New Zealand
Our last BIG destination on this year abroad was to New Zealand (NZ)! This was the perfect way to end what has already been an incredible trip. We were in NZ for 3 weeks and took a road trip from the top of the north island to the bottom of the south island. We flew into Auckland but only stayed 1 night there. We ate at Kazuya and enjoyed a 7 course dinner, which was definitely one of the top dining experiences we had on this trip abroad. The next day we drove to Matamata and stayed at the Chestnut Lane Cottage. This was a super charming B&B with lovely hosts. They left us a free bottle of wine, homemade cookies, and fresh herbs & veggies from their garden. The main tourist attraction in Matamata is Hobbiton, where they filmed part of the Lord of the Rings. It was such a magical place and you really felt like a hobbit for the day. We even got to drink a beer at the Green Dragon Inn. Our next adventure was at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves to go black water rafting. Black water rafting is essentially caving and tubing down a river in a cave that is about 200 ft. below the ground. We even jumped off a couple waterfalls into our tubes, which was kind of scary but very fun. The bioluminescence from the glowworms was breathtaking and this experience was well worth it.
Then, it was time to head to Rotorua, the geothermal wonderland of NZ. We stayed at Mokoia Downs Estate B&B. This B&B was a little different because the hosts had farm animals that you could interact with during your stay. Oleg got to bottle feed a lamb and I fed pineapple to the sheep. We visited Te Puia and Wai O Tapu, which are both geothermal gems! The colors were amazing and we got to see bubbling mud pools as well. We made a stop at Kerosene Creek, while we were still in this very active geothermal area. Kerosene Creek is a natural hot spring river with a waterfall. We also went to the Tamaki Maori Village and learned more about Maori culture and Oleg got to do the Haka. We could not pass up the opportunity to go zorbing in NZ at OGO Rotorua. This was one of the coolest experiences we had while in NZ. Zorbing is rolling down a hill in a large ball filled with water. I don’t think I need to describe how awesome this was to experience! We stopped in at Lake Taupo and Wellington before we left the north island. We absolutely loved Wellington. It is the capital city of NZ and is a bigger city with a small town feel to it. It had tons of small cafes with great coffee. It is also listed as CNNs top cities for coffee. Wellington didn’t only have great coffee but it was definitely a foodie haven. Wellington also had the most amazing waterfront. I think Wellington should be at the top of the list for places to visit in NZ. After an exciting time on the north island, it was time to explore the south island. So, we hopped on the InterIslander Ferry and took it from Wellington to Picton. The ferry was as big as a cruise ship but not as extravagant. On the way to Picton, we got to see a family of dolphins jumping in and out of the water along the ferry! This was a great welcome to the South Island!
The first thing we did when we got to the South Island was visit the Blenheim/Marlborough wine region. We found our favorite vineyard, which was the Brancott Estate. This winery had the most stunning views and the Brut Cuvee was delicious. We stayed at an AirBnB called Te Kainga Estate, which was on a working vineyard. We had grape vines and the mountains right in our backyard. Next stop, was Motueka where we stayed at The Waters. This B&B had such lovely lake and sea views. We visited Abel Tasman National Park while in Motueka. You needed to take a boat to get into Abel Tasman and the park offered incredibly gorgeous scenery. There was an island within the park that had speakers recording the birds that lived there and locals can tune into this radio station to hear the birds chirping every morning. We also finished an 8 mile hike through Abel Tasman- Go us!
We were going to head to the glacier region of NZ to do a glacier hike. Unfortunately, our tour got cancelled because it was raining really hard so we decided to visit a kiwi bird sanctuary instead to stay nice and dry. Also, all of the proceeds go to the conservation of the kiwi bird, which is an endangered species. The kiwi bird is a flightless bird that is nocturnal. After this enlightening visit, we stayed at the Ardwyn House. This place was owned by such a welcoming elderly lady who was so friendly and such a good conversationalist. We sat in her living room with her drinking tea and chatting for a bit. It was a really nice time. then, it was time to go pick up our RV, which we had for the last week of our road trip in NZ. We picked up the RV at The RV Super Centre in Christchurch. The RV was a really unforgettable experience, it was like camping on wheels. We would stay at holiday parks, which are campgrounds with power sites for RVs. We would use the facilities at the holiday park sites like, laundry, kitchens, showers, bathrooms, and a tv room. We had a kitchenette and bathroom/shower in the RV that we also used but the holiday park facilities were much more spacious. NZ has a very popular camping culture and people were not afraid to go hitch-hiking. There was a much more trusting and safe vibe in New Zealand that was so refreshing.
We stopped in at Mount Cook and completed the Hooker Valley Track, which was absolutely breathtaking. Once again, Oleg and I didn’t prepare very well for the hike but at least it was filled with 3 hours of beauty! We stopped at Lake Wanaka, which is a lifestyle reserve. This area had tons of things to do like, bars, restaurants, kayaks, windsurfing, skydiving, etc. We parked the RV at the lake and had a wonderful lunch overlooking the lake and mountains. We also had a delicious dinner overlooking Lake Wanaka at Bistro Gentil. A main attraction on the South Island is the Milford Sound. The Milford Sound is a large fiord located deep within the Fiordland National Park. We sailed through the Fiordland National Park watching all of the beautiful waterfalls surround us! The last thing that we needed to do was visit Queenstown, which is crowned the adventure capital of the world. Oleg’s only request was that we ended this entire whirlwind with the wildest adventure, SKYDIVING. I wasn’t too thrilled about this but I knew it was something that Oleg really wanted to do and was on the top of his bucket list. So, I decided to partake because we would be doing it together and that is what really mattered. I remember having intense anxiety about it the night before. When we arrived the next day, they put you through a safety briefing and informational video. Then, you shuttle to the drop zone, which was about a 20 minute drive. They separate you into groups and start putting you into all of the gear and harnesses. After that, you get to meet your jumpmaster and cameraman. They go through safety instructions with you again and you get to bond a little bit with them. After all, your life is in their hands during the jump. Then, you all walk out to the plane, which is a tiny prop jet and get smashed in there like sardines. Oleg got to be the lucky one and jump out of the plane first. He realized it because he was sitting next to the door that read “EXIT” and suddenly became a little worried about the whole thing. We got over our fears and both made the jump. They do give you a disclaimer that once you get into the plane, the only way back is to jump out of the plane- you could not back out. The free-fall was insane and the most awesome feeling because you actually feel like you are flying. We also have the pictures and videos to remember this once in a lifetime, heart-pumping adventure. Oleg and I went back to the RV after this experience and both passed out for 3 hours- We were just so emotionally and physically exhausted from so much adrenaline. I would highly recommend it but of course with a reputable company. We used NZONE in Queenstown and they were fantastic.
