As my time in New Zealand finally draws to a close (cue sad music here), I wanted to take some time to look back on the last year and share with you some of my favourite moments of the last fourteen months.
This country is incredible. I think I have seen almost everything, driven on almost every main highway multiple times, and spent time in every city. How can I say goodbye to this place? It will be very difficult when the time comes, so I had to take a look back and reflect on my favourite places in New Zealand.
They aren’t in any particular order because it would be So. Hard. To do that, and it was definitely hard to pick just fifteen, so… I ordered them from north to south to make it easier! Read on…
Cape Reinga
The place where oceans meet is not just a spectacular scenic destination. It is also sacred to the Maori people, as it is where the spirits fly away from the land, and that is reflected in the landscape here. You can almost feel the spirituality around you – and I am not really a spiritual person – and if you listened closely, you can hear the spirits taking flight. Sentimental much? Yeah, but this was one of my most favourite days ever.
Sailing in the Bay of Islands
You all might remember that just before Christmas last year, I took a very spontaneous trip to see my friend Christian on his boat. We spent a full week sailing from Ruakaka to Russell and it was of the most incredible adventures of my life. How can I top that?
Living in the Bay of Islands
Four months of my life were spent in this idyllic town with a lot of crazy people, but I would not change that for the world. I met some of my closest NZ friends here, became closer with friends from another time and place, and formed a close knit community. I count myself incredibly lucky to have been here and to have met everyone.
The Coromandel
Remote and jaw-droppingly beautiful, the Coro is high on my list of “best places in NZ.” The Far North of Coro is all gravel roads and you had better plan at least two days up here to really get the full picture. Crystal clear blue waters, white cliffs, sandy beaches, and gently rolling terraced green hills dotted with sheep.
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
This hike is tough, don’t get me wrong, but it is phenomenal. If you get a good day like I did you’ll want to take as much time as you can to explore the craters and lakes at the top of the mountain. No wonder it is listed as a top hike in New Zealand.
Wharariki Beach
I hadn’t even heard of this place until a woman at a local gallery in Takaka told me to go there. So, I did. And holy shit I was stunned. I had the dunes to myself on a hot, sunny day, and I got to explore some of the caves. We went back for Christmas as well; I have very good memories of this beach.
Cape Farewell
I like going to the end of the road – you guys know that – so this was another highlight for me; the farthest north point on the South Island. Now, I can say I have literally been to the ends of New Zealand and back.
Watching baby seals near Kaikoura
It was only my first day on the South Island (this time) when we went to Ohau Point and the seal sanctuary. Watching the baby seals frolic in the waterfall was great. It was a highlight and the campsite that night was just as good. I will admit to crying over them when the earthquake devastated the area.
The Central Lakes
Lake Tekapo in all its glory is a sight to be seen, especially on a sunny day when the light hits the lake and its a strange glacial blue. In the spring, the lupines flood the meadows with their bright pink and purple flowers. One of my favourite spots is at the bottom of Lake Pukaki, where you can sit on the rocks and look north toward Mount Cook. Brilliant. Stunning. Exceptional.
Hiking Hooker Valley
I’m awed every time I go to Mount Cook. The drive is almost as good as the road to Glenorchy, but the mountains that seem to rise from the central plateau make the drive completely worth it… and then hiking into Hooker Valley and seeing Aoraki in all its lopsided glory… and then the road around Lake Pukaki toward Lake Tekapo… you cannot beat this two-hour drive.
The West Coast Glaciers
You can’t come to NZ and not go to the glaciers; between Fox and Franz Josef you have two of the southernmost glaciers in the world, both of which are the only two to be located in a temperate rainforest. I did both glacial valley walks and the Roberts Point track at FJ. Highly recommend all of the above and if you can, splurge on a helicopter to the glacier itself.
Hiking Roy’s Peak
I had to put this one on the list because of the sheer amount of effort it took me to tackle this hike. I actually did it twice, but the first time the weather was too bad and I was forced off the mountain about halfway through. So, I thought I already knew what was in store for me the second time, except it was so much harder than I’d believed. Continuing to put one foot in front of the other was a task but I did it, and the view from the top was completely, utterly, worth the effort.
The road to Glenorchy
The road to Glenorchy is drop dead gorgeous. It’s definitely one of the top drives in the world, and when you crest the hills around Lake Wakatipu, you will see what I mean. I’ve done the drive twice and I’m floored every time.
Milford Sound
Nothing can prepare you for the way that your jaw hits the floor when you come out of the Homer Tunnel into Milford Sound. I am sure that hiking the trek will be the same, coming over the mountains into the valley that descends to the inlet. But the real beauty of Milford is out on the water. Words cannot describe how insignificant you will feel when you see the boats against the sheer mountains.
Watching penguins at Curio Bay
I’ll admit, I cried a bit when I finally saw the rare yellow-eyed penguins at Curio Bay. I’d seen them once before at Bushy Beach in Oamaru, but the viewing platform there is pretty high up and its hard to see the penguins. At Curio Bay, I was right there. I saw how high he hopped on the rocks, I watched as she shook the salt water from her fur. I had been wanting to see them for a long time, so to finally see them as I was on my way out of the Catlins was a dream come true.
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