New Zealand

Despite its infamous metropolitan destination of Las Vegas, most of Nevada is wilderness. Nevada has the most Federal land of any state in the lower 48 of the United States. The result is wide expanses of public land to explore. It is a state of in-betweens: connecting the lush mountainous Lake Tahoe to the bleakly beautiful expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats and fantastical red sandstone formations of Valley of Fire.

Things To See In New Zealand

Tramp through Aoraki National Park
Spot a Kea
Relax in a hot spring
Spot waterfalls in Milford Sound

Exploring the back roads to Skipper's Canyon, lunch on the the lake, and wine tasting pinot noir around Queenstown, New Zealand — **Wakatipu Basin**
Queenstown

After a sleepless flight, we arrive in New Zealand to picnic along the ‎⁨Ngongotaha Lakefront Reserve, check into to Rotorua, and explore Waiotapu⁩. — **Champagne Pool**
Waiotapu

A Note On Language

The primary language of New Zealand is English. But like any living language, particular words do not always mean the same thing. Within an hour of arriving in New Zealand, we were flummoxed in trying to buy an ice cooler to keep food and drinks chilled along our trip. It wasn’t until one very kind lady stopped us and noted “I think you’re looking for a chilly bin.” And yes, when we asked a shop employee for a “chilly bin” they took us to the aisle in question. We took it as a learning experience. There were many terms we had to learn while in New Zealand. The key is to be considerate and open to correction.

Visiting Parks In New Zealand

In a country as wildly diverse and breathtaking as New Zealand, the parks are similarly at another level. These public lands share the the dramatic glaciers and mountains of Aoraki and Tongariro, the thermal activity in Craters of the Moon, or the dramatic waterfalls and ocean life of Milford Sound.

Contending against gale force winds to see a glacier on the Hooker's Valley Track along the Southern Alps in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. — **Aoraki/Mount Cook**
National Park

When inclement weather nixes our plans to hike the iconic Tongariro Alpine Crossing, we race the rain to hike the 4-mile Taranaki Falls Track. — **Taranaki Falls Track**
Tongariro National Park

Hiking In New Zealand

We are firm believers that one of the best ways to explore is by hiking. In New Zealand, the term is “tramping” and the trails are referred to as “tracks.” You can imagine my mild offense taken when I was “accused” of tramping. It was short lived given the breathtaking vistas and invigorating tracks we traversed.

Wildlife In New Zealand

One of our favorite parts of visiting New Zealand is the wildlife. The native animals can seem almost comical at times in their extreme forms and colors. Any time out in the New Zealand wilderness is bound to be paired with some wildlife encounter. And, along with all the beautiful birds, delightul mammals, and colorful bugs, there are no bears, cougars, wolves, or other top level predators that commonly concern us.