I've Been to the Land Down Under

Two and a half weeks, five people in a five person car, all of our camping gear and the west coast of New Zealand's South Island to explore. We experienced the beautiful contrasts between the cultivated and wild landscapes, felt dwarfed by the mountains and calmed by crashing waves that lulled us to sleep. We kayaked in the Tasman sea, hiked up mountains, drove (a lot), swam in blue pools, and jumped from bridges (bungees attached...sometimes). We are now left with indescribable moments of awe at what nature has to offer and a hunger to come back and continue exploring. This is an incredibly abbreviated version of our trip and it will take me a while to cull through my memories to choose one to recount here. In the meantime, enjoy these images.

Ferry from Wellington, New Zealand

Ferry from Wellington, New Zealand

Sunset in Nelson, New Zealand

Sunset in Nelson, New Zealand

Sunrise on Te Pukatea, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Sunrise on Te Pukatea, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Sunset on Onetahuti, Abel Tasman National Park , New Zealand

Sunset on Onetahuti, Abel Tasman National Park , New Zealand

Catching a water taxi in Awaroa Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Catching a water taxi in Awaroa Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Greymouth, New Zealand

Greymouth, New Zealand

Car trouble in Hari Hari, New Zealand (our car is not pictured).

Car trouble in Hari Hari, New Zealand (our car is not pictured).

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Gillespies Beach Campground, Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Gillespies Beach Campground, Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Reflection of Mt. Cook at Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Reflection of Mt. Cook at Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Summit of Roys Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand

Summit of Roys Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand

Our trusty car entering Fiordland, New Zealand

Our trusty car entering Fiordland, New Zealand

Sunrise at Cascade Creek Campground, Fiordland, New Zealand

Sunrise at Cascade Creek Campground, Fiordland, New Zealand

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Setting up camp near Queenstown, New Zealand

Setting up camp near Queenstown, New Zealand

(Somewhat successful shot) near Queenstown, New Zealand

(Somewhat successful shot) near Queenstown, New Zealand