![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_ae60cf8ca8fc4d33afbf641b39d0923d~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_ae60cf8ca8fc4d33afbf641b39d0923d~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Wellington](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_ae60cf8ca8fc4d33afbf641b39d0923d~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_ae60cf8ca8fc4d33afbf641b39d0923d~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Wellington
Kia ora! (That’s a Maori greeting you will hear often in NZ, although not as often as "sweet as, bro".) Where do I even start with...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_93c1dab501264771817d482a57ba0801~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_93c1dab501264771817d482a57ba0801~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Lake Tekapo-Christchurch-Kaikoura](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_93c1dab501264771817d482a57ba0801~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_93c1dab501264771817d482a57ba0801~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Lake Tekapo-Christchurch-Kaikoura
The rest of the South Island post-Queenstown was just kind of a rush up the east coast. I didn’t have a lot of interest in the...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_d5a0e232241e464eb77a50a3f2dca45b~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_d5a0e232241e464eb77a50a3f2dca45b~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Queenstown](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_d5a0e232241e464eb77a50a3f2dca45b~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_d5a0e232241e464eb77a50a3f2dca45b~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Queenstown
Queenstown is the place to be in New Zealand. This little town in the South Island is packed full of adventure activities, options for...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_c26c2f7f1d0e430a8e6c11af2e7717cc~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_c26c2f7f1d0e430a8e6c11af2e7717cc~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Wanaka](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_c26c2f7f1d0e430a8e6c11af2e7717cc~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_c26c2f7f1d0e430a8e6c11af2e7717cc~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Wanaka
Wanaka was the last stop before the South Island highlight of Queenstown, and I mostly just expected it to be Queenstown-lite: quieter,...
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![Franz Josef](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_0ca4f31466014fc2b1bed215f65ed9e7~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_0ca4f31466014fc2b1bed215f65ed9e7~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Franz Josef
The activity I had probably been most looking forward to in the South Island was exploring the Franz Josef Glacier. It was totally unlike...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_8bbbf210cb9840b4a6e051e83e411aeb~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_8bbbf210cb9840b4a6e051e83e411aeb~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Picton-Abel Tasman-Westport](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_8bbbf210cb9840b4a6e051e83e411aeb~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_8bbbf210cb9840b4a6e051e83e411aeb~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Picton-Abel Tasman-Westport
After working at Electric Avenue for one month as well as having saved money from my vineyard and data entry jobs, I took off for the...
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![Finding Work in NZ: Blenheim Vineyards to Welly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_f66eff9305654c18991f3e78d43b6d50~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_f66eff9305654c18991f3e78d43b6d50~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Finding Work in NZ: Blenheim Vineyards to Welly
I arrived in Wellington after three weeks in the North Island rafting, base jumping, hiking, staying in hostels, and riding the Kiwi...
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![Tongariro Crossing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_a8c92360fb3141c8a5de9a40858cb600~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_a8c92360fb3141c8a5de9a40858cb600~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Tongariro Crossing
I feel like this would be a good opportunity for that Boromir "One does not simply walk into Mordor" meme because seriously, one does NOT...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_9ce9b692908e4e1a84d7175d7202f320~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_9ce9b692908e4e1a84d7175d7202f320~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Taupo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_9ce9b692908e4e1a84d7175d7202f320~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_9ce9b692908e4e1a84d7175d7202f320~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Taupo
Taupo is not quite as fun-filled or interesting as Rotorua, but it's a peaceful lakeside town that is probably a popular getaway for...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_0d8cf7f4978a48639b7ee269741c16d2~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/6878c6_0d8cf7f4978a48639b7ee269741c16d2~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
![Rotorua](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6878c6_0d8cf7f4978a48639b7ee269741c16d2~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_670,h_503,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/6878c6_0d8cf7f4978a48639b7ee269741c16d2~mv2_d_4608_3456_s_4_2.webp)
Rotorua
For the best overall cultural experience in New Zealand learning about Maori life and traditions, Rotorua is the town to visit. My first...