Days 1&2 - Fly to Wellington (North Island)

Day 3 - Regan (a couchsurfer) picked me up at the airport. We chatted a while at a small cafe on the beach then went to a liquor store that offered free beer samples! I then went off with Greg (another couchsurfer I was going to stay with) and Laura and Tess (who were already staying with him). We had pizza on the beach then took a drive up to the Mt. Victoria lookout for sunset.

Day 4 - Tessa and I explored Wellington: downtown, Te Papa museum, city & sea museum, took a tram up to the botanic garden, and a tour of the parliament building.

Day 5 - Regan and I toured the wine country in Martinborough. We spent the night in a charming cottage at Waituna Farms.

Day 6 - On the drive back to Wellington, we stopped by a gypsy fair. We then did a hike at East Harbor Regional Park, which offered sensantional views.

Day 7 - We grabbed my GoPro and made a few fun videos. Later that afternoon, there was a festival at Island Bay.

WATCH THE VIDEOS

Day 8 - A restful day at "home" (Regan's apartment)

Day 9 - We visited the Weta Cave, a small museum with a bunch of memorabilia from various movies by Peter Jackson (director of Lord of the Rings). Then we had a quick visit to the Massey Memorial and more lovely views.

Day 10 - I hopped on the ferry headed to the South Island. It was a gorgeous trip! But because we'd departed ah hour late, I missed my bus and had to spend the night in the 12-bed co-ed dorm room of a hostel in Picton.

Day 11 - I ended up changing my plans and spending the day hiking in the Victoria Domain, an absolutely gorgeous nature reserve set on a small peninsula. The trees hummed with cicadas.

Day 12 - I caught a bus to Blenheim where I met Regan (who had flown in). We spent the night at his parents' place since they were away on vacation.

Day 13 - We used their car and headed south. Along the way we stopped at Ohau Point where we got to see fur seals. When we arrived in Kaikoura, we put on wetsuits and went on a dolphin tour. A boat drove us out to sea and made several stops so we could jump in the water and be surrounded by hundreds of wild Dusky dolphins! It was incredible! Afterwards, we cruised around a bit, watching them do all sorts of leaps and flips.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Day 14 - In the morning, we went to the Blenheim Farmer's Market. We then joined his brother on the beach as he cleaned paua (abalone) shells. We took a short hike around the coves of Monkey Bay, then visited a couple wineries on the way home.

Day 15 - We caught the ferry back to Wellington.

Days 16 through 20 - I spent a few days around Wellingto. Highlights included a walk around Owhiro Bay, the Friday evening food court, and a Greek festival.

Day 21 - We drove out to Waikanae, home of Reikorangi Pottery and Park. The large farm had a wide assortment of animals and birds. On the way home, we stopped at a couple beaches.

Day 22 - I hopped on a bus up to Auckland,. past volcanoes and Lake Taupo, and arriving in the big city at sunset. I walked among the city lights to my hostel.

Day 23 - I spent the morning at the zoo, seeing many of the usual critters but also learning about all the unique animals that live in this part of the world. I returned to downtown and explored a bit of the waterfront.

Day 24 - I took an organized day tour. Our first stop was Waitomo caves where we took a boat ride to see the famous glowworms. Our next stop was Agrodome, a large sheep and animal farm. We got a tour of the farm, fed some animals (deer, pigs, goats, alpacas and ostriches), then saw a sheep herding and sheep shearing show. We continued on to Te Puia and got to experience a Maori ceremony as well as some geothermal fields (with mudpots and geyers). We returned to Auckland in the evening.

Day 25 - I first stopped at the beautiful Symonds Street Cemetery. Most of the burials took place from 1842 to 1886. I then made my way to the top of Mt. Eden, an old volcano. It offered great views of the city. I spent the rest of the day exploring the Auckland Domain (a large park) and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Incredible place! It even had a several old streets from the 1860s and a volcano simulator, allowing you to participate in what would happen if Auckland erupted.

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