DOWN UNDER vs MIDDLE EARTH

I just sold my car. 23 years of age, maybe not the prettiest one around the block, but indeed a reliable partner. Eventually my road trip around north to south island added another 6900 km to the mileage above 200000, but therefore I rewarded my road runner: it got a new pair of shoes. In exchange I cashed in an extra 100 bucks bonus - compared to the price I paid two months ago. I think I should hold on to my Toyota shares. The Corollas do run, and run, and run as the VW Beetle did.

"Down Under" or "Middle Earth"? No doubts, no worries ... and the winner is ... the latter! Not only because it preserved its natural charm - be it in conversation with people, or driving for hours on well maintained, but basically empty streets along magnificent, and ever changing landscapes. Staying a few days with new friends in "Hobbiton" feels like being "back".

And tell me where a foreigner may buy a car upon arrival, register it in a minute at any post office for the cost of 6 Euros, and drive away? Selling vice versa! Regarding an authentic road trip there's only one "limiting" change to my already great experiences some 20 years ago: since last year FREE camping is only permitted when the vehicle has a built-in toilet. That means you'll basically need a camper van to stay overnight out in the great nature where and whenever you want. However, there are sufficient camp sites for puristic road trip enthusiasts in scenic and natural reserves - managed by DOC - allowing an individual mix of non-serviced nights by tent in plain nature and hot shower "stop-overs" in so-called Backpackers in most towns.
 
And what a "good bye" at classic Queenstreet Backpacker downtown Auckland. FIRE ALARM - just while I enjoyed a hot shower and prepared my last lunch ... to finish my pasta dislocated at an assembly point on the street: bom appetite! See you again - in Tahiti ... to catch the cargo ship to one of the most fascinating islands in the South Pacific - Bora Bora (where Marlon Brando played Mr. Christian in 1962's Munity on the Bounty).