Highlights of the Day We explored Auckland’s west coast black sand beaches, visiting four out of five. First was Muriwai Beach, with smooth black sand and a mirror-like water effect,…
Highlights of the Day Leaving Rotorua, we headed to Auckland, stopping at the Hobbiton Movie Set. Built on the Alexander family’s farm, its rolling hills and landscapes perfectly matched Middle-earth.…
Highlights of the Day We explored Māori culture at Te Puia, starting with the kiwi conservation area, where we observed these flightless birds in a darkened enclosure. We then visited…
Highlights of the Day We visited Wai-O-Tapu, a famous geothermal area, starting with the Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts daily at 10:15 AM with the help of plant-based soap, a…
Highlights of the Day We flew from the South Island to Auckland and drove three hours to Rotorua, stopping at Hamilton Gardens. Initially unsure if it was worth the visit,…
Highlights of the Day We visited Little Paradise Lodge, a charming, self-built home by Thomas, a Swiss man who moved to New Zealand at 24. He crafted furniture from local…
Highlights of the Day We drove over an hour to Wanaka for a flight lesson, but the twin-engine plane was under maintenance, so I opted out. On the way back,…
Highlights of the Day Queenstown truly lives up to its reputation as the adventure capital of the world. Since I’m not a fan of bungee jumping, I opted for paragliding…
Highlights of the Day Today, we drove to Queenstown, making stops along the way. In Alexandra, we intended to visit its hilltop clock but settled for a distant photo due…
Highlights of the Day We started the day at the Otago Peninsula Penguin Eco Restoration Alliance to see yellow-eyed penguins. With fewer than 500 remaining, the reserve works on disease…