First task. Get up, get breakfast. Sounds easy but jet lagged, we rise like a pair of lazy teenagers and bleary eyed, make it to breakfast. For reasons not clear to me, this is our 3rd breakfast in the last 24 hours.

There’s no time to dwell on this as we need to get on.

Task 2. Pick up the new wheels.

Sally suggests we aim to catch 09:15 shuttle bus and this turns out to be a great idea. It takes about an hour to get checked in and to wait to be shown our new home. By the time we’re ready to leave, the check in queue is 10 deep. Quietly I’d been hoping we’d lie in a bit and catch the 10:15 bus. Note to self, listen to your wife. 

There’s no time for us to gloat.

It’s on to Task 3. Provisioning. 

On the way over, the shuttle bus driver had helpfully pre-empted our question and pointed out the closest supermarket. I can only assume he gets a kick back as when we arrive at Woolworths, the car park is chock a block with rental vans. 

Wandering down the aisles, we meet all the couples who were in front of us at the hire place.   

Because putting away our clothes and bags is not until task 5, we chuck the food on top of the everything in the back of the van, which now resembles a lazy teenagers bedroom.

Task 4 is to find shelter. We’ve booked a campsite for our first night so we can charge up the batteries and figure everything in our new home out. 

We’re staying in Akaroa. 

The drive out is stunning and unexpectedly beautiful and hilly. We’re pleased we have a smaller van to deal with the terrain. We cross our fingers that the rest of our trip is as amazing and that we’ve not happened upon the best first. 

Akaroa town has a low key, chilled vibe and it was colonised by the French in 1840. We walk the old town along the harbour front.  

After a busy day, rather than rushing task 5 we add in task 4.5. Stop and enjoy a beer in the afternoon sun.

Cheers, Sally and Toby