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New Zealand
I fell in love with New Zealand through the Lord of the Rings movies and even more so when I actually visited for the first time in 2005. My dream holiday came true when I spent three months tramping around the South Island in 2008, and I constantly dream up itineraries for my next big visit.

I sat in a Wanaka internet cafe, waiting as the infernally slow internet attempted to load my email inbox. It was 2008 and I only had a $30 brick of a phone and no laptop, so this was the only way I could connect to the rest of the world (and I was fine with…
March 25, 2015 / No Comment / Read More

New Zealand is a country that inspires you to go hiking out into the wilderness. Rugged mountains, picturesque shorelines, and golden tussock-covered rolling hills represent but a small portion of the amazing landscapes you can see if you just lace up a pair of boots, slip on a backpack, and head out onto the trail. For…
March 18, 2015 / No Comment / Read More

One of the main reasons I am a photographer today is the night sky. I remember spending countless nights sitting outside the backcountry huts of New Zealand just taking in the stars, which were often framed by 360º of rugged mountain silhouettes. As wonderful as those memories are, I also remember being frustrated that I…
February 24, 2015 / No Comment / Read More

When someone mentions a Maori tour, it usually brings to mind thoughts of mass tours in Rotorua that consist of a performance following a hangi. Maurice’s Maori Tour in Kaikoura, on NZ’s South Island, was completely different from these tours. Rather than being performed for, we were brought into the culture. Rather than being treated…
November 19, 2014 / No Comment / Read More

With The Hobbit premiering today, there will be plenty of renewed interest in Lord of the Rings-related sites around New Zealand — and with good reason! New Zealand is a stunning country and Peter Jackson did a great job of choosing his filming locations for The Lord of the Rings, so I have no doubt…
November 28, 2012 / No Comment / Read More

I stood in my flippers, looking out at the calm sea beyond. Dorsal fins cut through the surface in every direction, but instead of being scared, I couldn’t wait to get into the water. As our boat had motored out into the Pacific Ocean, we’d watched two pods of dusky dolphins come together in front…
October 28, 2012 / No Comment / Read More

I’ve been thinking a lot about hiking recently, mainly because I’m intent on putting together the best possible entry for Air New Zealand and the DOC’s ‘Great Walker’ competition. The prize? Doing the nine Great Walks of New Zealand in nine weeks while blogging about it. To me, this is pretty much the Holy Grail…
October 18, 2012 / No Comment / Read More

I woke up with a bang — literally. Groggy and feeling a bit stiff from the day before, I’d managed to turn off my alarm, which had been set to give me the perfect amount of time to get ready and get my pack out to the dock for the 9am bag pickup. When I…
October 8, 2012 / No Comment / Read More

The day of my departure for the Queen Charlotte Track brought with it anticipation and a touch of nerves. I was excited to start the first walk on a very tramping-heavy itinerary around the South Island, but at the same time, a little voice at the back of my head was wondering if I was…
August 6, 2012 / No Comment / Read More

The Queen Charlotte Track, which winds its way between Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds in Marlborough, starts its journey at Ship Cove (Meretoto). When I arrived there on a ferry from Picton, I knew that I had plenty of time before dusk (and no tent to set up at my first stop in the Endeavour…
July 25, 2012 / No Comment / Read More
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