out of business within a week if this was applied at home.   When alcohol is purchased from the supermarket the checkout operator needs the supervisor to sign off on age and sobriety (I passed on both counts)

The first night was relatively comfortable, a couple of tweaks and I should have this sorted. The sound of the continuous rain on the roof is quite comforting .
Still waking up at 05:30 same as at home...
Will get a photo on the blog of ETTIE once it is light.