December 25, 2022 In two weeks, we depart on our next adventure – New Zealand! We are escaping to the southern hemisphere for three months to enjoy summer hiking while it is frigid at home. *All images courtesy of wikimedia commons until we have our own!
Land of the Long White Cloud
The indigenous Māori call New Zealand “Aotearoa”, which means “land of the long white cloud”. These Polynesians discovered and settled the islands in the early 1300’s. The first indication of land for these early navigators were the long strands of clouds, scraped by the island peaks and streaming out over the south pacific. Europeans landed about 300 years later. Eventually, NZ became a British colony, and a fully independent democratic nation in 1947.
New Zealand is located about half-way between the equator and Antarctica, so its seasons are opposite those in North America and Europe. It maintains sub-tropical weather to the north and more temperate in the south. High volcanic peaks make for Alpine climates in the southern, glacier carved central mountains.
The Great Outdoors
Hiking and wildlife will be a key focus of this trip. Rare little blue and yellow-eyed penguins call the island home, as do sea lions and many specials of unusual birds. Including, of course, the kiwi! We’ve several rambles planned, from beachside strolls, to a glacier hike.
It’s said “One does not simply walk into Mordor“, but you can here. Scenes for this perilous “Lord of the Rings” journey were filmed on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The more pleasant and green parts of the movies were filmed in NZ also, so the hikes should be stunning.
Journey Map
Below is our journey map, which you can view and add as a layer in your own Google Maps. It outlines planned stays, our route, and a few highlights of the trip. There are several hikes, and you’ll note many wineries – NZ is famous for its whites, and becoming known for its Pinot Noir as well!
Detailed Itinerary
If you are interested in a similar trip, the attached PDF itinerary is a good place to start!
Travel Bytes
For more about this journey, check out our related Travel Bytes, coming soon below!