It's strange how our perception of a place can change with time. Upon arrival, New Zealand felt like a check in the box – a place we wanted to see before moving on to the next destination. Now, looking back at our time there, it feels like another home. It's a... Read more
One of the most interesting areas in all of New Zealand is Oamaru. We had driven right by on our initial trip to the South Island, but upon our return, we heard about the Victorian architecture and overall Steampunk theme there and we knew we had to check it out.... Read more
When we got the official Visa acceptance notification and realized we'd have an additional six months in New Zealand, we knew our mission: see as many penguins as possible. We had tried with no luck at some of the popular viewing areas earlier in the year, but this... Read more
When we arrived in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park area in mid-March, we weren't in the best headspace. The weather was bad, we were exhausted, and outside New Zealand the world as we knew it was shutting down due to the pandemic … and NZ wasn't far behind... Read more
Now that we are allowed to move about in New Zealand again, us tourists turned temporary residents all ask each other the same question: “Where did you end up during lockdown?” While some were at hostels sharing rooms and meals with other backpackers, we... Read more
We've read so many stories of fellow travelers stranded abroad during this crisis who our hearts just go out to. Their flights were canceled, they couldn't afford the high prices, or they just don't have another option. But, that isn't our story. Yes, leaving New... Read more
When you find out you'll be near one of the only castles in the country, isn't the logical next step to find out if you can stay there? Yea, I thought so. That's how we ended up staying in an iconic New Zealand castle with amazing views and even more impressive... Read more
We originally planned to go to both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound during out epic New Zealand road trip, but with the intense flooding that happened just before our visit, Milford was no longer an option without a very long bus ride. So, we chose to spend what we... Read more
As we traveled around New Zealand, all the other backpackers warned about how busy Queenstown is. And our research came up with similar results. We actually almost cut our trip there short! But with so much to do in the area, we decided to base almost a week of our... Read more
The Queenstown area is known for its epic views and adventurous activities. It is definitely a can't-miss stop for anyone touring New Zealand. Want 360-degree views of Queenstown and the surrounding mountains without all the work of hiking all the way up? Coronet Peak... Read more
