New Zealand part 3

From Waihi, our route cut cross-country via Rotorua, where we made a quick stop for the lake, geysers/hotpools, to our overnight stop in Taupo. There we found a great freedom camping site at Five Mile Bay right on the lake. Waking up to the soothing sounds of the water, we continued our trip further south, with a stop on the West coast at another superb freedom camping spot on the beach in Paraparaumu - huge playground and nice restaurant 'onsite' so everybody had a great afternoon/evening. Next day only a short drive to Wellington where we met for coffee with Staszek's cousin just before catching the ferry to Picton South Island. Our first South Island night we spent on the East coast at Wairau Diversion freedom camping area, a gorgeous place where a river meets the beach/sea. Just in time for sundown, the kids played on the beach, made friends with the fishermen and even got some fish to take 'home'. The following day we were on our way south along the coast to Kaikoura spotting some seal colonies. In Kaikoura, famous for whale/dolpin watching, we learned that the tours for that day had been cancelled because the animals were too far out and there was nothing to be seen. We decided to drive on further south to Leithfield Beach for the night as the day after we would cross country again to exchange the East coast for West!