Endnu et kapitel i vores rejse er forbi. Det er kun et par dage siden, vi sendte Isak afsted på bussen til lufthavnen, og han er nu hjemme i god behold.
Men det er ikke her, dette kapitel starter…

Nej, vi skal tilbage til lige efter nytår, hvor vi slap i sidste opdatering. Vi havde nemlig pakket bilen for at drage sydpå. En fire timers rolig sejltur bragte os ind i noget af den smukkeste natur, vi har oplevet. Fra vandet rejste bjerge sig med frodig skov – et rigtigt eventyrssyn. Vi kom sikkert i land i Picton tidligt på aftenen og kørte langs snoede bjergveje til vores destination, Nelson. Her boede vi på et hostel sammen med både unge og gamle – og rigtig mange tyskere!

I Nelson tog vi til lørdagsmarked og vores første cricketkamp (vi havde det overraskende sjovt…). Vi gik smukke ture og nød fantastiske udsigter. Vi sov dog lige ud til en kæmpe vej, hvor skraldebiler og diverse lastbiler kørte frem og tilbage – og også bakkede en del det meste af natten – men det gik.

Efter vi kom os over at have fået en parkeringsbøde, pakkede vi bilen og kørte glade videre. Turen gik til Blackball, en lille flække ude midt i vildmarken – eller sådan føltes det i hvert fald. Men man skal ikke dømme en bog på dens udseende! Her fik vi et tip fra kromutter om, at der var et godt svømmested nede ved floden, og da temperaturen var sidst i 20’erne, tog vi glade vores badetøj på og fandt det mest fantastiske sted at svømme. Vandet var pivkoldt, men forfriskende. Vi sov på et gammelt autentisk hotel – måske lidt for autentisk – og fik gode snakke med de lokale.

Dagen efter drog vi videre gennem landet og ned til Franz Josef Glacier. Ja, som navnet antyder, er det en gletsjer, der ville have været fantastisk at se – hvis ikke der havde været massiv tåge, der blokerede vores udsigt! Ja, det var lidt øv, men… vi fik en anden magisk oplevelse her. Vi havde fået nys om en gåtur op til en gammel minegrotte. Da vi næsten var ankommet, blev vi stoppet af en ung australsk pige, der var blevet bange for at gå alene ind i grotten og spurgte, om hun måtte slutte sig til os. Så vi seks begav os ind i denne våde, mørke grotte. Og selvom vi alle fik gennemblødte og kolde tæer, så var det det hele værd, for grotten var fuld af sankthansorme (orme, hvis bagende lyser i mørket for at tiltrække føde). Det var som at se en stjernehimmel!

Vores efterfølgende køretur til Queenstown var en lang en af slagsen. Vi gjorde ellers mange stop på den regnfulde dag – ved den smukke Moeraki-flod, tankstationer og også den meget kedelige lille by Haast. Vi kørte langs de fantastiske store søer, Lake Wanaka og Lake Hawea, over bjergpasset Crown Range med enorme udsigter og kold luft.

Queenstown blev lidt af en fælles favorit. Den lille storby ligger omgivet af de smukkeste bjerge og den store sø Lake Wakatipu. Her i byen kan man prøve mange adrenalinfremkaldende ekstremsportsaktiviteter, alt fra speedbåd og paragliding til bungyjump – og om vinteren står man på ski. Byen er fuld af energi, god stemning og den bedste gelato i miles omkreds… Det er også her, meget af sceneriet fra Ringenes Herre-filmene er optaget. Her vandrede vi op ad Queenstown Hill, som helt sikkert er et bjerg og ikke en bakke! Vi oplevede lokal ishockeytræning og masser af sjove optrædener på gaden. Queenstown er helt sikkert værd at besøge mindst én gang i ens liv!

Queenstown var det sydligste, vi kom denne gang. Vi skød tværs over landet forbi de krystalklare bjergsøer Lake Pukaki og Lake Tekapo, og på trods af skyerne fik vi også et glimt af Mount Cook, New Zealands højeste bjerg. Vi slog lejr i Geraldine og nød for første gang luksussen af vores eget badeværelse.

I Geraldine havde vi planlagt en vandretur op ad bjerget Mount Peel. Vi læste, at turen var for erfarne vandrere, men Kris mente helt sikkert, at vi var det! Ikke mere end 10 minutter inde i turen skulle vi have vores sko af for at krydse to iskolde bække. Så langt, så godt. Stien var mudret og stejl, og Sasha var ved at miste modet lidt. Første stop var et vandfald, og da man ikke kunne se det uden at stille sig ud på en sten i bækken, skulle Sasha selvfølgelig lige prøve – men hun gled og faldt så lang hun var ned i det kolde vand! Tropperne delte sig her, og kun Kris og Isak fortsatte bjergbestigningen. Det viste sig at være en god idé, for turen var virkelig hård og krævende. Isak og Kris klarede det og var virkelig trætte. De har ikke talt om andet end deres udholdenhed siden!

Akaroa var vores næste stoppested. Denne franskinspirerede kystby bød på en campingvognsoplevelse, sæler, delfiner og en eller to pingviner. Vi var på kajaktur med vores virkeligt franske guide Ben og tre andre danskere. Sasha blev søsyg og måtte afbryde tidligt, til guidens store besvær. Bølgerne var høje, og det blæste. Kris og David fiskede nede ved broen og fandt senere ud af, at hvis man bliver taget i at fiske uden tilladelse, kan man få en bøde på omkring 800.000 kr. og en måneds fængsel… Heldigvis slap de for det!

Så kørte vi til Christchurch, Sydøens største by, der i 2010 blev ramt af et altødelæggende jordskælv og har måttet genopbygge alt fra bunden. Byen er derfor meget ny, men har stadig masser at byde på. Vi tog en strøgtur og besøgte butikker, vi ikke havde set i evigheder.

Vi sluttede Christchurch oplevelsen af med en tur i de termiske bade.

Afslappet ankom vi til Kaikoura, en fantastisk smuk kystby! Her kom vi virkelig på eventyr. Isak og Sasha skulle på en svævebaneoplevelse, med en 2,5 km lang svævebane igennem New Zealands natur. De havde en fantastisk oplevelse sammen med tre modige skotske kvinder. Den ældste deltager var 77 år gammel, og hun overvandt virkelig sig selv, hvilket var meget inspirerende. I mellemtiden var David og Kris på et fiskeeventyr. De havde bestilt plads på en fiskecharter sammen med flere asiatiske familier. De kom hjem med så meget fisk, de havde fanget, og en hummer, som skulle spises til middag. De havde en fed oplevelse, på trods af en stakkel, der var ramt af søsyge, og de blev virkelig mætte til aften.

Mætte på eventyr gik alle en lang tur rundt om kysten til en kæmpe sælkoloni. Her fór vi lidt vild og måtte dele os, hvilket resulterede i, at Kris mistede sine briller og nu må gå blind rundt med sine læsebriller om halsen… Kaikoura var også en af vores favoritter, og her ville vi godt tilbage igen!

Sidste overnatning på Sydøen var på en lille campingplads midt i skoven, med får og grise, man kunne fodre. Dette sted havde vi valgt på baggrund af deres private sankthansorme-gåtur, man kunne begive sig ud på ved skumring. Så vi tog vores varme tøj på og gik på denne tur gennem skoven til et vandfald. På vores vej, som lyset langsomt forsvandt fra himlen, kunne vi se flere og flere af disse orme, der lyste så fint. Vi var ikke alene om at bevidne dette smukke syn, og vi blev længe for at se så meget som muligt. Vejen tilbage var meget mørk, og vores eneste lommelygte var ved at gå helt død. Så vi lagde hånden på hinandens skuldre og følte os frem. Lige indtil vi ikke længere var sikre på, at vi var på stien, og der gik en lille panik igennem os alle. Heldigvis blev vi reddet af en franskmand med en lommelygte, der lyste vores vej tilbage ud af skoven. Her ventede tusindvis af stjerner på os! Vi så Mælkevejen, og vores nerver faldt helt til ro igen, før vi gik i seng.

Den sidste dag brugte vi i Picton, ved stranden, og nød den sidste tid. Vi steg på færgen om aftenen, og en ret rokkende tur ventede os. Rikke klarede den ikke og måtte give efter for søsygen, men solnedgangen var simpelthen så smuk og en perfekt afslutning på en fantastisk tur!

Vi var alle glade for at komme tilbage til noget mere fast, men vi var taknemmelige for alt, vi havde oplevet.
Før vi afleverede Isak, holdt vi en miniferie i Taupo, i midten af Nordøen, og fik det sidste ud af at være samlet alle sammen.

Nu er der kun en lille måned, før vi slutter os til Isak igen, men denne gang tilbage i Danmark.

De bedste hilsner
Familien Jennings

Another chapter of our journey has come to an end. It has only been a few days since we sent Isak off on the bus to the airport, and he is now safely back home.
But this is not where this chapter begins…

No, we have to go back to right after New Year's, where we left off in the last update. We had packed the car, ready to head south. A peaceful four-hour ferry ride brought us into some of the most stunning nature we have ever seen. From the water, mountains rose, covered in lush forests – a true fairytale sight. We safely arrived in Picton early in the evening and drove along winding mountain roads to our destination, Nelson. Here, we stayed at a hostel alongside both young and old travelers – and quite a few Germans!

In Nelson, we visited the Saturday market and attended our first cricket match (which turned out to be surprisingly fun…). We went on beautiful walks and enjoyed fantastic views. However, we slept right next to a massive road where garbage trucks and various lorries drove back and forth – and reversed quite a bit throughout the night – but we managed.

After getting over the shock of receiving a parking ticket, we packed the car and happily continued our journey. Our next stop was Blackball, a tiny town in the middle of the wilderness – or at least, that’s how it felt. But you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! Here, we got a tip from the innkeeper about a great swimming spot down by the river, and with temperatures in the high 20s, we happily put on our swimsuits and found the most fantastic place to swim. The water was freezing but refreshing. We stayed at an old, authentic hotel – maybe a bit too authentic – and had great conversations with the locals.

The next day, we continued our journey across the country and down to Franz Josef Glacier. As the name suggests, it is a glacier that would have been amazing to see – if it hadn’t been for the thick fog blocking our view! That was a bit disappointing, but… we had another magical experience here. We had heard about a walk leading to an old mine cave. As we were about to enter, we were stopped by a young Australian girl who was too scared to go into the cave alone and asked if she could join us. So, the six of us ventured into this wet, dark cave. And even though we all ended up with soaking wet and freezing feet, it was absolutely worth it because the cave was full of glowworms. It was like looking up at a starry sky!

Our following drive to Queenstown was a long one. We made plenty of stops on this rainy day – at the beautiful Moeraki River, gas stations, and even the very dull little town of Haast. We drove along the stunning Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, over the Crown Range mountain pass with breathtaking views and crisp mountain air.

Queenstown became a favorite for all of us. This small city is surrounded by majestic mountains and the vast Lake Wakatipu. Here, you can try all sorts of adrenaline-fueled extreme sports, from speedboats and paragliding to bungy jumping – and in winter, skiing. The city is full of energy, a great atmosphere, and the best gelato for miles around… This is also where much of the scenery from The Lord of the Rings movies was filmed. We hiked up Queenstown Hill, which is definitely a mountain and not just a hill! We watched local ice hockey practice and saw plenty of entertaining street performances. Queenstown is definitely a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime!

Queenstown was as far south as we went this time. We crossed the country, passing the crystal-clear mountain lakes Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, and despite the clouds, we caught a glimpse of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. We camped in Geraldine, where we enjoyed, for the first time, the luxury of our own bathroom.

In Geraldine, we had planned a hike up Mount Peel. We read that the hike was for experienced hikers, but Kris was certain that we were up for the challenge! Not even 10 minutes into the hike, we had to take off our shoes to cross two icy streams. So far, so good. The trail was muddy and steep, and Sasha started losing motivation. The first stop was a waterfall, and since you couldn’t see it without stepping out onto a rock in the stream, Sasha obviously had to try – but she slipped and fell flat into the freezing water! The group split here, and only Kris and Isak continued the climb. That turned out to be a wise decision, as the hike was really tough and demanding. Isak and Kris made it to the top, completely exhausted. They haven’t stopped talking about their endurance since!

Akaroa was our next stop. This French-inspired coastal town offered a caravan experience, seals, dolphins, and even a couple of penguins. We went on a kayaking trip with our very French guide, Ben, and three other Danes. Sasha got seasick and had to cut the trip short, much to the guide’s frustration. The waves were high, and the wind was strong. Kris and David went fishing at the pier, only later finding out that fishing could result in a fine of around $250,000 and a month in prison… Luckily, they got away with it!

Next, we drove to Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. In 2010, the city was hit by a devastating earthquake and has since had to rebuild almost everything from the ground up. As a result, it is a very new city but still has a lot to offer. We strolled through the city center and visited shops we hadn’t seen in ages. We ended our time in Christchurch with a trip to the thermal pools.

Relaxed, we arrived in Kaikoura, a breathtakingly beautiful coastal town! This was where we truly had an adventure. Isak and Sasha went on a ziplining experience, soaring along a 2.5 km zipline through New Zealand’s nature. They had a fantastic time with three brave Scottish women. The oldest participant was 77 years old and truly conquered her fears – very inspiring! Meanwhile, David and Kris went on a fishing adventure. They had booked spots on a fishing charter alongside several Asian families. They returned with so much fish – and even a lobster – which we enjoyed for dinner. They had an incredible experience, despite one poor soul suffering from seasickness, and they went to bed with full stomachs.

Full of adventure, we all took a long walk along the coast to a massive seal colony. Here, we got a little lost and had to split up, which resulted in Kris losing his glasses – and now he has to stumble around wearing his reading glasses around his neck… Kaikoura was also one of our favorite places, and we would love to return!

Our last night on the South Island was spent at a small campsite in the forest, with sheep and pigs we could feed. We had chosen this place because of their private glowworm walk that we could embark on at dusk. So, we put on warm clothes and walked through the forest to a waterfall. As the light slowly faded, more and more glowworms appeared, shining so beautifully. We weren’t alone in witnessing this magical sight, and we stayed for a long time to take it all in. The way back was completely dark, and our only flashlight was about to die. So, we placed our hands on each other’s shoulders and felt our way forward – until we weren’t sure if we were still on the path, and a little panic set in. Luckily, we were rescued by a Frenchman with a flashlight who guided us back out of the forest. Thousands of stars awaited us! We saw the Milky Way, and our nerves calmed before heading to bed.

Our last day was spent in Picton, relaxing on the beach. That evening, we boarded the ferry for a very rocky ride. Rikke didn’t handle it well and succumbed to seasickness, but the sunset was absolutely stunning – a perfect end to an amazing trip!

We were all happy to return to solid ground, grateful for everything we had experienced.

Before dropping off Isak, we had a mini vacation in Taupo, in the middle of the North Island, making the most of our time together.

Now, only one month remains before we reunite with Isak again – this time, back in Denmark.

Best regards,
The Jennings Family

Familie, Fiskeri og Festligheder: Vores Eventyr i New Zealand

Hilsner fra Aotearoa! Siden vi landede i New Zealand den 25. november, har vi været i en skøn malstrøm af familietid, spektakulær natur og den særlige oplevelse af at fejre jul i shorts og sandaler.
Isak sluttede sig til os den 10. december, lige i tide til vores rejse nordpå til Russell—en hyggelig lille by, hvor vi opdagede noget overraskende: fiskeri i New Zealand er seriøs business. Havene bugnede af fisk, humøret var højt, og David overvejer nu måske en karriere som professionel fisker.

Efter vores fiskeeventyr gik turen sydpå, hvor vi nød en hyggelig familieaften hos Kris’ bror Steve, og en mindst lige så hyggelig overnatning hos Kris’ søster Sandy, inden vi vendte tilbage til varmen og hyggen hos Kris’ mor. Familiehyggen har været overvældende dejlig—og der er ikke blevet sparet på hverken mad eller latter.

Og naturen? Den har virkelig gjort sit for at forkæle os. New Zealands landskaber ligner noget fra et postkort med strande, skove og bakker, der strækker sig til horisonten. Hver solopgang føles som et øjeblik, der burde foreviges, og hver gåtur får os til at tænke: hvorfor bor vi ikke her?...

I morgen drager vi videre til Sydøen. Selvom vi nyder hver eneste dag her i New Zealand, sniger tankerne om Danmark sig ind—som Kong Frederik sagde, er der noget trygt og godt ved hverdagens rytme, som vi måske savner en smule (men kun en smule) ;)

Hold øje med næste opdatering—rygterne siger, at der kan komme pingviner på programmet!

De bedste sommerhilsner

Familien Jennings (nu fuldtallig)

Family, Fishing, and Festivities: Our New Zealand Adventure

Greetings from the land of the long white cloud! Since our arrival in New Zealand on November 25th, life has been a whirlwind of family reunions, jaw-dropping landscapes, and the unique joy of celebrating Christmas in shorts and sandals.
Isak joined the fun on December 10th, just in time for our northbound journey to Russell—a charming little town with a surprising revelation: fishing in New Zealand is no joke. The waters were teeming, our spirits soared, and David may or may not now consider himself a professional angler.

From there, our travels turned south, where we spent a night catching up with my brother Steve and his lovely family, and some wonderful nights at Kris’ sister Sandy's place, before heading back to the warm embrace of Mum’s/ Nana’s house. Family gatherings have been nothing short of a feast—both for the stomach and the soul.

Nature has done its part to spoil us, too. New Zealand’s beauty is like a postcard come to life, with beaches, forests, and hills that seem to go on forever. Every sunrise brings with it a new type of beauty, and every walk has us questioning why we don’t live here full-time…

Tomorrow, we embark on the next leg of our journey to the South Island. While we’re savoring every moment of this Kiwi adventure, echoes of Denmark are never far from our hearts. As King Frederick so aptly put it, there’s something comforting about the rhythm of everyday life, which we may or may not be slightly missing (but just a little).

Stay tuned for more tales as we continue southward—spoiler alert: there may be penguins involved!

Best regards
The Jennings family (now complete)

4700 km later

De sidste 17 dage har føltes som mange, mange flere. En tilværelse på farten, hvor hver dag byder på nye eventyr og steder man aldrig har været, fylder enormt meget og kan ikke bare fordøjes med det samme.
Efter ankomsten til den mest isolerede storby i verden, Perth, og en velfortjent luksus overnatning på hotel med velkomstdrinks og morgenmadsbuffet, var vi klar til at hit the road igen. Vi fik hurtigt nok af det travle storbyliv og satte kursen med toget til THL-udlejningsfirma og samlede en kæmpe 6-personers autocamper op, og afsted med os!
Planen var egentlig at blive en uges tid i Perth og så flyve tilbage til Melbourne for at bruge lidt tid der, inden afrejsen til New Zealand… men, vi syntes egentlig at det med at køre rundt og opleve der hvor kragerne vender, var mere os end storbyen. Så på 17 dage skulle vi køre hele den lange vej tilbage til Melbourne igen.
Vi kørte dog en anden rute og så først den smukke australske vestkyst med krystalklart blåt vand og hvid sandstrand. Vi kørte gennem skoven og overnattede på en campingplads, der var omgivet af kænguru flokke. Vi har kørt til byen Denmark og fandt at alt var lukket og ikke meget af det var særlig dansk, men det skulle besøges.
Vi har været ved en af verdens smukkeste strande, Lucky Bay, og bodysurfede på de azurblå bølger. Her var campingpladserne alle optaget og vi endte med at slå lejer på en øde vej nede ved havnen og håbede at ingen ville smide os væk i løbet af natten.
Herfra kørte vi stik nord for at komme på verdens længste vejstrækning uden et sving. Ja, her kørte vi også på vejen dertil, men da det er den eneste vej fra øst til vest og tilbage igen, måtte vi køre de 1200 km over den australske outback igen. Specielt var det også denne gang. Man kører der, på den lige vej, og der er ingenting i en radius på 700 km…
Denne gang blev vejen ikke spærret, og vi havde en meget smooth rejse uden synderlig besvær. Der er ikke så mange valg der skal træffes, når der kun er en vej at køre.
Vi overnattede lige ved klipperne, der ligger til sydkysten, der blæste det en halv pelikan, så vi måtte blive indendøre og nyde den smukkeste udsigt. Herefter gik turen ned langs sydkysten i Sydaustralien, her fisker man efter østers og David blev helt hooked på at skulle fiske. Han faldt hurtigt i snak med de garvede fiskere, der stod plantet på de lange fiskemoler. Han ved nu alt om, hvordan man fanger kæmpe krabber, blæksprutter og diverse fisk.
Da vi kom til det sydligste punkt af det australske fastland, besluttede vi at tage en lille pause fra de lange køredage og besøgte en dyrepark. Her fik vi lov at håndfodre undulater, papegøjer, parakitter, lorakitter og masser af andre fugle. Vi håndfodrede kænguruer og vi fik lov at ae dem og klø dem på halsen. Vi fodrede emuer, der er nogle mærkelige fugle, vi så kameler og lamaer og til sidst aede vi koalaerne mens de spiste deres frokostblade. Vi var helt høje efter sådan en sød oplevelse.
Så gik turen til Adelaide og derefter de sidste 700 km på motorvejen til Melbourne. Her stoppede vi ved en lille sø, hvor man kunne campere gratis. Og da ingen andre kom, tog vi os den frihed, at spille lidt højt musik og lave en lille festival for de vilde dyr. Vi badede i søen og skyndte os ind i vognen, da det for første gang på hele turen rigtig begyndte at regne.
At ankomme til Melbourne gik meget bedre, end da vi skulle derfra. Og vi afleverede autocamperen uden at rive hovederne af hinanden. Faktisk er det ret vidunderligt, at vi stadig snakker sammen og kan holde hinanden ud, taget i betragtning hvor intenst det er, at bo sammen på så småt et areal og i så mange dage, samtidig med at man hele tiden skal beslutte hvor man skal hen, og sove og hvad man skal spise og dit og dat! Vi er stolte af os selv og hinanden for at udvise rummelighed og for at kommunikere så effektivt som vi gør.
Vi er alle overvældet over hvor fantastisk vores 28 dage i Australien har været. Man kan aldrig planlægge de eventyr, der møder en, og vi er så taknemmelige for det eventyr vi har været på. Alle dem vi har mødt har været så åbne og hjælpsomme og snaksaglige og det har været en fest at rejse fra den ene ende af Australien til den anden og tilbage igen.
En ting vi savnede lidt til sidst var noget grønt landskab. Australien er meget gult og tørt, og man kan godt savne lidt diversitet i landskabet, men hvor var det smukt på sin helt egen måde.
Vores fly til Auckland lettede 23:55, så efter aflevering af autocamper, hoppede vi på en bus, der tog os til lufthavnen, hvor vi ventede i godt 8 timers tid. Det var en tåget dag i Melbourne, og det ene fly efter det andet blev aflyst… Efter lidt spænding og nervøsitet blev check-in åbnet, og alt gik som det skulle derfra.
Udover at vi ikke fik sovet meget den nat og ankom ufatteligt tidligt til Auckland lufthavn, var vi ved godt mod og enormt spændte på at komme til fædrelandet. Og sikke et dejligt syn, der ventede os. De smukke grønne bjerge, de grønne træer, fugten i luften og solens intense varme. Fra Auckland lufthavn tog vi bussen til hovedbanegården for at hoppe på en 7 timer lang bustur til Taihape, for at besøge Kris’ søster Sandy, der stod med åbne arme og ventede på os, da vi trætte ankom den 26. November.
Og her er vi nu og kommer til kræfter igen og nyder udsigten og de gode store senge.

The last 17 days have felt like many, many more.
Life on the road, where every day brings new adventures and places you’ve never been, is overwhelming and can’t be digested all at once.

After arriving in Perth, the most isolated city in the world, and enjoying a well-deserved luxury stay at a hotel with welcome drinks and a breakfast buffet, we were ready to hit the road again. We quickly grew tired of the bustling city life and headed by train to the THL rental company, picked up a massive six-person campervan, and off we went!

Originally, the plan was to stay in Perth for about a week and then fly back to Melbourne to spend some time there before heading to New Zealand. But we realized that driving around and exploring the middle of nowhere suited us more than the big city. So, over the next 17 days, we decided to drive all the way back to Melbourne.

This time, we took a different route and first experienced the stunning west coast of Australia with its crystal-clear blue water and white sandy beaches. We drove through forests and spent the night at a campsite surrounded by kangaroo mobs.

We visited the town of Denmark and found that everything was closed, and not much about it felt particularly Danish—but it had to be seen.

We visited one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Lucky Bay, and bodysurfed on the azure waves. With all the campsites fully booked, we ended up camping on an isolated road near the harbor, hoping no one would ask us to leave during the night.

From there, we headed due north to tackle the world’s longest straight road. Yes, we had already driven this stretch on the way to Perth, but since it’s the only road from east to west and back, we had to cross the 1,200 km of the Australian outback again. It was just as special the second time. Driving on a perfectly straight road with nothing around for 700 km is an experience in itself.

This time, the road wasn’t blocked, and we had a smooth journey with no major difficulties. Decisions are simple when there’s only one road to follow.

We spent the night near cliffs along the south coast. The wind was howling, so we stayed indoors and enjoyed the breathtaking view.

Driving along the south coast of South Australia, we saw plenty of oyster fisheries, and David became absolutely hooked on the idea of fishing. He quickly struck up conversations with seasoned fishermen standing firm on the long jetties. He now knows all about catching giant crabs, squid, and various types of fish.

When we reached the southernmost point of mainland Australia, we decided to take a break from the long driving days and visited a wildlife park. There, we got to hand-feed budgies, parrots, parakeets, lorikeets, and many other birds. We hand-fed kangaroos, stroked them, and scratched their necks. We also fed emus (such strange birds!), saw camels and llamas, and finally petted koalas while they munched on their lunch leaves. It was such a sweet experience, and we were buzzing with joy afterward.

Next, we drove to Adelaide and then the final 700 km of highway to Melbourne. On the way, we stopped by a small lake where camping was free. Since no one else showed up, we took the liberty of playing some loud music and hosting a mini-festival for the local wildlife. We swam in the lake and rushed into the van when it started raining for the first time on the entire trip.

Arriving in Melbourne went much more smoothly than when we left, and we returned the campervan without losing our tempers. Honestly, it’s quite amazing that we still enjoy talking to each other after living in such a small space for so many days. Making constant decisions about where to go, sleep, eat, and so on is intense, but we’re proud of how well we communicated and supported each other.

Our 28 days in Australia have been incredible. You can never fully plan the adventures that come your way, and we’re so grateful for the journey we’ve been on. Everyone we met was so open, helpful, and friendly, making the trip from one end of Australia to the other (and back) a real joy.

One thing we missed towards the end was greenery. Australia is very yellow and dry, and a bit of diversity in the landscape would have been nice—but it was stunning in its own unique way.

Our flight to Auckland departed at 11:55 p.m. After returning the campervan, we took a bus to the airport and waited for about eight hours. It was a foggy day in Melbourne, and one flight after another was canceled. After some nervous moments, check-in opened, and everything went smoothly from there.

Despite barely getting any sleep that night, we arrived very early at Auckland Airport in high spirits and excited to explore New Zealand.

What a beautiful sight awaited us: lush green mountains, verdant trees, humid air, and the intense warmth of the sun. From Auckland Airport, we took a bus to the central station and then hopped on a seven-hour bus ride to Taihape to visit Kris’s sister Sandy. She was waiting for us with open arms when we arrived, exhausted, on November 26.

And here we are now, recovering, enjoying the company, the view, and appreciating the comfort of large, cozy beds.

3700 kilometer

Okay... så vi har lige gjort noget helt skørt… Planen hjemmefra var at leje en bil i den måned, vi skulle rejse rundt på Australiens fastland. Men... så fik Kris den geniale idé, at vi skulle melde os til at køre en mellemstor campervan tværs over Australien; langs kyster og gennem ørkener. Vi kørte endda på verdens længste vejstrækning uden et eneste sving. I Australien kan man nemlig tilmelde sig et program, hvor man gratis eller for få penge kan køre et køretøj fra en by til en anden. For eksempel, hvis et køretøj er udlejet fra en anden by end den, det befinder sig i, skal det flyttes til den ønskede destination.

Så vi ankom til Melbourne mandag den 28. oktober og bestilte en Uber til Travellers Autobahn, et biludlejningsfirma. Her hentede vi vores mellemstore (meget lille til fire personer!) gratis campervan, og så var vi afsted. Vi havde 12 dage til at køre 3700 km fra Melbourne til Perth, tværs over Australien. Sasha havde heldigvis lavet en udførlig køre- og overnatningsplan, men mange ting kan man ikke forberede hjemmefra. Den 8. november, 12 dage senere, ankom vi til Perth.

Sikke en oplevelse! Vi havde nok ikke forberedt os på, hvor intenst det ville være at være sammen på så lille et areal, eller hvor svært det ville blive, når fire meninger og løsninger skulle findes til alle udfordringer. Der var masser af grin og lidt gråd, rigtig meget sol og op til 41 grader! Vi så det vilde australske dyreliv, bl.a. kænguruer, emuer, wombats, forskellige papegøjer og masser af irriterende fluer, der ikke kunne få nok af at gå rundt på vores næser.

Vi krydsede tidszoner og vandt 3 timer. Vi sad fast ude midt i ørkenen ved et roadhouse sammen med 100 andre ventende rejsende, fordi en lastbil var gået i brand på den eneste vej, og hjælpen lå over 3 timer væk. Vi har set stjernerne og mælkevejen og oplevet, hvor Australien slutter mod syd.

Vi anbefaler helt sikkert at være lidt skør og tage denne lange, smukke tur, hvis nogen nogensinde skulle lande i Australien! Australien er et kæmpe land. Det er svært at fatte, men det er meget større end Europa. De 3700 km, vi har kørt, svarer næsten til at køre fra Danmark og helt til Afrika! Ufatteligt. Australien er også et enormt smukt og varieret land. Vi har oplevet natur, der minder om den danske sommer med store kornmarker, duften af græs, bakker og fuglekvidder. Og så har vi nok set det helt modsatte: tørt, goldt og rødt landskab, spinkle forkullede træer, brændrestriktioner og vandbesparelser. Vi har set store, enorme klipper, der møder det vilde sydlige hav og den antarktiske brise. Alt virker bare 10 gange større end noget andet sted, og det har været fantastisk at opleve for os alle.

Vi var til sidst taknemmelige for den gode rejse tværs over landet, men også klar til at aflevere "Perthy Jackson" (som vi døbte vores campervan), da vi endelig kom til Perth. Men campinglivet har vi ikke lagt bag os – mere om det på et andet tidspunkt...

De bedste hilsner

Familien Jennings (-en)

Okay... so we just did something completely crazy… Our plan from home was to rent a car for the month we’d be traveling across mainland Australia. But then… Kris had the brilliant idea that we should sign up to drive a medium-sized campervan across Australia – along coastlines and through deserts. We even drove on the world’s longest stretch of road without a single curve. In Australia, you can sign up, either for free or for a small fee, to relocate a vehicle from one town to another. For example, if a vehicle has been rented from a different location, it needs to be returned to that particular location.

So, we arrived in Melbourne on Monday, October 28, ordered an Uber to Travellers Autobahn (a rental company), picked up our medium-sized (yet very small for four people!) campervan, and off we went. We had 12 days to drive 3700 km from Melbourne to Perth, straight across Australia. Luckily, Sasha had put together a thorough itinerary and overnight plan, but there’s always so much you can’t prepare for from home. And, 12 days later, on November 8, we arrived in Perth.

What an experience! We probably hadn’t prepared ourselves for just how intense it would be to live together in such a small space or for how hard it would be to juggle four opinions and solutions for every challenge. There was plenty of laughter, a few tears, lots of sunshine, and temperatures as high as 41 degrees! We saw some truly wild Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, emus, wombats, various parrots, and plenty of annoying flies that wouldn’t get enough of crawling all over our noses.

We crossed time zones and gained three hours. We got stuck out in the desert at a roadhouse, along with 100 other travelers, because a truck had caught fire on the only road out of there, and help was over three hours away. We saw stars and the Milky Way and even where Australia ends toward the south.

We definitely recommend embracing the craziness and taking this long, beautiful trip if anyone ever finds themselves in Australia! Australia is such a huge country – it’s hard to comprehend, but it’s much larger than Europe. The 3700 km we drove almost equals driving from Denmark all the way to Africa! Unbelievable. Australia is also an incredibly beautiful and diverse country. We saw elements that reminded us of a Danish summer, with large grain fields, the scent of grass, hills, and birdsong. And then we probably saw the complete opposite: dry, barren, and red landscapes, charred, spindly trees, fire restrictions, and water rationing. We saw massive cliffs meeting the wild southern ocean and felt the Antarctic breeze. Everything here feels ten times bigger than anywhere else, and it’s been amazing for all of us to experience.

In the end, we were grateful for the amazing journey across the country, but we were also ready to hand in "Perthy Jackson" (our campervan’s nickname) once we finally arrived in Perth. But the camping life isn’t behind us yet – more on that another time...

Best regards,
The Jennings Family (-one)

Our Jungle Experience

Vi ved slet ikke, hvor vi skal starte denne næste opdatering. Siden sidst har vi sagt farvel til Red Ginger Hotel i Ao Nang. Vi har sagt farvel til vores lokale Hare Krishna-spisested, de to ivrige sælgere, som arbejdede lige ved siden af hotellet, og som stoppede os hver gang vi gik forbi (hvilket var ofte) for at spørge, om vi ikke ville købe et jakkesæt eller en kjole… Vi pakkede vores ting den 1. oktober og blev hentet af vores trofaste taxamand, Zain, som kørte os to timer nordpå til nationalparken Khao Sok. Sikke en oplevelse. På vejen spottede vi elefanter og endda en arbejdsabe, der sad på ladet af en bil på motorvejen. De “ansætter” de korthalede aber til at hente kokosnødder for dem. På de hullede grusveje, der førte os helt ud til vores hotel "Our Jungle House", så vi en kæmpe komodovaran, der stilfærdigt krydsede vejen. Anspændtheden over, hvor fremmed junglen egentlig var, begyndte at melde sig.

Vi ankom til et idyllisk område og blev mødt med smil, velkomstdrinks og ikke mindst et hav af myg, som især angreb Sasha, og hun var ikke synderligt begejstret. Vi fik tjekket ind og nøglerne til vores trætophytte. Hytten var rigtig fin og hyggelig, alt var i orden. Vi pakker ud, og som Rikke nu er, synes hun, at vi skal have os en lille snak, så vi pakker madpakken ud og begynder at spise. Vi spotter en abeflok på den anden side af den lille flod, der løber for foden af vores hytte, og vi sidder der og vænner os til det hele. David ser, at en af aberne er faldet i vandet, og vi håber alle, at den er okay, da den pludselig dukker op på vores side af floden! Ikke nok med det, så luskede den sig ret hurtigt op til vores veranda. Vi pakkede febrilsk maden væk og prøvede at skræmme aben, men den havde fået færten af maden og lod os ikke være. Først hoppede den hen til døren og prøvede at åbne den. Da det ikke lykkedes, hoppede den videre til vinduet og prøvede at åbne det. Sådan fortsatte den hele vejen rundt om huset, mens vi alle sad og stirrede bekymret på den. Skulle vi nu til at bekymre os om, hvorvidt aberne også kunne besøge os om natten?

Efterfølgende læste vi skiltet på værelset, der tydeligt sagde, at man ikke skulle opbevare mad i hytten, da både aber og myrer kunne blive lokket til. Vi pakkede straks alt sammen og afleverede det i receptionen. Når vi ser det hele i bakspejlet, var junglen en kæmpe oplevelse. Alle de nye lyde, vi skulle vænne os til, alle de kryb og andre levende væsener, der kriblede og krablede omkring. Luften var tyk af fugt, og kroppen gik hurtigt i et "fight or flight"-stadie. Det krævede tilvænning, og det skete ikke første nat.

Vi besluttede at tage på en lille aftensafari i mørket, hvilket nok ikke hjalp på vores overopmærksomme sansesystemer, men vi så mange flotte og særlige ting. Vi så ildfluer og store sommerfugle, frøer og masser af firben. Vi sov ikke meget den nat – alt holdt os vågne og på vagt, så da morgendagen kom, var vi alle lettede over at skulle lidt væk fra det hele.

Vi havde booket os på en heldagstur til den kæmpestore sø, Cheow Lan Lake. Vi var afsted med en familie fra Perth, Australien, og en rigtig god guide. Vi kørte i et par timer til søen og tog derfra med en longtailboat, som Thailand er kendt for, ud på denne magiske sø. Det var en helt magisk oplevelse at se denne smukke natur. Søen er menneskeskabt og fungerer som en dæmning, der genererer elektricitet. Vandet var klart og helt krystalblåt. Klipperne var eventyrlige og noget, ingen af os nogensinde havde set før. Vi vandrede, badede, spiste frokost på en tømmerflåderestaurant og badede noget mere. Vi havde også et teknisk uheld. Vores båds propel faldt af… Heldigvis havde vores kaptajn, Peter, en ekstra, som han hoppede i vandet og forsøgte at sætte på igen, mens han trådte vande. Det lykkedes, men efter 10 meter faldt den af igen. Kaptajn Peter prøvede igen med en ny propel, men det samme skete igen. Så efter tre propeller og to omdrejninger med båden, måtte kaptajn Peter ringe efter sin farmand. Farmand kom til undsætning, og resten af turen foregik i en kæmpe båd i stedet. Så vi var på sandt eventyr den dag, og vi var godt trætte, da vi kom hjem. Og overraskende nok havde vi vænnet os til at være i junglen og syntes faktisk, at det var ret fedt. Vi sov brandgodt den nat og vågnede friske som havørreder.

Det var desværre sidste nat, men vi havde lige endnu en ting, vi skulle opleve, før turen gik tilbage til Krabi-området igen. Vi havde bestilt en tur ned ad floden i kæmpestore bilslanger. Så klokken 10 sad vi hver især i vores egen oppustede bilslange i en lang kæde ned ad floden. Det var hyleskægt, og vi så slanger, der hang ned fra træerne, og aber, der sprang over floden mellem træerne. Det var bare en super oplevelse. Høje på gode oplevelser og rigtig god junglemad blev vi hentet af Zain og kørt til JR Place i Klong Muang-området i Krabi, hvor vi nu sidder som de eneste gæster, med privat pool og 9 minutter til den smukkeste strand. Hvordan kan det blive bedre?

Det var alt for denne gang, men sikke meget man kan opleve på bare et par dage.

Familien Jennings (-en)

We don’t even know where to start with this next update. Since last time, we’ve said goodbye to Red Ginger Hotel in Ao Nang. We’ve said farewell to our local Hare Krishna restaurant, the two eager sellers who worked right next to the hotel and stopped us every time we walked by (which was often) to ask if we wanted to buy a suit or a dress… We packed our things on the 1st of October and were picked up by our loyal taxi driver, Zain, who drove us two hours north to Khao Sok National Park. What an experience. Along the way, we spotted elephants and even a working monkey sitting on the back of a truck on the highway. They "hire" the short-tailed monkeys to fetch coconuts for them. On the bumpy dirt roads that took us all the way to our hotel, "Our Jungle House", we saw a giant komodo dragon calmly crossing the road. That’s when the tension about how foreign this jungle really was began to set in.

We arrived at an idyllic area and were greeted with smiles, welcome drinks, and not least, a swarm of mosquitoes that especially attacked Sasha, who was not particularly thrilled. We checked in and got the keys to our treehouse. The house was really nice and cozy, everything was in order. We unpacked, and true to form, Rikke thought we should have a little chat, so we unpacked the packed lunch and began to eat. We spotted a troop of monkeys on the other side of the small river that runs below our house, and we sat there getting used to it all. David noticed that one of the monkeys had fallen into the water, and we all hoped it was okay. Suddenly, it appeared on our side of the river! Not only that, but it quickly sneaked up to our veranda. We frantically packed away the food and tried to scare the monkey off, but it had gotten a whiff of the food and wasn’t going to leave us alone. First, it jumped to the door and tried to open it. When that didn’t work, it jumped to the window and tried to open that. It continued like this all the way around the house while we all sat there staring at it in concern. Were we now supposed to worry about whether the monkeys would visit us at night?

Afterwards, we read the sign in the room, which clearly said that you should not store food in the house because both monkeys and ants could be attracted to it. We quickly packed everything up and handed it in at reception. In hindsight, the jungle was a huge experience. All the new sounds we had to get used to, all the bugs and other creatures that crawled and scurried around. The air was thick with humidity, and the body quickly went into a "fight or flight" state. It took some getting used to, and that didn’t happen the first night.

We decided to take a little evening safari in the dark, which probably didn’t help our already heightened senses, but we saw many beautiful and unique things. We saw fireflies and large butterflies, frogs, and lots of lizards. We didn’t sleep much that night – everything kept us awake and alert, so when the morning came, we were all a bit relieved to be getting away from it all for a while.

We had booked ourselves on a full-day tour to the massive lake, Cheow Lan Lake. We went with a family from Perth, Australia, and a really good guide. We drove for a couple of hours to the lake and then took a longtail boat, as Thailand is famous for, out onto this magical lake. It was simply a magical experience to see this beautiful nature. The lake is man-made and serves as a dam that generates electricity. The water was clear and crystal blue. The cliffs were enchanting, unlike anything we’d ever seen before. We hiked, swam, had lunch at a floating raft restaurant, and swam some more. We also had a technical mishap. Our boat’s propeller fell off… Luckily, our captain, Peter, had a spare, which he jumped into the water to try to attach while treading water. He managed to fix it, but after 10 meters, it fell off again. Captain Peter tried again with a new propeller, but the same thing happened. So after three propellers and two turns with the boat, Captain Peter had to call his dad. His dad came to the rescue, and the rest of the trip was in a huge boat instead. So we had a real adventure that day, and we were very tired when we got home. And surprisingly, we had gotten used to being in the jungle and actually thought it was pretty cool. We slept incredibly well that night and woke up fresh as daisies.

Unfortunately, it was our last night, but we still had one more thing to experience before heading back to the Krabi area. We had booked a river tubing tour in giant inner tubes. So at 10 AM, we each sat in our own inflatable inner tube, tied together in a long chain, floating down the river. It was hilarious, and we saw snakes hanging down from the trees and monkeys jumping across the river between the trees. It was just an amazing experience. High on great adventures and really good jungle food, we were picked up by Zain and driven to JR Place in the Klong Muang area of Krabi, where we now sit as the only guests, with a private pool and just a 9-minute walk to the most beautiful beach. How can it get any better?

That’s all for now, but it’s amazing how much you can experience in just a few days.

The Jennings family (-one)

The Tiger Cave Temple

Sawadee kap/ Sawadee kaa

Velkommen til Thailand, og sikke en rejse det har været for at komme hertil. Vi tog afsted fra Vejle mandag klokken 10 mod Københavns Lufthavn. Efter lidt hårtrækning kom vi igennem bagage check-in og fløj igennem sikkerhedskontrollen, fordi Sasha har super styr på, hvad man må have med og hvordan man skal pakke det! Den 10 timer lange flyvetur til Bangkok begyndte. Rikke blev bedste venner med en ældre thailandsk dame, Kris fik ondt i numsen, David fandt ud af, at det med at se TV i 10 timer alligevel ikke var så sjovt, og Sasha blev kun lidt kvalm til sidst.
Rejsen gik glat; vi kunne ikke klage, men Bangkok lufthavn bekymrede os lidt. Vores bekymringer var ubegrundede—det kunne ikke have været nemmere. Venligt lufthavnspersonale var overalt med skilte, der viste os vejen, og to timer efter vi landede i Bangkok, var vi igen i luften på vej til Krabi. På trods af mørke regnskyer landede vi sikkert, og al vores bagage var også kommet sikkert frem. Vores forudbestilte taxachauffør stod med et “KRIS JENNINGS” skilt og kørte os ansvarligt til vores hotel i Ao Nang. På dette tidspunkt var klokken 5 om morgenen i Danmark, og vi havde samlet fået 30 minutters søvn det sidste døgn. Vi var godt trætte, og varmen var intens men fantastisk. Red Ginger Hotel er topklasse, men vores værelse var ikke klar endnu. Så for ikke at falde i søvn gik vi ned ad den lille vej og fandt en 7-Eleven, hvor vi kunne købe nogle forfriskninger. Vi vendte tilbage til hotellet for at spise, men blev distraheret af en abe, der sad i baren og nød deres friske frugt. Receptionisten prøvede at skræmme den væk med en kost, men den sprang efter hende, og vi løb alle sammen væk, hvilket resulterede i, at aben fik fat i Davids banan og stak af igen meget tilfreds med sig selv.
Vores hotelværelse er simpelthen så sejt med to etager, store senge og en fantastisk udsigt. Det første vi gjorde, var at hoppe direkte i poolen… og der blev vi så…
Klar til at gå på hovedet i seng, begav vi os på en gåtur til stranden, hvor David fandt smukke konkylier og muslinger af alle slags. Vi stødte på herreløse hunde, nedfaldne kokosnødder og masser af scootere. Vi så en slange, der jagtede en kakerlak, og vi så også Dr. Kakerlak. Klokken 18 thailandsk tid var vi mætte og trætte, og efter en sidste tur i poolen lagde vi os i seng og vågnede først 15 timer senere til fuld sol og 27 grader. Ikke dårligt er vores vurdering.

Familien Jennings (- en)

Welcome to Thailand, and what a journey it’s been to get here. We left Vejle on Monday at 10 AM, heading to Copenhagen Airport. After a bit of hair-pulling, we made it through baggage check-in and breezed through security because Sasha is super on top of what you’re allowed to bring and how to pack it! The 10-hour flight to Bangkok began. Rikke made best friends with an older Thai lady, Kris got a sore bum, David realized that watching TV for 10 hours wasn’t as fun as he thought, and Sasha only got a bit nauseous towards the end.
The journey went smoothly; we couldn’t complain, but Bangkok airport worried us a bit. Our worries were unfounded—it couldn’t have been easier. Friendly airport staff were everywhere with signs showing us the way, and two hours after landing in Bangkok, we were back in the air on our way to Krabi. Despite the dark rain clouds, we landed safely, and all our luggage arrived safely as well. Our pre-booked taxi driver was waiting with a “KRIS JENNINGS” sign and drove us responsibly to our hotel in Ao Nang. By this time, it was 5 AM in Denmark, and we had collectively gotten 30 minutes of sleep in the last 24 hours. We were exhausted, and the heat was intense but amazing. Red Ginger Hotel is top-notch, but our room wasn’t ready yet. So, to avoid falling asleep, we walked down the small road and found a 7-Eleven where we could buy some refreshments. We returned to the hotel to eat but got distracted by a monkey sitting at the bar enjoying their fresh fruit. The receptionist tried to scare it away with a broom, but it jumped after her, and we all ran away, resulting in the monkey getting hold of David’s banana and running off very pleased with itself.
Our hotel room is simply so cool, with two floors, large beds, and a fantastic view. The first thing we did was jump straight into the pool… and that’s where we stayed…
Ready to crash into bed, we set off for a walk to the beach, where David found beautiful conch shells and mussels of all kinds. We encountered stray dogs, fallen coconuts, and plenty of scooters. We saw a snake chasing a cockroach. By 6 PM Thai time, we were full and tired, and after one last dip in the pool, we went to bed and didn’t wake up until 15 hours later to full sun and 27 degrees. Not bad is our verdict.

The Jennings family (- one)