New Zealand

Visiting the Franz Josef Glacier – New Zealand

Did you know that glaciers abound in New Zealand? Most people don’t know, but New Zealand has 21 large, named glaciers. However, in total, New Zealand has over 3,000 glaciers, most of which are in the Southern Alps of the southern island. Within these Southern Alps, two glaciers even have towns named after them: Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier.  These two glaciers are two of the most easily accessible glaciers in the world and many travel the world just to see them. I recently visited the Franz Josef Glacier within New Zealand’s Westland…

Top 5 Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand

One of the most picturesque cities I’ve ever visited is Queenstown, New Zealand. Located in the southwest region of the southern island of New Zealand, Queenstown is nestled in between the shores of Lake Wakatipu and the numerous peaks surrounding it. Known most famously for their adventure tourism, winter sports, and for being the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings movies, Queenstown tourism continues to be a popular vacation destination for people worldwide. Read on and learn all about this little slice of paradise and discover my top five things to do while visiting Queenstown! 1. Find…

Experiencing the Kaikoura Seal Colony – New Zealand

The southern island of New Zealand is known for its abundance of wildlife. On the northeastern coast, about three hours north of Christchurch, you can see plenty of wildlife in the quaint town of Kaikoura. In addition to whales, albatross, and dolphins, fur seals also call this area home. When visiting Kaikoura, be sure to stop at Point Kean on the Kaikoura Peninsula to enjoy the Kaikoura seal colony. You can find the Kaikoura Peninsula just south of the main area of town. There is a small parking lot at the end of Fyffe Quay Drive. Once at the…

Whale Watching in Kaikoura, New Zealand

One of the few places on Earth where the mountains meet the sea is in Kaikoura, New Zealand. This picturesque town on New Zealand’s southern island can be found nestled between the snowy peaks and vast shoreline on the country’s eastern coast. Kaikoura is well-known for its whale populations, since sperm whales live here year round. Almost all who venture to this small coastal town take part in some form of whale watching. Whales are seen so close to the shore here due to a 35 mile underwater channel that hugs the coastline. This ocean…