Camping. Preparation is often as fun as the journey itself. This marks the beginning, and when camping, there are some essentials you should always bring, whether you're a mountaineering expert or a weekend adventurer.
First, shelter, which in our case is a Crow's Nest two-person rooftop tent. Our bed is built into the tent because we like things simple. Bring a few blankets and pillows because no one likes being cold. Bring a light (or lights) because it's dark in the woods away from the city lights. Also, something to cook with, something to eat, a surfboard (or two), a book (or two), a deck of cards, and a camera.
But first and foremost, you'll need transport. New Zealand is a beautiful place with so much to see and do around every corner. These places are sometimes off the beaten path and are reached by paths that have either been abandoned or built over time by local people.
And so we were stuck there, our old hatchback simply not up to the adventure we were looking for.
So our quest began. 
Ever the adventurous spirit, we were searching for a car that epitomized adventure and toughness. After hours, weeks, and months of scouring car traders (Trade Me, actually, but that's less cool), we finally found a beauty: a 1988 Land Rover Defender 110. After a few phone calls from Joel with a friendly Southern gentleman, it all seemed too good to be true. We were hooked, and flew on the next flight (after missing the first) to Christchurch. A dream come true. And we weren't disappointed.
We found a 1988 Land Rover Defender 110 lying dormant in the countryside. With a clean body, a good Discovery engine, low mileage, fresh bushings, a gleaming chassis, and none of the Land Rover's usual pesky issues, we were left with very happy adventurers. We handed the money over to John and set off north with our new/old Randy. This trip was worthy of our new Land Rover companion. 
We drove late into the night, enjoying every hustle and bustle of the day. We stopped off in Kaikoura for the night. The next morning, we were up early, had the obligatory coffee stop, and were soon on our next drive. New Zealand is truly beautiful, and the northern east coast of Kaikoura is no exception.
The journey to Picton was amazing: seals, selfie sticks (not ours), seafood, waterfalls, trains, surfers and tourists.
A game to enjoy while you wait, playing with your new toys.
The calm before the storm. Cyclone Pam brought 3-metre swells that were not pretty and were not good for our nerves. We worried about whether our new toys were safe below deck.
The one and only "Mountain Kebab" - the perfect way to end a long drive.
He has a beautiful, tough 1988 Land Rover. He lives in Christchurch. We felt we needed him, so we decided to head up here. It's been an amazing journey and we're really excited to see what Feldon and his rooftop tent will be like in all their glory.
