My friends and I just spent the past two weeks travelling across New Zealand in a campervan, dubbed JAC. The hours and kilometers took us past countless mountains, forrests, fields and pastures, alongside the oceans and many lakes, through rainstorms, sunbeams and dark sky reserves. I journaled my observations and understandings of the people and culture of New Zealand as we journeyed, and our adventure developed. If I could use one word to summarize it all, it would be Magic. It was so easy to see and understand why this land was used for the setting of a fantasy world, Middle Earth.
"Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate;
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon,
East of the Sun."
J.R.R. Tolkien
Christchurch, NZ. Cathedral Square. The Chalice remains erect next to the Cathedral destroyed by the earthquakes of 2011.
Christchurch, NZ. Destruction of the cathedral by earthquakes in 2011
Christchurch, NZ. Bridge of Remembrance
Christchurch, NZ. Avon River
Christchurch, NZ. Botanic Gardens
Christchurch, NZ. Botanic Gardens. Talk about a great climbing tree!
Christchurch, NZ. Botanic Gardens. Fall colors on fleek.
#vanlife under way!
When the sunbeams call, you pull over and chase them! Jenna & I
Jenna & I, chasing sunbeams.
Lake Tekapo.
Lake Tekapo
#thatwanakatree
#thatwanakatree
Wanaka, NZ.
#thatwanakatree
Wanaka, NZ.
You can't camp without having s'mores!
AJ Hackett Nevis Bungy. Queenstown, NZ.
All smiles and ready to go! Jenna, Amanda, me
Nevis Bungy 134m.
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu
NZ countryside
NZ countryside
Lake Te Anau
Routeburn Track
Routeburn Track. Amanda & Jenna
Routeburn Track
Routeburn Track: "Look it's a yellow diamond!" A.V.
Earland Falls. Routeburn Track
Lake Mackenzie. Routeburn Track. Jenna, Me, Amanada
on Routeburn Track. Me, Jenna Amanda
Sunrise on the mountain. Routeburn Track.
Sunrise on the mountain. Routeburn Track.
Sunrise on the mountain. Routeburn Track.
Routeburn Track
Earland Falls. Routeburn Track
Lake Howden. Routeburn Track
Routeburn Track
Routeburn Track
Routeburn Track
Lake Marian
Lake Marian. Me, Jenna, Amanda
Hollyford River
sunset on the mountains
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Opening of Milford Fiord out to the Tasman Sea
Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Stirling Falls, Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
Stirling Falls, Milford Sound - Fiordland, NZ
The Chasm - Fiordland, NZ
International Dark Sky Reserve; one of only 10 in the world. obviously my simple camera could not do justice. But what our eyes beheld looking up that night... it deserved a spot holder here out of pure speechless awe.
Greeted by the sunrise when freedom camping.
Kaikoura, NZ.
Kaikoura, NZ.
Kaikoura, NZ.
Kaikoura, NZ.
Kaikoura, NZ.
Seal colonys at Kaikoura, NZ.
That sun though. It calls you to come play. Kaikoura, NZ.
Kaikoura, NZ.
Picton, NZ. Crossing to the North Island.
Picton, NZ. Crossing to the North Island.
Crossing to the North Island.
Crossing to the North Island. Over the spread of the two weeks, we put away almost that entire Nescafe!
Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Looks a little cloudy...
Tongariro Alpine Crossing. But ahead of us...
Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The Emerald Lakes.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing. #wemadeitoutalive
JAC transitioned into a campervan/place to hang all our wet clothes! me, Jenna, Amanada
relaxing in the natural thermal hot pools of Rotorua, NZ.
finding a cafe to check in on social media! Rotorua, NZ. Jenna & Amanda
Cornwall Park, One Tree Hill - Auckland, NZ
One Tree Hill - Auckland, NZ
View towards Auckland city centre, One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill - Auckland, NZ. Amanda, me, Jenna
University Clock Tower - Auckland, NZ
Albert Park - Auckland, NZ.
Aotea Square & Auckland Town Hall - Auckland, NZ.
New Zealand makes good use of boxcars!
I basically had to climb a fence to get this pic! :) Auckland, NZ
Best Ugly Bagels - Auckland, NZ
Mountain biking through McLean's Forrest on McLean's Island outside of Christchurch, NZ. Amanda & I
Mountain biking through McLean's Forrest on McLean's Island outside of Christchurch, NZ. Me, Jenna, Amanada
Mountain biking through McLean's Forrest on McLean's Island outside of Christchurch, NZ.
Christchurch, NZ.
Christchurch, NZ.
Like I said... Magic.
Much Love.
“I think I’m quite ready for another adventure.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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