Getting up early was painful as I hadn't slept too well. After we got up, it started raining so we packed up the tent speedily and drove through the pouring rain to Hamilton. We passed Auckland on the way and had great views of the bay and the city.

Well, I did, because Keiron was navigating the busy traffic on one of the little stretches of motorway that New Zealand has... We stopped and indulged in a McBurger and I managed to stub my toe, which turned bloodred as a result. When did I get so clumsy?

After five hours of driving, Keiron had had enough but luckily we arrived at the campsite just in time. The weather had cleared up as well. After we set up camp, we went to the town centre and I started the mammoth task of catching up some more on internet duties, while Keiron went in search of pillows, so we would have a decent night's sleep for a change.

At seven, we had dinner at Adriana's, an Italian restaurant where they played Eros Rammazotti, the Three Tenors and Andrea Boccelli to prove their Italian-ness. I had a steak, Keiron fish and they were delicious. My dessert, cheesecake (not very Italian I think) was divine.

Hamilton is mainly a stop to break the trip to Waitomo, where we will be going tomorrow.