Rotorua, New Zealand.

We woke up in Rotorua to icy toes and frosty windows. It dipped down below zero degrees last night! Chilly!! We visited the Wai-o-tapu Geothermal Wonderland where we saw 26 active volcanic thermal pools and mud pools. Heather - you would have loved it!!

We drove up to Tauranga/Bay of Plenty for lunch (NZ pies) and then continued along the Coromandel peninsula for a scenic afternoon drive before stopping at the Hot Water Beach for the night.

Kevin+Kristen

Taupo, New Zealand.

Woke up in our little campervan listening to the ice river flowing by our park spot. We drove to a nice lookout and ate breakfast looking over lake Taupo and the mountains (Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro). Then we were off to the Taupo townsite where we stared our 5.5 hour kayak trip. We kayaked our way around the first couple of bays before the wind picked up and we were soon kayaking over 1.5meter waves!!!!! We paddled ashore and continued the tour an foot along the coast of the lake until we got to the caves and the Maori carvings. Then we returned to the kayaks and paddled back. We hopped back in our van and were back on the road.

We drove to Rotorua where we went to the Polynesian Spa geothermal hot springs before a grilled cheese sandwich dinner and sleep in Rotorua.
Kevin+Kristen

New Plymouth & Mount Taranaki, New Zealand.

We spent the morning walking around New Plymouth and visited the black sand beaches, the Puke Ariki museum, and the main town. In the afternoon we hiked two trails on Mount Taranaki, one of which led to the beautiful Dawson Falls and the other led to a look out of low sat clouds and fog.

Kevin cooked a yummy chicken stir-fry dinner on the campervan stove and then we relaxed for the evening in Tuapo.
Kevin+Kristen

Waitomo Caves, New Zealand.

We woke up and picked up our campervan. Then we went back to Kevin's place and got all loaded up. Then we were on our way and drove along the coast to Mission Bay. Then we hiked to the top of One Tree Hill for the view of the area around Auckland. We then left Auckland and drove to Waitomo, where we spent the night. Today we woke up in a chilly campervan and went to visit the Waitomo caves. We begun by rappelling 100 meters into the caves and then hiked through the dark caves with our headlamps and spelunking suits. The caves were huge and so neat!

We also visited a cave formation called the Natural Bridge and some waterfalls on the west coast of the North Island.

Lastly, we drove to New Plymouth for the evening and plan to visit the city in the morning and hike Mount Taranaki.

Kevin+Kristen

Auckland, New Zealand.

I made it to Auckland on Sunday evening! Kevin picked me up from the airport and went to bed straight away.

Monday moring, while Kevin had his last exam (A++++, or so he says), I walked around the University of Auckland and went to the Auckland Museum in the Auckland Domain. Kevin joined me later and we hiked Mount Eden and Mount Hobson in the afternoon.

Later in the evening, Kevin surprised me with dinner at the Auckland Skytower. We took the elevator up 192m and had gorgeous views of the city in the observation desk and then went to the Orbit restaurant for a lovely dinner.

We picked up our campervan this morning and are off to the Waitomo caves tonight!

Kevin+Kristen

Packing, packing, packing!

One more day to go! I fly out tomorrow morning and the only thing that is standing in my way of getting to New Zealand is four flights. Yes, that's correct. FOUR. Calgary to Los Angeles to Tokyo to Singapore to Auckland! Haha. The life of a frugal student traveller!


We will update the blog once I have made it safely to Auckland, and may or may not be slightly jet lagged at that point!


42 hours of traveling - bring it on!
Kristen