Scenes from New Zealand

 
 

Mount Victoria, Wellington

My friend, Nigel, showing me one of his favourite local spots

My friend, Nigel, showing me one of his favourite local spots

Wrights Watergardens, Auckland

Since we moved to New Zealand when I was four years old, my parents have done a variety of odd jobs: cleaning, selling wheatgrass juicers, running a mini-mart in Avondale, a butchery in Glen Innes, and a bar in Mangere. Their hard work has paid off and they now do this for a living: running, tending to, and constantly improving this beautiful watergarden and sprawling park in Patumahoe. Check it out if you're in Auckland; the entire place is renovated and covered in blossoming waterlilies now

Since we moved to New Zealand when I was four years old, my parents have done a variety of odd jobs: cleaning, selling wheatgrass juicers, running a mini-mart in Avondale, a butchery in Glen Innes, and a bar in Mangere. Their hard work has paid off and they now do this for a living: running, tending to, and constantly improving this beautiful watergarden and sprawling park in Patumahoe. Check it out if you're in Auckland; the entire place is renovated and covered in blossoming waterlilies now

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

Queenstown is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Every afternoon you can see young couples and flocks of adventurous backpackers enjoying a beer by the water

Queenstown is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Every afternoon you can see young couples and flocks of adventurous backpackers enjoying a beer by the water

Queenstown-Glenorchy Drive

At the end of this stunning half-hour drive was a quaint little town called Glenorchy. When we arrived at 8pm, not even the petrol station was open

At the end of this stunning half-hour drive was a quaint little town called Glenorchy. When we arrived at 8pm, not even the petrol station was open

Mt. Aspiring National Park, Otago

Now you can see what the logo for Mainland Cheese was inspired by!

Now you can see what the logo for Mainland Cheese was inspired by!

Mt. Aspiring National Park, Otago

Snow-capped mountains and blazing summer heat, gushing glacial water and little white dots of sheep. If you could sum up New Zealand in one picture then this would probably be it

Snow-capped mountains and blazing summer heat, gushing glacial water and little white dots of sheep. If you could sum up New Zealand in one picture then this would probably be it

Piha Beach, West Auckland

The west coast of Auckland is lined by rugged, dramatic black sand beaches. Piha is the most renowned. It's a beautiful yet eerie place. The rip tides are unforgiving; many people die here each year.

The west coast of Auckland is lined by rugged, dramatic black sand beaches. Piha is the most renowned. It's a beautiful yet eerie place. The rip tides are unforgiving; many people die here each year.

Karekare Beach, WEST Auckland

Not a footprint or person in sight! We dozed off in the silence and woke up covered in sand and sunburns

Not a footprint or person in sight! We dozed off in the silence and woke up covered in sand and sunburns

Muriwai Surf Beach, West Auckland

The most popular surf spot in West Auckland. You can buy fresh strawberry ice cream down the road but the line often goes out the door

The most popular surf spot in West Auckland. You can buy fresh strawberry ice cream down the road but the line often goes out the door

Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua

Whakarewarewa is a sprawling forest of redwoods. This water has been tinted blue by volcanic minerals

Whakarewarewa is a sprawling forest of redwoods. This water has been tinted blue by volcanic minerals

Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua

Wai-o-Tapu is a total tourist trap and the bane of every NCEA Geography student, but you must admit that its array of geothermal pools in every shade of the rainbow is pretty cool

Wai-o-Tapu is a total tourist trap and the bane of every NCEA Geography student, but you must admit that its array of geothermal pools in every shade of the rainbow is pretty cool

Fiordland National Park

Roland and I stumbled into this field during a water stop after visiting Milford Sound. These flowers looks like lavenders but they're actually called lupins

Roland and I stumbled into this field during a water stop after visiting Milford Sound. These flowers looks like lavenders but they're actually called lupins

 

Places on the bucket list

 

MOUNT COOK, CANTERBURY

ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK

CATHEDRAL COVE, COROMANDEL

MOERAKI BOULDERS, OTAGO

LAKE MATHESON, SOUTH WESTLAND

MACKENZIE COUNTRY, SOUTH ISLAND