Milford Sound

Greetings Everyone! So I am going to start off by saying, this was the best day of my life. It was absolutely amazing! Beth and I started the day with a really early morning, boarded a coach bus and started our way to beautiful Fiordlands National Park to see the stunning Milford sound. It was a Long 5 hour bus trip there but totally worth it. The drive was up and down through rolling hills then through sketchy mountain passes and under mountains through tunnels. We were allowed breaks though for some photo ops though. One of the first places we stopped was just when we entered the park. The whole area is a temperate rainforest so it is thick with huge trees and green undergrowth. The stop was at the Mirror Lakes. Crystal clear little ponds at the bottom of a canyon and bushy jungle all around. The forest where the lakes were was also where Peter Jackson filmed a lot of the scenes from Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, that were in a forest. Then we got back on the bus and kept going. Next we stopped off at a beautiful mountain stream. The water was so clean and clear that it is actually safe to drink straight from it. So beth and I took that opportunity to fill up our water bottles and drink the refreshing mountain water! Then we journeyed a little farther through tunnels and passes and around huge mountains with glaciers clinging to the sides and we finally made it! The Fiord! Milford Sound! One of the most beautiful places on earth and a world heritage sight. It was breath taking, I cannot even begin to describe what it looked like. But we boarded the boat for a 2 1/2 hour cruise through the fiord and out to the Tasman sea and back. It was incredibly windy in the fiord, up to 60mph! But it was a clear as can be day, and we couldn't have asked for anything more. We were very lucky to be there on such a nice day. It is a rainforest area and rains most of the time. There was blue clear water, seals, mountain cliffs that were two times the height of the Empire state building, water falls and Dolphins riding the bow of the boat. What a perfect day! We then docked the boat and got ready to drive the 5 hour bus trip home (BOOO!) but wait! There was an option to take a 40 min scenic plane ride back to Queenstown! As we all know, Beth is not a very fond flier... But with a lot of convincing and reassuring she finally gave in! YES! We get to the little air field that cant be more than football field size, board our little 8 seater plane and took off between the mountains on either side of Milford Sound. Good god this was amazing. The most beautiful places on earth and we are getting an areal view of them! We were flying right next to the glaciers on the mountains and seeing the blue lakes of glacial melt off from above. Wow... I don't think I will ever see anything more beautiful than that the rest of my life. Beth was not to keen on the view, I think she was just trying to concentrate on breathing in and out... The bumps and drops were awesome for me, but she was not too happy about them. OH WELL! I have never had more fun! We finally landed safe and sound in the airport at Queenstown and got back to our hotel. We then had burgers from the best hamburger place in the world, Fergburger. And yes, I agree, best. burger. ever! So all in all a spectacular day. I don't know how I will ever top that! Well thats all for now! Cheers!

Drive to Queenstown

Beth and I got up early this morning and drove to the supermarket for fresh pastries and yogurt for breakfast, we also had to buy a blow dryer for Beth, cause there was “no way I’m letting my hair air dry!” because we stayed in my flat instead of a hotel. So after we were all showered and clean we started our journey away from the coast and into the mountains to the little town of Queenstown. Once we turned off the coastal highway and started gaining altitude I was noticing how unique and interesting some of the rock formations were that were poking out of the sea of gold grasses that lined the valleys in between the mountains. I swear I was going to see Gandolf riding his horse in the distance as I looked closer, because I was sure I had journeyed into Middle earth and had joined the hobbits from Lord of the Rings. But Beth and I had to leave Middle earth and followed the winding road along a mountain stream that would take us all the way to Queenstown. When we were only a half hour from Queenstown, Beth and I were surrounded by beautiful mountain vineyards that produce some of the best Pinot noirs in the world! (Don’t worry, we did sample them later that night :D). When we finally got to Queenstown we were greeted by high mountain peaks and a beautiful blue lake. We walked along the shore and dipped our feet into the cool water, and ate outside in the warm mountain air. We wandered around in town for awhile and then watched the sunset behind the mountains. We are calling it an early night tonight because we have a long early day tomorrow! Cheers for now!

Oamaru, Moeraki, Dunedin

Kia Ora everyone! Hope everyone is well! Today Beth and I left beautiful Christchurch and journeyed down south to Dunedin. It was an interesting start to the day because Beth and I had to learn how to drive on the opposite side of the road! It would have been hilarious to see us shouting back and forth “No! other side of the road! Look the other way! YOU TURNED INTO THE WRONG LANE!” But we finally got the hang of it and went on our way. We first stopped off at a little seaside town called Oamaru and saw our first glimpses of the beautiful ocean. The sea is an amazing Marine blue color that took my breath away. There is also a little blue penguin colony right by the pier, but as the penguins aren’t there until dusk we didn’t get to see them and had to move on. The next place we stopped was the Moeraki boulders. Ancient Maori legend says that these perfectly spherical naturally occurring boulders were created by baskets of food that were dropped into the ocean by ancestors from Polynesia that first discovered the island. It really is a magnificent natural wonder! The boulders are all scattered in a small stretch of beach and they truly are perfectly round! We then continued south to Dunedin, my hometown for the next five months! The city is nestled into the harbor on the innerside of the Otago peninsula, with beautiful views of the bay and just a short walk away from one of the best surfing beaches in New Zealand. The university is just gorgeous sitting right in the heart of the town and a few minutes walk away from the city center the “Octagon”. Beth and I picked up my keys and went to see the flat I would be living. It is awesome! My room is huge fully equipped with a fire place, full bed, sink(!) and two huge windows that look out into a little courtyard with roses and a big tree.  I know I will be very happy there for the next few months and couldn’t ask for a better place to live. Till next time! Cheers

Day 2 Christchurch

We finally made it to New Zealand! Landed safe and sound in Christchurch! We spent the whole wondering around the city center. There were beautiful botanical gardens all along a meandering stream (called the Avon River) that runs through the heart of the city. It was interesting to be here at this time because a lot of the cities most popular attractions were blocked off due to earthquake damage. There were two large earthquakes here one in 2010 and one in 2011 that were absolutely devastating. The famous Christchurch cathedral was in shambles. But other than that the city is really beautiful. Christchurch is known for having a very “English/ European feel”.  The gardens are so amazing, we were told they are some of the best in the world, with magnificent rose and water gardens. There was another very interesting shopping center called the Re- Start. After the earthquakes they were in need of a shopping district so they shipped in a bunch of shipping containers and created little cafes and shops out of them. It was really cool!  We also had amazing food, coffee and wine! So Far We are loving New Zealand!

Travel/ Melbourne AUS

Beth and I landed safe and sound in Melbourne AUS after our 16 hour flight from LAX! We had an 8 hour layover in Australia so we took a bus to the city center of Melbourne and had a look around. It was super cool because it was Australia day! The day the Aussies got their independence, so just like our 4th of July. There were little street fairs, tons of face painting and flags plus a really cool air show. We also walked past where the Australian open is held. We had tons of fun, but we are both super tired. Only 5 more hours of traveling left to go then we get to sleep! Thank god! Love and miss you all!

Packing

All Packed and ready to leave! I can't believe my whole life can fit into 3 bags! I've got a 3 hour flight to LA, then a 16 hour flight to Australia then finally after another 3 hour flight I'll land in Christchurch!

Test pic

Pre Departure

I'm so excited, I leave for NZ in 3 days! I am just sort of trying out posting in my travel blog to work out the kinks before I go. So stay tuned for what I hope will be many exciting adventures to come!