New Zealand: The Summary

Days in New Zealand: 21

Days lost traveling to NZ: 1

New Zealand is very unique. Its natural beauty steals the show, from its amazing mountain ranges, to its pristine beaches and all the small towns in between, this country has something for everyone. New Zealand is part of the British commonwealth which we found out is important to some people more than others. They depend on tourism in many of the smaller towns. New Zealand is extremely ecofriendly. They have nothing less than 91 octane gasoline. This helps keep the air clean.  They have the cleanest lakes and rivers and their city streets are immaculate.

The People: Friendly, friendly, and friendly. Not fake friendly, but the kind of people who are genuinely nice, who want to help travelers, who care and want to make sure you have a great stay in their country. From the major cities to the small towns, everyone was willing to help. More so than any other country we have been to, and we have encountered a lot of friendly people! Many people are outdoorsy and love to hike, bike, run, and camp. They are also very laid back. The feel in New Zealand was very carefree.

The Food: The food was as diverse as its people. There was a lot of Asian and Indian influence in their restaurant selection. They also have many foods that were similar to the UK. Fish and chips were sold almost everywhere! The New Zealand wines were delicious and available at many restaurants. Also, many restaurants were BYO. For breakfast, a typical staple is poached eggs, baked beans, and mushrooms.

The climate: We had some great weather and managed to dodge the bad weather (most of the time). Its summer here but it was not as hot as we had expected. It was 70s and comfortable but not hot. We had sun most everyday on the south island (except the day we hiked the glacier). They were experiencing very wet weather in the north and we hit a bit of it during our last few days. Because the country is so far south and its summer, we had sunlight from 5am to 10pm some days. This was a great surprise for us and we fully enjoyed the extra hours of sun!

Must dos:

·      Auckland: Its not the capital but it is New Zealand’s largest city. A new modern city right on the water. Its diversity and hills reminded us of San Francisco.

·      Queenstown: A fun lively small town with lots to do. Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand, the home of bungy jumping along with lots of other thrilling activities.

·      Wineries: There are lots of wineries to explore. We were shocked at just how good the wines were! We took a day out and went winery hopping in Nelson. Delicious!

·      Wanaka: We loved this small town and would recommend to anyone traveling the south island. It was the definition of small town New Zealand.

·      Glacier: Trek one of the glaciers. We hiked Franz Josef and can’t speak much for Fox Glacier but the experience was awesome! Something we will never forget. It was a long day and we might recommend the ½ day tour if the weather isn’t great.

·      Waieke Island: The island just off the coast from Auckland was charming. It was a great day trip from the city with beautiful beaches.

Funny moments:

·      Walking down the main street in the capital city of Wellington and not seeing a single person! We couldn’t believe how empty it was just a few days after Christmas. We thought this is a major city?

·      Driving the windiest roads we have ever encountered. Nelson loving the drive and Allie gripping the door handle.

We would recommend New Zealand to anyone who wants to have their breath taken away by natural beauty.  It is a beautiful country with friendly people. The long flight is worth it! Next us, we go down under! Lots of Australian pictures to share!