One woman's journey through the world
There were a number of places we went, things we did and saw in New Zealand that haven’t made it to the blog. If we’d had regular access to good WiFi during the months that we’ve been traveling, a number of mini-posts would have been published covering these experiences. But the opposite has been the case: WiFi has been expensive, slow, and sometimes hard to find. So we’ve decided to
After nine weeks in New Zealand, we found much to love. Here are just 26 of them. 1. The many, well-marked picnic tables 2. Hikes and walks of varying length and difficulty are everywhere and easy to find. 3. Watching a bird of prey pick up a dead possum in the middle of the road while you’re driving 100 kph toward it becomes a routine occurrence after two weeks. 4.
We stayed in a variety of places in New Zealand: hostels, holiday parks, campsites, private homes, and one hotel. Most of our nights were spent in the van, sometimes parked in scenic DOC sites and others in basic campsites with nothing more than a drop toilet and level ground. A few were truly memorable and we thought you might like some idea of the more unique accommodation options available to
Long strands of kelp hold fast to a wall while a strong current pushes the fronds back and forth. We’re hanging on, watching a school of kingfish and I’m letting the current bat me around, feeling like the underwater equivalent of a leaf blowing gently in the wind. Jen and Rachel, our local divemaster, are keeping their positions on one side of the wall but I’m loving the ride and
After finishing my undergraduate degree, I got a job at a travel agency. I never intended to make a career of it but I was barely 21 and this seemed as good a place as any to enter the full-time work force. The pay was abysmal and eventually, after 9/11, the work wasn’t much fun. But the friends I made, the experiences I had, and the knowledge I gained during
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, long before its Lord of the Rings fame, has been referred to as New Zealand’s best one-day trek. We did a number of day walks throughout the country and I understand why this one is crowded with Kiwis and visitors alike. The terrain includes desolate stretches of barren rock and earth, a climb referred to as the Devil’s Staircase, traces of old lava flows, vibrant green
Our experience with wine tasting on the North Island was a bit different than that of the South. We didn’t hire bicycles because the cost was absurd; despite warmer weather on the North we chose reds over whites; and unlike the South Island, we were actually charged many of the tasting fees. But there were similarities: most of the wineries we visited were empty of visitors save the two of
Jen and I are no strangers to wine: we’ve been to more wineries than I can count, had two wine refrigerators at home fully stocked in addition to a rotating selection of reds, whites, and sparklings. So we were excited by the many opportunities here in New Zealand to taste – and drink – local wine. The first time we saw a sign reading Winery, I turned immediately into the
Some people come to New Zealand to hike the Great Walks. Tramping, as it’s called here, is easy to do with countless trails of varying length and difficulty. We’ve done our share of day hikes and easy walks but when we packed for this trip, we chose not to bring sleeping bags or camping gear. So when we decided to tackle a Great Walk, we figured the easiest one was