Goodbye, New Zealand

Here are my last images from my New Zealand trip. These were all taken on the way to the airport on the North Island. Get a load of that giant eel in the lake! (see below) Hopefully I’ll see you soon, NZ. What a wonderful, insanely unique country!

Read More

Christchurch: the city that doesn’t quit

When we first landed in New Zealand, we rented a car in Auckland, drove all around the North Island, took the ferry to the South Island, explored there, and eventually took the ferry back north. Throughout our travels, most of the locals told us to avoid Christchurch. The area has been ravaged by several earthquakes…

Read More

More Lord of the Rings Locations in New Zealand

As you’ve seen on my travels around the North Island of New Zealand, there are tons of Lord of the Rings locations you can visit (like Hobbiton and various Middle Earth locations). Here are a few LOTR locations on the South Island:  

Read More

Helicopter Ride Over Middle Earth

The Remarkables (the mountain ranges show below) were all over Lord of the Rings. Seeing their beauty IRL, it’s easy to see why. Check out the views from an insane helicopter ride just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. Watch the video below for an idea of what the helicopter ride was like. However, New Zealanders…

Read More

YAS Queen(stown)!

Queenstown in New Zealand is so amazing, even the drive into town is out-of-control-beautiful. This city is like a Disney World for grown ups. It’s the home of the jetboat (an insane boat ride with 360s and death stops that made me laugh uncontrollably because I was so nervous) and full of plenty of other…

Read More

Glacier Hunting in New Zealand

Franz Josef Glacier is on the South Island of New Zealand. It was a hike to get there, but one of the greatest hikes I’ve ever been on. Follow along on my adventure below. Rock stacking is a discipline. At least, that’s what Wikipedia told me. I love finding these during my travels. It’s always…

Read More

Rocks that look so good, you could eat them.

Punakaiki, a small community on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, is home to the Pancake Rocks. It was my first stop right off the ferry from the North Island. The photo directly below gives you a glimpse into what it’s like driving in NZ. Believe it or not, this is…

Read More

Huka Falls

Huka Falls are a set of torrential waterfalls on the North Island of New Zealand. In the photos below, you get the fell for the water’s pace. What’s even crazier is that you can ride a jetboat down this thing. What’s a jetboat? Oh just a teeny tiny little speed boat that can navigate on…

Read More

Middle Earth is even better IRL

New Zealand is a tremendously beautiful land. Its hills are jagged and grassy and covered in sheep. Driving the countryside, rain or shine, is breathtaking–so breathtaking, it doesn’t feel real. Everywhere you look, you feel as though you’re in the middle of a Lord of The Rings scene. Below is where they filmed the Gates…

Read More

One Travel Destination to Rule Them All

Hobbiton in Matamata New Zealand may very well be one of the most magical places on earth. It was the real set for the Lord of the Ring movies–perfectly perched in the unique farmland hills of the north island. The attention to detail is unreal–you can’t help but get butterflies in your stomach as you…

Read More