New Zealand

New Zealand

December 2013 Visit

Talk about a pristine natural paradise.  NZ is the closest to utopia the world will ever know.  Stunning beaches, mountains, glaciers, forests...NZ has it all.  A highlight of my trip was meeting Bret from Flight of the Conchords on the street in downtown Wellington.  I'm a huge fan of the duo's quirky comedy.  Another highlight was having a summer Christmas at the house of a friend I'd met in Korea.  Everyone I met in NZ was incredibly friendly and fun to talk to. 

  Sadly, I only had time to take a backpacker bus through the North Island even though everyone raved about the South.  As impressive as the North was, I can't even imagine what the South might be like.

Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula

Bridal Veil Falls in Waikato

  

Landscape of the North Island

 Hangi: the traditional Maori method of smoking food (delicious!)

 Mount Ngauruhoe aka Mount Doom 

 Taihape Gumboot Throwing Lane where I got to participate in a gumboot throwing contest.  Apparently it's a NZ tradition!

 Mount Ruapehu

 A friend bungee jumping in Taupo

The windy Wellington sign, which I was told most Wellingtonians do not like

 Wellington's Weta Cave: the workshop for NZ movie magic

 View of Wellington

First time I'd ever had a summer Xmas barbeque.  Was a great time.  I felt like an idiot not knowing what to do with the Christmas crackers.  We don't have them in the US! :)