Retirement Trip - things start to go pear shaped

Week commencing 16 March - the last week of normality.  The news wasn't making for great reading and we tried to carry on with our trip without letting it spoil it too much, but lurking in the background was that nagging doubt.  We drove the Thermal Loop, visiting a couple of ski resorts, saw Mount Doom, rode a cable car lift, watched a live volcano puffing .

We visited the Thermal park at Waiotapu, made a quick stop in Rotarua - not impressed, continuing along the coast to overnight in Ohope on the Bay of Plenty.  Questions were asked about our arrival in the country, people were now being asked to quarantine.  

From there we headed along the coastal road 35, watching the infamous White Island out at sea throwing out its plumes of steam into the air

19 March - first communication from Trailfinders regarding the fact that we might want to go home

20 March - TF start looking for flights

21 March - time difference was proving to be a problem with getting hold of each other - they'd call in the middle of the night when we were asleep, then leave messages, but then we couldn't call them back

22 March - no flights to be had, advised to contact the British Consulate.  Felt completely abandoned. We decided at this point to give up the camper van, campsites were closing or not letting you use their facilities.  Wifi was very poor and it was stressing me out not being able to get a reliable connection

23 March - Auckland - We visited the British Consulate which was awful, lots of people crammed into a small office, no one taking charge, waited around 30 minutes then someone came out and basically told us there was nothing they could do at that point and to go away!! We took back the camper along with practically everyone else, it was chaos and quiet upsetting.  I managed to get online whilst awaiting a taxi into Auckland and got us booked into a hotel for two nights.  It had a kitchenette and washing/drying facilities so we thought that might do.  On arrival we were offered a package to extend our stay if we needed which was comforting.  The receptionist took us to a small supermarket where we got some provisions then went and found a restaurant for a last meal.  Everywhere was closing down in preparation for lockdown

24 March - Visit the British Consulate again - IT's CLOSED - lots of very cross/worried/scared people.  We did manage to talk our way into the lobby where we were able to register our email/phone number and basically await and prepare for an unknown duration in lockdown.