So welcome to our 100th and final post!
Let's start with the recap...
THE NORTH ISLAND
How long we were there: 3.5 weeks
What we did: We started out in Auckland and worked our way up to the Northland region where we saw the lighthouse at Cape Reinga on the northern tip and visited a number of small towns along the way, including Paihia by the Bay of Islands. We then worked our way back down through Auckland and headed east to the Coromandel Peninsula to see Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Our next stop was a memorable visit to Hobbiton in Matata, followed by a quick stop in Rotorua to pet baby lions! From there, we headed to East Cape and worked our way south along the east coast to Wellington. Then we headed north through the center of the island to the Taupo region to see Huka Falls and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Mt. Doom) before making our way back up to Auckland.
Our favorite experience: We had a lot of great experiences, but we both agreed that if we had to choose just one... Hobbiton would top the list :)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is what initially drew us to this beautiful country in the first place and nowhere is Middle Earth more pronounced then Hobbiton, complete with hobbit holes, party tree, and Bag End! (Read all about it here, and our other LOTR adventures here.)
What we missed: With only 3.5 weeks to see everything we could on the North Island, we were bound to miss a few things. There were three places marked out on our map that didn't make the cut:
1.) Mt. Taranaki
We had planned to go hiking there but it was located on the western tip of the island, about a 4.5 hour drive from Wellington out of our way. We didn't have the time and, by that point in our trip, we were too tired to attempt the intense 8+ hour hike anyway.
2.) Waitomo Caves
The glowworms at the Waitomo Caves have been raved about by past travelers. But further research revealed that the guided tours were actually pretty pricey and we just couldn't quite bring ourselves to spend that much money on the experience.
3.) Hamilton
I don't know much about this city other then the fact that it was mentioned a few times in the Lord of the Rings appendices. So I don't feel too bad about this one...
THE SOUTH ISLAND
How long we were there: 10 months
What we did: Beginning in Christchurch, we spent about a week exploring the area, with a visit to Akaroa, before heading north along the east coast to Kaikoura. Then it was on to Nelson where we planned to settle and find jobs. We spent five months there, working part time at the Maitai Valley Motor Camp where we were staying. During that time we took a mini trip out to Abel Tasman National Park for a few days. In February, we embarked on a 3.5 week roadtrip to explore the South Island. We headed south along the west coast, stopping to see the Punakaiki Rocks and the glaciers. Then we traveled inland to the town of Wanaka before making our way south towards Fiordland National Park on the southwestern part of the island. We were able to cruise Milford Sound and hike the Routeburn Track before making our way back the way we came to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. While we were there, we explored the surrounding areas, visiting Glenorchy, Paradise, and Arrowtown before making our way east. Our next stop was Dunedin, the 2nd largest city on the South Island. Then it was north to see the Moeraki Boulders before a straight shot back to Nelson. We spent three more months working in and exploring Nelson before heading northeast to Picton and riding a ferry back to Wellington on the North Island to catch our flight.
Our favorite experience: Andy's favorite experience(s) was gold panning! Starting at Twelve Mile Creek in Queenstown, he panned his way at a number of creeks all the way back to Nelson. (Check out his gold panning adventures here.)
My favorite experience was the hike we did on Andy's birthday. We started out on one of the Great Walks of New Zealand, the Routeburn Track, and ended up on top of a mountain! Looking down at the incredible scenery surrounding us is a moment I will never forget. (Read about the experience here.)
What we missed: Again, lack of time/energy meant that we couldn't see everything on our itinerary. On the South Island, these three places were unfortunately missed:
1.) Mt. Cook
New Zealand's tallest mountain located in the center of the South Island was visible from a distance from many points along our route. But towards the end of our trip, we just couldn't muster the energy to make a detour out there.
2.) Lake Tekapo
This place is beautiful (seriously, Google it). Pretty close to Mt. Cook, we had to skip it for the same reason.
3.) Twizel
Like the first two on the list, Twizel is near the center of the island, and possibly the place I regret missing the most. It was near this town that my favorite scene from Return of the King was filmed (Theoden's speech at Pelennor Fields)...
... Next time!
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So what have we been up to since?
With the end of one adventure, begins another... Andy and I are happy to announce we are expecting our first child coming in May!
We are both excited and insanely busy as we prepare for this next chapter of our lives :)
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As this blog comes to an end, we just want to say thank you to our readers. New Zealand was an incredible experience and we are glad you decided to follow along with us. We hope you enjoyed reading our blog as much as we enjoyed writing it. And we hope we've inspired you in your own future travels/adventures!
Kia ora and cheers!
~Andy & Jasmine
