We’ve been living in a volcano. The plane that brought us here was a thin, protracted tomb carried on the wings of a gnat, courtesy of Air New Zealand. All was going swimmingly until the crew offered us a complimentary…
Christchurch
Drifting across country from the West Coast of New Zealand, we spent a couple of days in Christchurch and it’s surrounding areas before departing finally from the South Island. The city has been devastated by earthquakes and a drive through…
Hokitika & Arthur’s Pass
Hokitika is a cool little town on the west coast of New Zealand. It has a really laid back vibe to it and boasts a very impressive beach sign made out of Driftwood! It was apparently the result of competitive…
Franz Josef Glacier
We walked to Franz Josef Glacier from our accommodation in its township. The route took us over a bridge that’s on the edge of collapse (in line with Nicola’s nerves crossing it) and beside a river coloured with that unique shade…
Wanaka
We really loved it in Wanaka. The weather had picked up and the lake was just stunning! It actually reminded us a little bit of Derwentwater 😀 We did a couple of different lakeside walks which gave us gorgeous views…
Steampunk
Oamaru’s Victorian district and heritage trail showcases impressive architecture that has been well preserved from the 19th century, as well as many shops and cafes that approximate the atmosphere and decor of the era. There’s plenty of folk shuffling about…
Penguins
After an extremely rainy day in Oamaru, there was only one thing that could lift our mood – a visit to the blue penguin colony. They are the world’s smallest penguin; are about 30cm in height and yes, you’ve guessed…
Dunedin
After a busy few days settling into New Zealand (and recovering from jet lag), it was time to move on from Queenstown to the coastal city of Dunedin. We picked up our hire car and off we went on a…
Skyline
On Thursday we took a cable car to the top of Bob’s Peak in Queenstown. Looking up at the cliff was nauseating enough, but it’s extra discomforting when the path to the steepest gondola in the southern hemisphere walks you…
Milford Sound
On Wednesday we took a trip to Milford Sound, which is an inlet of the Tasman Sea surrounded by rainforest, cliffs and waterfalls. The coach journey took around four hours and is considered to be one of the top ten…