Welcome to New Zealand, the land of stunning beauty! Aotearoa is more than just a destination – it’s a place where nature is magnificent and adventure is just around the corner. With four wheels and a good dose of adventure, we head to the land of fluffy sheep, turquoise lakes and majestic mountains. From snow-capped peaks to geothermal wonders, we were ready to make our own mark on this stunning country.
29/05/2018 Goodbye, kangaroos! Hello, kiwis!
Our journey began early in the morning with a flight from Cairns via Brisbane to Christchurch, New Zealand. After collecting our van and overcoming a few minor complications, we immediately felt the cold difference from Australia. Despite this, we were full of anticipation for the days ahead.
30/05/2018 Between sunset and a starry sky
On the second day of our trip through New Zealand, we explored the charming city of Christchurch. We got a new SIM card and bought warm clothes for the coming days. We then made our way to stunning Lake Tekapo. The lake with its picturesque church was just beautiful. We enjoyed the sunset and decided to continue to Lake Pukaki. At first we had trouble finding our exact location. But from the pictures on our camera we knew we were on a lake with the majestic Mount Aoraki in the background. The starry sky above us was simply overwhelming.
31/05/2018 A slippery ride
There were a lot of clouds over Lake Pukaki in the morning, but that didn’t stop us from continuing on to Twitzel and eventually Mount Cook National Park. We walked 10 kilometres through snow and ice, with Carlo slipping quite a bit. The view of Hooker Lake made it all worthwhile. On the way back we drove along Lake Pukaki and found a place to sleep close to the famous Moeraki Boulders.
01/06/2018 Sunrise with the dinosaurs
In the early morning we saw an impressive sunrise at the Moeraki Boulders. In the afternoon we drove to Nugget Point to explore the fascinating coastal landscape in the west of New Zealand. In the evening we cooked pasta and returned to the lighthouse to experience the different light conditions. We were rewarded with a stunning sunset and enjoyed star gazing and a clear view of the Milky Way.
What a day! From the incredibly beautiful sunrise at the dinosaur eggs to the day and evening at Nugget Point, we saw the sky in the most beautiful colours! The starry skies in New Zealand are simply indescribable.
02/06/2018 Unexpected revelation at Bob's Peak
This day we took a longer drive to Milford Sound. We walked around and admired a beautiful waterfall and the stunning scenery. We continued on to Queenstown and enjoyed a spectacular sunset on Lake Wakatipu. In the evening, Anna had the idea to drive up Bob’s Peak. However, we found out that you can only get to the viewing platform by gondola. So we drove to a more secluded lake and let the evening pass. That night we were again able to capture some fascinating star images.
In Anna’s defence: On the map it really looked like you could drive up the mountain! Who could have known that this was not possible and that you had to take a gondola! Still: It was a bit of an adventure!
03/06/2018 Up high!
This day was all about exploring the beautiful city of Queenstown. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand. We took the gondola up to Bob’s Peak and were rewarded with a breathtaking view, especially after dark. As we had a longer hike planned for the next day, we took it easy and enjoyed the atmosphere of the city. In the evening we treated ourselves to the famous Fergburger – the best burger in New Zealand.
Yep, we made it up there! And it was worth it. The view from up there was fantastic and we were there at just the right time. The sun was slowly setting and everything was glowing in the most beautiful colours. Later in the evening, despite the city lights, you could even see the stars!
04/06/2018 From the valley of sorrows to the mountain air
This day was a real adventure. We took on the challenging hike up Roy’s Peak. Right from the start of the walk we were challenged by the incline and the altitude difference of 1500 metres. We finally reached the summit through thick clouds and snow. At the top we were rewarded with a breathtaking view. We also met some nice people who had taken on the same adventure. The descent was just as strenuous as the ascent, but we arrived safely at the bottom. In the evening we went to the Wanaka Tree for an unforgettable sunset.
05/06/2018 Mirror, mirror,...
After the strenuous hike the day before, we needed some rest and relaxation. We took a short 4 kilometre walk to Lake Matheson to admire the beautiful reflection of the mountains in the clear water. It was a bit windy but still a magical sight.
06/06/2018 Pan-tastic adventures
This day we went to the Hokitika Gorge. We crossed a slightly rickety suspension bridge and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We then drove to Pancake Rocks where we got an immediate appetite for pancakes. We continued on to Kaikoura where we had booked a whale watching tour for the next day. For dinner we had – of course – pancakes!
07/06/2018 Whale hello!
Unfortunately, our whale watching trip was cancelled due to rain and strong winds. It was the first time we had bad weather in New Zealand. But we were optimistic and booked the tour again for the next day. After breakfast on the coast, we thought we had seen a dolphin – but it was an orca! Amazing! Afterwards we went to a cafe to write some postcards. Later we went out again and saw lots of seals in their natural habitat – beautiful animals that amazed us.
What a day! First we were bummed that we had to postpone the whale trip, and then we saw an orca from the shore! Anna actually ran over to get a closer look. And then the sight of these cute, snoozing seals – the day became another highlight!
08/06/2018 Meeting the sea giants
Finally the time had come – we were off on our long-awaited whale tour in Kaikoura. Although it was still a bit windy and there were warnings of seasickness, we weren’t worried. We were lucky! We saw two sperm whales at the same time and were able to admire their majesty. What a fascinating sight. But that wasn’t all – we were also rewarded with the sight of albatrosses, beautiful birds soaring above the sea and even dolphins. They were clearly enjoying themselves and accompanied our boat with elegant jumps and playfulness. It was an incredible day that we will not soon forget.
I don’t think there’s much to say. It was one of the best days of our trip!
09/06/2018 Penguins, please come in!
Hoping to see penguins, we headed to the Marlborough Sounds. Unfortunately, we were not lucky, but the picturesque beauty of the area made up for it. Then we went to the ferry that took us from Picton on the South Island to Wellington on the North Island. The crossing was a bit bumpy and neither of us felt very well. In the evening we decided to relax in a spa to recover from the journey.
10/06/2018 Māori magic
In Wellington, we visited the Te Papa Museum, which fascinated us with its impressive design and lots of information about Māori culture. Afterwards we went to a nearby volcano. Unfortunately, there were many clouds in the sky and we could not see Mt Taranaki. We decided to spend the night at the visitor centre and hoped for better weather the next day.
We always look forward to experiencing the culture of other countries and people. We can highly recommend the Te Papa Museum in Wellington, it’s really well designed and explains Maori history very well!
11/06/2018 Scenery from a distance
Unfortunately, the clouds were still there the next day, so we couldn’t do a hike to the impressive Mt Taranaki. However, we were able to admire the mountain from a distance. We made our way to Tongariro National Park, but again the clouds blocked our view of the imposing Mt. Our next destination was Taupo, where we finally arrived and admired the picturesque surroundings.
12/06/2018 Smells and colours
In the morning we considered a second attempt at Tongariro National Park, but the weather had not yet improved. Instead we visited the impressive Huka Falls, a spectacular waterfall with strong currents. We then drove to Orakei Korako, a geothermal park with a cave. It was amazing to endure the sickening smell of sulphur while admiring the beautiful and fascinating colours of the surroundings. We returned to the starting point in a small boat.
To Mt. Taranaki: Even though we didn’t hike to the volcano, the view of the mountain was incredibly beautiful!
To the geothermal area: Who would have thought that such a place would be so bearable when it glows in such cool colours! But the smell of sulphur was really exhausting.
13/06/2018 All good things come in threes
On this day we celebrated our anniversary in New Zealand – three years of Carlo & Anna! We went to Wai-O-Tapu, another geothermal area and it was really impressive! One of the highlights was the green lake – the so-called “Devil’s Bath”. We also witnessed a spectacular eruption of Lady Knox Geyser. The smell of sulphur followed us everywhere we went, but it was still a fascinating experience. Shortly after our visit to Rotorua we had to visit a mechanic as the engine light came on. Luckily everything turned out to be fine.
Happy 3 years, Buddy!
14/06/2018 A journey worthy of a movie
Today was a magical day as we visited Hobbiton, the Shire from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. A guided walk through the picturesque landscape immersed us in a fantastic world. The weather cooperated and we were able to enjoy the beautiful tour to its fullest. In the evening we drove to Coromandel and took a short walk to the cave. Not only were we able to admire the beauty of the cave, but also the clear starry sky and even some shooting stars.
15/06/2018 Souvenir hunt
After arriving in Auckland, we used the day to walk around the city, go shopping and buy some new shoes and souvenirs. It was a relaxing day to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and slowly prepare for the journey home.
We have arrived at the last stop of our journey. We try to ignore this fact and focus on the last few days in Auckland! This trip is just too good to end! This trip is just too good to end!
16/06/2018 Splashing around and last minute hustle and bustle
This day was all about relaxing. We went to an indoor swimming pool, did some more shopping and then had to go back to the pool because Carlo had forgotten his shoes. After that we headed back to our campsite and prepared ourselves for our upcoming goodbye to New Zealand.
17/06/2018 Farewell tears
On our last full day in New Zealand, we finally found a nice gift shop and bought some cultural souvenirs from our trip. Unfortunately, we lost our parking ticket, which should have cost us $72. Luckily, we were met by a nice Parks Service employee who kindly gave us his ticket. We were impressed by the friendliness of the New Zealanders! After getting everything packed, we spent the evening sightseeing and enjoying our last few hours in this beautiful country.
18/06/2018 "Holy shit, 10 months?"
On our last day in New Zealand we returned our camper van and took a taxi to the airport. During the ride, we chatted with our taxi driver about our Oceania trip and were overwhelmed by the experiences of the last 10 months. Arriving at the airport, we prepared for the long flight home with all our luggage. First we flew from Auckland to Brisbane, then from Brisbane to Abu Dhabi and finally from Abu Dhabi to Düsseldorf. After a total of 25 hours of flight time, we were exhausted but grateful for the unforgettable memories we had made in Oceania. Our return was celebrated with a welcome home party where we shared our experiences and stories with friends and family.
This trip showed us once again: our planet is magnificent. New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful country with more sheep than people, a wonderful culture, very friendly people and a diverse landscape – from mountains and volcanoes to beautiful cities and geothermal areas. We are grateful for the experience and can’t wait to come back!
