New Zealand
Middle-earth in real life! New Zealand's dramatic landscapes left us speechless. From glaciers to geysers, every day brought new wonders.
Highlights
- ✦Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- ✦Kayaking in Milford Sound
- ✦Exploring Hobbiton
Blog Posts
New Zealand: Rain, Cliffs & The Road South
Trading French Polynesia sunshine for New Zealand's wet welcome — renting a car to cross the North Island, discovering black sand beaches and Hobbit landscapes, then boarding the Wellington ferry.
Abel Tasman: Overcrowded Trails & the Best Farm Stay
The Great Walk that disappointed us with its touristy crowds, a camping fine, and how a chance meeting with a kiwi farming couple turned our worst trekking day into our best New Zealand memory.
2200 km and Counting: The South Island Road Trip
Secret hot pools found off any map, two glaciers in the rain, a hand-dug tunnel full of glowing worms, and a hilarious three-part seagull saga — the South Island road trip goes wild.
Alpine Valleys to Jungle: Glenorchy, Fiordland & Our First Boat Hitchhike
Wild hikes through Fiordland's contrasting landscapes — from open alpine valleys to dense tropical jungle — and our greatest New Zealand achievement: hitchhiking a ride on a passing fisherman's boat.
Aoraki / Mount Cook: A Night Under New Zealand's Highest Peak
A photo shoot that lasted until midnight under Mount Cook's summit, a road blocked by falling rocks on an earthquake-battered highway, and a perfectly timed ferry delay that saved our crossing.
Tongariro in the Fog & Goodbye New Zealand
The famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing wrapped in fog, 4950 km driven across the country, a farewell breakfast from a lovely kiwi couple, and then 20 hours of flights to Papua — one of the most remote places on earth.