What can I say about this place?  It’s amazing and it’s what I call home.  I still find it surreal that I live somewhere so beautiful, so green and so far from where I was for most of my life.  Something just seemed to fit the minute I got here.  The people, the lifestyle and most importantly Sam.  I am still taken back each time I go somewhere new and even though I put up pictures to try and show everyone what they’re missing, the pictures don’t even do it justice.  It is something you truly have to see to believe.

(Thank you to everyone who has come to visit me here–> Mom, Dad, Liv, Jackie, Sara, Grant, Veronica, Cara, Dean, Lauren, Chris, Chris and Emma)

AUCKLAND

New Zealand’s largest city and main hub for most things.  Also where airport is located.

Things to Do:

Visit the Sky Tower.  The tallest man made structure in New Zealand, the Sky Tower is an iconic feature of Auckland.  Go to the top to walk around the glassed in observation deck or pay a bit more and walk outside (with strings attached of course) or bungee off of the side.  The Sky Tower is next to Sky City which contains a casino, hotel and restaurants.

Go to Eden Park or Mt. Smart for a game of New Zealand rugby, rugby league or cricket

Hiking/walking up old volcanoes is a BIG THING in New Zealand- One Tree Hill is one of my favorites in the city.  We were even lucky enough to see a rainbow while up there : )

Home to some of the best boat builders in the world (where America’s Cup boats are built/Team Oracle), take a walk by the Viaduct for a nice water view, tons of boats and cool restaurants.  Also, where you can catch a ferry to places like Waiheke Island.

Waiheke Island- my mom, Sam & I did Eco Zip Adventures Zip lining, which included transport. Amazing views, friendly/knowledgable guides and lots of fun.  WELL worth it!

 

WARKWORTH AREA

This is where we live.  About 45 minutes or so north of Auckland, we are surrounded by the best beaches and “summer lifestyle”.  There are also lots of different hikes, outdoor activities (including the Matakana markets, Goat Island, Tawharanui) and Sheepworld.  The funny thing is that when I went to Barnes and Noble to read all of the New Zealand travel books I could, Sheepworld was the main tourist destination.  Were they wrong!  But Sheepworld does encompass so much of what NZ is known for: sheep and wool!

Things to Do:

TAWHARANUI
The first time I came to visit this park was on Valentine’s Day… Sam and I walked out to the end and saw some awesome views, passing sheep and other hikers along the way.  If you were to go to just one place by us, I suggest this be it.  There is no other park like it in my eyes.

It is also where we got to go look for kiwi birds one night. Kiwi birds are how people from New Zealand their nickname “kiwis” (not from the fruit, as i’m sure most of us thought). My friend Trena’s dad is the park ranger there and lives right outside the gate. After my first lamb dinner one night, we drove in and got to hike all around, listening for sounds of the endangered kiwis while trying to spot them (there are apparently 80 or so in this area). Some of us were fortunate enough to even see one run quickly past us!

PAKIRI

The drive out here is really beautiful and then you’re met by an even more beautiful massive beach.  Very rustic and very private.

GOAT ISLAND
Goat Island is New Zealand’s marine reserve, opening in 1977. It is another beautiful beach/scenic reserve/hiking area where some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving can be had (because of the rocky bottom there are dozens of different types of fish and other things to see in the water there). I came here with Greg and Adan on our little tour and Sam and I have been a few times since with our visitors.  It is a fairly big tourist spot (VERY crowded in the summer) and has lots to do all the time, including rental snorkel/dive gear & a glass bottom boat to see all of the marine life.

 

MT. MAUNGANUI, “THE MOUNT”/TAURANGA/BAY OF PLENTY

This is where Sam’s brother, sister-in law, nieces and nephew live.  We love visiting them here!  The town has lots of shops, restaurants and things to do.  The most popular thing to do here is walk up to the top of Mt. Maunganui and hang out by the beautiful beach or grab some breakfast/something yummy at one of the great cafes by the water afterwards.

NORTHLAND

Home to the beautiful Bay of Islands, Tane Mahuta and Cape Reinga.  Mermaid Pools at Matapouri are also another must do/hidden gem!  An quick and easy trip to do, but explains so much of what New Zealand is.  Especially in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.  So much history and beauty in the northern tip of NZ.

 

TAUPO AREA

When my Dad and Jackie had to pick a place to stay between the Bay of Islands and Taupo and as much as I love up north I had never been to Lake Taupo.  It was PERFECT for the week we were down there… a convenient drive to the infamous Glowworm Caves (the other caves were actually better believe it or not!), Matamata and not too far of a drive from Rotorua and others.  Some of our favorite things in the area were Huka Falls, the Aratiaia Rapids, Lava Glass, Taupo museum, Ernest Kemp Steamboat/Maori Rock Carvings, the spectacular view of Mount Cook.

 

QUEENSTOWN/SOUTH ISLAND

Sam and I finally ventured down here in May and OH MY GOD I thought the North Island was stunning, this was a whole different beast.  This is Lord of the Rings territory- where a lot of filming was done (besides Matamata/Hobbiton on the North Island).  Sam and I hired a car and explored as much as we could.  We stayed in a hotel walking distance from “downtown” Queenstown for the first few days.  Worth it with so many bars, restaurants and things to do.  Not many places are as crowded on a Wednesday night as they are on a Saturday night… but Queenstown place is.  The bars are all unique and have so much energy.  Since Sam and I aren’t into spots that are overly touristy,  we were lucky enough to find some great off-the-beaten-path places/have friends take us where the locals go.  We recommend going to Bob’s Weigh for breakfast, walking Ballarat St for lunch (it’s in the middle of everything, with tons to choose from and has a great/fun feel),

have dinner and a teapot drink at The World Bar, then for some late night fun grab a money shot at Bar up, head to Cowboys for some country music and a great atmosphere and end the night with a warm Cookie Time cookie from their “bar” for a late night treat.  The Skyline gondola is something else you have to do while in Queenstown!  The views from up there can’t be beat.  After a few days in downtown Queenstown, we traveled down the main highway to the little town of  Lumsden to visit some of our wonderful friends Steve & Kelly (it is the turn off to the Milford Sound- another big thing to do down here).  We then continued to Arrowtown (like upstate NY in the fall- old town feel with lots of history and scenery), Cardrona , Wanaka, Paradise (yes it is real- and another place Lord of the Rings was filmed).  At one point, actually to get to Paradise we had to do some off-roading.  It was SO much fun, especially in our teeny tiny Juicy rental car.    This trip is a must-do if visiting to NZ (besides visiting us in the North of course).  Put it on your bucket list.