In this video I’m taking you with us on our North Island New Zealand road trip, and our very first stop is the Coromandel Peninsula. The funny thing is, people told us to avoid this part of New Zealand… but we still wanted to see it for ourselves. So we’re doing it properly: three days in Coromandel, chasing those “is it really that bad?” vibes and looking for the places that actually make the trip worth it. I share what our plan looks like, how we’re approaching the trip as a family, and the general reality of road-tripping in New Zealand—especially when you’re trying to balance fun, comfort, and logistics. If you’re an expat (or thinking of moving) and you’re curious about what exploring NZ can look like beyond the highlight reels, this is for you. You’ll also find the exact Airbnb we used linked, plus the filming setup I’m using on the road so you can see how I capture travel days and scenery while still keeping things simple.