New Zealand, 2024
With an extended break over the holidays, we decided to take a long trip to the Southern Hemisphere. Seattle was doing it's best to hide the sun and finding it was summer somewhere else on the globe felt like discovering a cheat code.
No amount of reading prepared me for the incredibly beauty of New Zealand. From north to south, it is filled with incredible places. We started in the North, spending a few days in Tutukaka over Christmas. We explored the local beaches and hikes, basking in the subtropical climate.
From an incredible hike along the Mangawhai Heads trail to spotting glowworms in Waipu Caves, even though we only got to see some of the north island, we instantly were smitten.
Waipu Caves
I've always wanted to cross the Cook Strait, so we took the ferry from Wellington across to Picton. The raw power of the sea was unmistakable from the outset and coastline as we neared the south island made it feel wild.
The south island was different, a bit drier and certainly cooler as we moved higher up in latitude.
Assorted scenes from the road as we toured the south island
We travelled down the west coast, a narrow strip hemmed in between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. It was wild and windswept coast the felt like it was on the precipice of another world.
Scenes from the west coast of the south island
Aoraki (aka Mt. Cook) captured us in its spell. Aoraki apparently translates into cloud piercer. What a perfect name. We did numerous hikes around the park the encompasses the mountain the main of the Southern Alps. Long summer days meant we just kept exploring well into the evening.
Aoraki and the park around it
We got to see many other places in our nearly 1,200 miles of driving. But what stays with all of us is the sheer beauty. Around every corner, up every valley, along each beach, there are special places.
We'll be back someday.
