DAY ONE: My first time going up Mt. Taranaki was when I hiked to Pouakai Tarns, a mirror lake that reflects the mountain, which is the first section of the Pouakai Crossing. I loved this walk because the path was so well-maintained and easy to follow. It was incredible how curated and constructed the wooden …
Wellington is an upbeat, young and hip city. After spending time in Auckland, which was more globally-minded and posh, Wellington was a breath of fresh air. From diverse food and street art to sweeping city views and terraced landscaping, Wellington had character. On our way down, we stopped at Lake Taupo for coffee and saw …
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is ‘one of the most surreal places on earth.’ TripAdvisor Visiting Wai-O-Tapu, an active geothermal park, was the first moment in New Zealand where I thought deeply about how unique this area is and how it can only be found here. It was stunning and other-worldly. I kept thinking I was on …
Certain places have a distinct and lingering smell: New York notoriously smells like garbage, Fez, Morocco smells like leather tanneries (dead animals), and Rotorua, New Zealand smells like sulfur. At first, I could barely smell the sulfuric odor, but the closer we got to the hot pools the more pungent the odor. As Nick and …
Well, today may have been our most insane adventure yet. From going caving in the middle of winter to see glow worms, to meeting a friend-of-a-friend, who owns a coffee shop in a 9,000 person town in rural New Zealand, I am not sure which part was more shocking! So, Waitomo, NZ, 2 hours south …
On Sunday afternoon, we drove out to Kariotahi Beach. It was so stunning. The sun was beginning to set and the green hills contrasted the blue ocean, which contrasted the black sand. It was remarkable (and freezing!). We drove out along the beach and ventured both north and south with our car on the sand. …
The journey from Santa Barbara, CA to New Zealand was surprisingly short and sweet. After getting 6 hours of sleep on the plane and watching a man storm down the aisle having a meltdown because his wife moved seats away from him (think Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids but less funny and more concerning), the 13-hour …