Griff begins his trip at the very northern point of New Zealand Cape Reinga and is welcomed by a Maori chief of the region and challenged to make himself at home Griff uses this chance to discover the many people who have made themselves at home in New Zealand including Maori English whalers missionaries and modern visitors

On the second leg of Griff Rhys Jones epic NorthSouth tour of New Zealands back roads Griff decides the best way to avoid Highway One is to start by flying over it and heading straight to the Coromandel Peninsula On the way he spies Aucklands many extinct volcanos At Taupo Griff learns the entirety of Lake Taupo is one giant volcanic caldera and is way past its scheduled explosive anniversary

Griff crosses from the North to the South isles often a treacherous trip but today the waters are glassy smooth The old sea captain challenges Griff to attempt to understand the Number 8 Wire mentality of the south A can do attitude where anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it Griff heads to the old whaling station on Queen Charlotte sound remarkably still operating until the 1970s

New Zealands South Isle is famed for its stunning views so Griff does what so many visitors to the south do and hires a camper to hit the road His first observation is the utter disdain other drivers have to camper drivers No matter how fast a camper is going the natural inclination is to overtake it