Waiting to board our flight home allowed us to revel in the memories we made over the last several weeks. From soaring by helicopter high above glacial fields to sampling far too many Sauv Blancs, Aotearoa proved an unforgettable host. With each passing day we immersed ourselves in the culture of this isolated island nation.…

We woke up to a very rainy and comparatively cold (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit) Christchurch this morning and the rain did not let up all day. It was fitting for our last full day in New Zealand and it felt like a transition back to the current weather at home. Fittingly, we started the day…

This morning we were greeted by another guest staying at our rental house. That guest was a lawn mowing robot! It was quite amusing watching him diligently mow the surrounding lawn as we enjoyed coffee and breakfast. Another relaxing morning prepared us for the last of our long drives here in New Zealand. Our drive…

We started our drive north this morning, backtracking through Queenstown. On the way, we took the opportunity to visit the Home of Bungee Jumping. As mentioned in one of our previous blog posts, Queenstown is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping. The actual bridge where it started is just off of the highway, now bustling…

We enjoyed a few, much needed, extra hours of sleep this morning. The last several days were packed with picturesque drives and adventures so we appreciated this low-key day. Our day started by grabbing coffee and meat pies from a local eatery. With food in our bellies we headed out. As we mentioned yesterday, the…

We got another early start this morning and continued on our journey from the Otago Region to the Southland Region. As evidenced by its name, the Southland is New Zealand’s southernmost region, renowned for its pristine fjords (spelled Fiords here), sharp peaks, and untouched natural beauty. Our main activity today was exploring perhaps the most…

Today’s blog post is a bit of a choose your own adventure which reflects our diverging activities. Stephanie relived her childhood with a backcountry horse ride while Jay and his mom went on an exhilarating jet boat up and serene kayak trip down the Dart River. Both trips delivered unforgettable views, showcasing some of the…

This morning we took our coffee “for take-away” and got an early start on our drive to Queenstown, known globally as the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Queenstown is uniquely situated on the south island at the edge of many vast natural parks and is the birthplace of many adventure sports including commercial bungee jumping…

Our second Monday in Aotearoa was a reprieve from the long drives we had become accustomed to over the last four days. Even without a significant road trip ahead of us we still had an early morning to kickoff today’s main activity (a helicopter tour!). Franz Josef is famous for its helicopter tours which provide…

After being in New Zealand for a week now, we have noticed that the Kiwis are consistently kind people. We had breakfast at our motel this morning. One of the guests’ taxi did not show up to take them to the airport, so the owner of the motel took them in her personal car. Another…

Our morning began bright and early today as our sailing to the South Island, which was known to the Maori people as Te Wai Pounamu (translating to The Greenstone Waters) had a check in time of 7:45 AM. The early start forced Stephanie to delay her morning coffee by several hours. She quickly remedied that…

Today we ventured on one of our longest drives of the trip, from Rotorua to Wellington. We started the journey at a local coffee shop where we learned from our barista that New Zealand does not have its own recycling plant, so much of their recycling is shipped to Australia or, unfortunately, ends up in…

This morning we started the first leg of our road trip as we left the hustle and bustle of Auckland for the quiet winding roads of the New Zealand countryside. Jay has become quite comfortable driving on the left side of the road which allowed him to take in the sights as we made our…

We started our day at a coffee shop in a downtown high-rise, not dissimilar to the Columbia Tower in Seattle. We sat among tables of working-folk, some having business deal meetings, others interviewing. Similar to driving on the other side of the road, the revolving doors here circle the opposite direction, which was an adjustment.…

Following a much needed full night’s sleep, we started our day at a nearby coffee shop for Stephanie’s caffeine fix and to fill Jay’s empty stomach. On each of our trips Stephanie has to adjust to international coffee which is closer to espresso than the sugary drinks we find at stateside coffee shops. After breakfast…

After a 13 hour slog of a flight from Los Angeles, we finally made it to Auckland this morning. Auckland greeted us with fog and rain, a familiarity from the Northwest, but accompanied by 80 degrees with humidity – a welcome warmth after months of cold. It is immediately apparent why the native people of…