The North Island:
We drove north from Kaikoura to the northernmost tip of the South Island, where we took a ferry across the straits to Wellington on the North Island. From there we headed still farther north, to the thermal and volcanic central part of the island, where we visited the colorful deposits of the Thermal Wonderland and bathed in natural hot spring waters in a nearby river.

We also were fortunate enough to arrive at a time when the weather permitted the safe hiking of the Tongar.. Read More »

Kaikoura: We swim with seals and dolphins!!!
Our first stop out of Christchurch was Kaikoura, on the northeast coast of the South Island. It was my favorite place on earth!!!! Why? Number 1, the seals. Number 2, the dolphins. Number 3, the whales.

New Zealand only has one native mammal, and that is the bat. Although there are a few introduced mammal species, the country is relatively lacking in cute, furry animals. There are lots of native bird species, but not being a bird-watcher, we didn�.. Read More »

Christchurch:
We finally approached the gently rolling golden hills of the Canterbury Plains and arrived in Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city. It’s quite a nice city, really. It was modeled on the English plan when it was built in the 19th century, and it really reminds me very much of an English town (The town square is dominated by a large cathedral, the street names are the same as you’ll find in London, and the small river that runs through the city is even named the Avon,.. Read More »

The West Coast: Alpine Hikes, Glacier Hikes, Mt. Cook, and Ferocious Winds
I remember being told by an Australian that New Zealand’s South Island is “God’s country.” We thought he may just be right. The scenery is spectacular and unspoilt. Very few people live on the South Island, there is little industrialization, and the kiwis are fiercely protective of their environment. The combination makes for a magnificent and well-preserved environment, overflowing with mountains, deep blue lake.. Read More »

Amazing Fiordland!
It is widely considered that New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery and untouched wilderness lie within Fiordland. It was successive glacial action that largely shaped the landscape, and its wild beauty is showcased to stunning effect in alpine vistas characterized by carved-out snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, towering granite cliffs, captivating fiords, and untamed waterfalls tumbling up to hundreds of meters into virgin forested valleys. Its glaciated valleys and.. Read More »

Cycling, Trekking, Surfing, and Sky-Diving over Southland
We arrived in the southern town of Queenstown on the South Island and dove right in – literally! – to some of the world’s most spectacular, unspoilt, and awe-inspiring scenery. Belou joined us from France with his bike and we spent three unforgettable weeks with him in Fiordland, which was described to us by one Australian as “God’s country.”

Queenstown, which is New Zealand’s self-styled “adventure capital of the worl.. Read More »