New Zealand Vacation Trip Report
During the winter of 2010-2011 we were trying to figure out somewhere
to go on vacation. We wanted to go some place different and
outside of the US. Tyler had never been out of the country before
and we really wanted to take him somewhere far away from Iowa. We
spent a bunch of time looking at various places around the world.
After much research and deliberation, we decided we wanted to go to New
Zealand. Erin and I have wanted to go to New Zealand for a while,
but had never really considered it seriously. We mentioned that
we were thinking of going to my parents and they asked if they could
come with us. We booked airline tickets on Jan 27th for a March
12th departure. That gave just over 6 weeks to plan our
activities, book hotel reservations and learn as much about New Zealand
as we could.
Some of the items we brought with us:
Interesting Facts:
- This was Tyler's first time being out of the US.
- This was Nate and Erin's first time being in the southern
hemisphere.
- We managed to experience all 4 seasons during the two week time
of our vacation. It was winter when we left, so when we arrived
in New Zealand it was summer there. It then turned to fall, and
when we flew back it was spring in the US.
- We took about 1700 pictures.
- We traveled almost 20,000 miles during the two weeks.
- Sandfly bites are aweful. Avoid them at all costs.
Notes:
$1US = ~$1.3NZ (New Zealand dollar) at the time of our visit. Easiest
way to do the math: take roughly 20% off the NZ price.
Day 0 - Marshall, WI to Auckland, New Zealand
Day 1 - Auckland to Waitomo Caves
Day 2 - Waitomo Caves and Marokopa Falls
Day 3 - Tongariro Crossing
Day 4 - Wellington
Day 5 - North Island to South Island
Day 6 - Abel Tasman Sailing
Day 7 - Motueka to Kaikoura
Day 8 - Kaikoura Whale Watching
Day 9 - Kaikoura to Franz Josef Glacier
Day 10 - Franz Josef Glacier Hike
Day 11 - Milford Sound
Day 12 - Te Anau
Day 13 - Te Anau, New Zealand to Marshall, WI
Back to home