We flew to Christchurch in the South Island and picked up a couple of rental mini-campervans.  Thanks to Zak and Kim’s trip planning, we scored a Jucy Rentals deal that offered us 1-week free rentals as long as we agreed to deliver their vehicles to Aukland – just in time for the North Island tourist season. These tricked out Toyota Previas have a super groovy paint job and are crammed with  amenities, including a 12 volt dc fridge, a gas cooker, a sink, and a big nesting area with a monster thick comforter.

We loaded up with groceries and sped off southbound down the left lane of highway 1 like a pair of jucy green caterpillars.  We passed miles and miles and miles and miles of sheep and cow pastures.

A few hours later we stopped at Moeraki beach where huge great stone balls have all come to rest in one spot.

These big balls are enormous fun. Zak and Kim gave a beach ball ballet.

Then Kim tried to sail away in a half a ball.

Zak tried using his superpowers to fix a broken one…

and S kept looking for the chewy caramel centers…

K just enjoyed the symmetry.

These balls are huge ancient concretions that are left on the beach as the mudstone cliffs nearby weather and erode away.

We thought the mudballs were all there was to see at Moeraki beach.  But then we saw a wet llama nearby.

And some really weatherproof sheep.

We admit we underestimated the fun factor of the beach balls of Moeraki but we’ll never make that mistake again.