New Zealand
not only the longest trip we've ever taken, but also the farthest away New Zealand will no doubt remain our favorite for years to come. follow us on our New Zealand adventure...
how? use the google map below or use a larger map with a location list, to follow our journey. you can click on each of the icons and also the routes between cities for a description. clicking on the description will jump down to the pictures on this page. or you could always just scroll down as usual, if you are from the past.
the South Island
Brit looks pretty excited despite the fact we're about to get on a plane for 4 hours, then 12 hours and then another 3.
Ooh mountains!
south island | Christchurch
Christchurch, the largest city on the south island, was our starting point for our journey. We spent one night and happened across a wandering Joe.
Dux de Lux was hands down the best restaurant we found. It helped they had pretty good beer too.
Brit got some prawn heads. Yum she sez.
JOE!
The next morning we picked up the campervan. This is a view of the non-living area. Notice Redbull. Apparently New Zealand dosen't love coffee as much as we do.
Brit's suitcase had to live in the toliet. It was too large and purple to fit anywhere else.
The little fridge was just the right size for the necessities such as beer and cheese.
The best campervan driver ever.
south island | Dunedin
A view from the road of death. Not a very convincing picture, but there's a cliff there.
We never realized how large albatrosses are.
Brit after she was pooped on. Second change of clothes for the day.
The Albatross Centre had a nice cliff. We even saw seals playing in the surf.
Ryan taking some great pictures.
Lighthouse.
Surf!
Brit's buddy.
Next we drove to the penguin beach but we ended up missing all the penguins. You were supposed to hide in a hut and wait for them. Apparently penguins have very good vision. We lost interest way before they showed up.
south island | The Catlins
The Catlins are the Southern most part of the South Island and are full of dense rainforest-type forests. After a night at some guy's farm disguised as a holiday park, we took a hike to McLean falls. Then on to the Cathedral Caves.
On the way to McLean Falls.
McLean Falls.
If you happen to find a memory card send it our way. We think it's right about here.
Artsy!
You can only visit the Cathedral Caves for a short amount of time, low tide. Everyone had to go all at once.
Usually this spot is underwater.
This is what you would see if you were a penguin.
Oh noes a wave! Look out honey!
Eeeeek.
Roll up your pants, low tide isn't quite low enough.
Brit looking like quite the adventurer.
Should have brought the headlamps.
We made it to the other side!
Rouge wave! Good thing I wore my trunks.
Time for the tide to come and erase our footprints.
Shoe carrying guy.
south island | Fiordland
The campervan looked at home at the holiday park in Te Anau.
Brit and I with Fiordland in the background. /(Take 4/)
The campervan actually looks at home everywhere here.
Ryan's best 'Abbey Road' impression.
The land of Fiordland.
The best lunch spot ever.
The best lunch snack ever. Chips with Lambies! And mint?
Makin' lunch.
Do I look like the Lord of The Rings?
I think I see a Hobbit!
It's getting foggier up here.
Did I mention it rains a lot here?
Tunnel. We had to wait our turn.
The Keas wanted our chips.
Evil eye, KRRAAA!
The Chasm.
Brit says 'OH!'
It's a long way down.
The view out of our back window at Milford Sound Lodge.
The stream in our backyard.
The waterfall that Milford Sound gets all of it's power and water from.
It stopped raining just long enough to take this picture.
And this one. Not appearing in this picture is our new friend the sand fly.
I like sand flies.
And mountains.
That's better.
The best beer and pizza in Milford Sound. The only beer and pizza in Milford Sound.
We took a cruise on the sound, which is actually a fiord.
It rained. Lots.
The boat on the right gives perspective to the size of the cliffs.
Windy.
These are non-permanent water falls. They only exist when it's raining.
I like that one, let's get a closer look.
Too close!
The cruise was the best way to see the fiord.
Crazy hair.
This waterfall is full of majesty.
... and it started raining again.
Can you count all of the seals in this picture?
There isn't any soil on the cliff face, so all of the plants have to hang from each other's roots.
Back through the tunnel, out of Fiordland.
