Sights Along the Southern Scenic Route On our journey from our Christmas beach getaway in Dunedin towards the mountains of Queenstown and Wanaka, we saw many sights. We visited the Nugget Point Lighthouse, walked through a petrified Jurassic forest, and stood on the southernmost point of New Zealand's south island, where we were just under … Continue reading Our Final Two Weeks on the Road in New Zealand
The first European to set his sights on the New Zealand coastlines was Abel Tasman, who reached New Zealand on December 18th, 1642, though he did not set foot on land. The local tribe at the time, Ngāti Tumatakokiri, were eventually replaced by Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Tama in the region by the … Continue reading Our First Great Walk: Tramping in Abel Tasman National Park
When John and I sat down at a table in Auckland to plan what our month of travel would look like, everything started to fall into place. Suddenly, planning felt easier and more familiar—we’d tackled problems like this before. Campgrounds, food planning, how many kilometers to travel in a day. We decided to rent a … Continue reading Life on the Left Side of the Road
No one talks about the challenges of travel. Our phones and computer screens are plastered from top to bottom with romanticized images of foreign countries, smiling faces with new friends, and extravagant or extravagantly simple experiences. And why would anyone want to talk about it? Why should we show weakness when we know our friends … Continue reading Week 1: Auckland to the Bay of Islands
Sometimes when I close my eyes—in between looking at flights, sorting through my things, and the endless bouts of packing and repacking—I see myself as a bright red balloon, floating through the sky. I can see the places that have shaped me into who I am today: Duluth, MN; Gustavus; the Great Smoky Mountains; Denali, … Continue reading Next stop: New Zealand
The Curiosity Chronicles 