Our New Zealand itinerary consisted of 7 days touring the South Island in a campervan, followed by 3 days in Auckland. Ryan had been looking forward to this portion of our trip since viewing John and Shelley’s pictures last January. The scenery of the South Island is absolutely stunning, so I’ll let the pictures of the first few days speak for themselves.
Field of flowers leaving Christchurch
River with kowhai flowers and rolling green pastures on the way to Lake Tekapo
Our approach to the Southern Alps and Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
Beautiful lupins near Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
South shore of Lake Tekapo
Church of the Good Shephard at Lake Tekapo
Driving up to Mt. John University Observatory
Lake Tekapo from Mt. John University Observatory
Nicole and Lake Tekapo from Mt. John University Observatory
Ryan and Lake Tekapo from Mt. John University Observatory
Before…
…and after
Sun setting at Lake Tekapo after dinner
Lake Pukaki before bedtime (our campervan was parked cliffside in the middle of nowhere)
View of Lake Pukaki we woke up to (impossibly blue water)
Where’s Ryan? On the swing bridge in Hooker Valley
Swing bridge on the Hooker Valley Track
Ryan in Hooker Valley
Hooker Valley Track
Hooker glacier terminus, lake, and glacial icebergs
Hooker glacier terminus up close
What’s up with my arms? On a swing bridge at Hooker Valley
Chaffinch at Hooker Valley
Looking back on our Hooker Valley hike
Driving to Queenstown
Written in collaboration with Ryan. He’s responsible for anything funny or entertaining in the post, as usual.