Category Archives: New Zealand

Number of wineries visited:  14 Number of bottles puchased: 22 Number of wine regions visited: 5 Central Otago Region Akaura Winery – good Rose   What was this one called?   Three Miners Winery  Tasting at the Lazy Dog:  Como … Continue reading →

The botanical wonders of New Zealand are exactly that – wonders.  Some of the plants here are just weird, but in their own beautiful way of course.  Many species are endemic to the islands, which makes it even more fun … Continue reading →

This was perhaps the most visually stunning place of our trip, or maybe just the most photogenic?  Either way, enjoy these pics from our lodge and the couple day hikes we did. Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook in the background: … Continue reading →

“We realized the beauty of this hike is not to see great mountains in the sunshine, but rather to see all the waterfalls in the rain.”   New Zealand has several “great walks” of which the country is very proud. These … Continue reading →

We decided to do two different day hikes in this national park while staying in Wanaka and Arrowtown. Day hike on the Routeburn Track.   The Routeburn Track is one of the seven famous “walks” of New Zealand – to … Continue reading →

What its officially called: Slingshot over canyon What it really is: jumping off a platform, free-falling 200′, and then swinging in a pendulum way out over the canyon and river below. Details: 109 meters high (appx 340 feet) 60 meter … Continue reading →

Route: Klondyke carpark → Crow Hut → Klondyke carpark Appx 10 miles “We thought boots were for keeping feet dry. Turns out, they are for keeping wet feet comfortable.”   Here is where we are going, up the rock face then to … Continue reading →

Day trip to Abel Tasman All we could say was, “This park is amazing.  The water is SO BLUE!”  Its like the Caribbean, and although we are close to Antartica, its not even that cold.   We took a lovely … Continue reading →

Route:  St. Arnard –> Lakehead hut –> Angelus Hut –> Speargrass Hut –> St. Arnard. Appx 30 miles.    “Beautiful, and surprisingly difficult for the altitude.”   We packed enough food for a lifetime (or a week).  Being our first true wilderness … Continue reading →