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South Island of New Zealand

The South Island of New Zealand once attracted gold seekers from all over the world. However, it was something far more precious that brought us to this remote land: nature in its purest form. Here are some of our favorite spots on New Zealand’s South Island:

Fiordland National Park: The jewel of New Zealand lies in its southwestern corner, within this national park where majestic landscapes leave us speechless. From kayaking on Doubtful Sound to cruising on Milford Sound, and hiking the Great Walks, the adventures here are endless.
Mount Cook National Park: The most stunning alpine landscapes stretch at the foot of the country’s highest mountain. Glaciers and mountain huts remind us of European regions, but the noisy Kea parrot quickly shatters this illusion.
Birds of the East Coast: Extremes meet on the east coast of the South Island. On one hand, the world’s largest bird, the Royal Albatross, whose only mainland colony is found on the Otago Peninsula. On the other, the smallest species of penguin, the Little Blue Penguin, which rushes onto the beach by the hundreds every evening after a long day of fishing.
Roy’s Peak: Not far from Wanaka, despite a somewhat monotonous ascent, Roy’s Peak (1,578m) rewards us with breathtaking views of Lake Wanaka and the towering peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Abel Tasman National Park: Wild coves with turquoise waters, fine sandy beaches, and a Mediterranean feel characterize this national park. A magnificent trail follows the coastline, but beware of extreme tides that sometimes submerge parts of the path.

North Island of New Zealand

255 years ago, James Cook crossed for the first time the strait that now bears his name. Today, it’s our turn to navigate these waters and leave New Zealand’s North Island, where we spent 3 weeks, for the South Island. Here are some of our highlights of the North Island:

Tongariro Alpine Crossing: This legendary walk crosses Tongariro National Park. From fern forests to volcanic landscapes, this hike takes us into the most extreme biomes the North Island has to offer. It was also during this trek that, filled with empathy for the valiant hobbits, we walked in the shadow of the Lord of the Rings’ menacing Mount Doom.
Mount Taranaki: Considered by many to be the most beautiful mountain in the world, Mount Taranaki overlooks the Egmont National Park region, which offers many spectacular walks. Among these, the Holy Grail is of course the ascent of Mount Taranaki itself. Beware, however, as this long and technical climb is reserved for the bravest and most persevering hikers.
Waitomo Caves: Far from the mountains, it was beneath the surface, exploring the famous Waitomo Caves, that we had the most astounding experiences. Our guest stars were the glowworms that light up the caves.
Cape Kidnappers: On the eastern side of the island, far from the tourist circuit, lies the Australasian gannet colony of Cape Kidnappers. It’s on the vertiginous cliffs of this cape that these birds look after their chicks, an unforgettable spectacle.
Hobbiton: Lord of the Rings fans will feel right at home in Hobbiton, the movie set used to represent the peaceful Hobbits' Shire. Here, for a few hours, you can step into the shoes of Frodo, Bilbo, or Sam, and enjoy the simple life of these warm-hearted beings.

Auckland

After spending a few days in Auckland, we are excited to continue our journey exploring the North Island of New Zealand. Here are some of the highlights of our stay in the city:

Tiritiri Matangi Island: We took a boat ride from Auckland (with the company Explore) and were dropped off on a completely wild island for the day. We walked around the entire island – it only takes a few hours – and were treated to some amazing birdwatching: from the giant New Zealand Pigeon, to the dinosaur-looking Pukeko, and the colorful Red-crowned Parakeet.
Sailing in Auckland’s harbor: We boarded the 1995 America’s Cup-winning sailing boat (again with Explore) and sailed just outside Auckland's harbor. We even got to help raise and trim the sails to catch the wind. The boat's speed and tilt were truly impressive!
Mount Eden: After a short ascent, we were rewarded with a remarkable vista of downtown Auckland from the summit of Mount Eden, an extinct volcanic crater. The view here has to be much better than the one from the Sky Tower, since you can see the tower itself from the top of the crater. While the Sky Tower is no longer the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, it still dominates Auckland's skyline.