Category Archives: New Zealand

Kia Ora!

It is hard to imagine anything more diverse than what I am used to. Growing up on the continental Europe I have always imagined New Zealand as contrary to my reality: night there when it’s day here, winter there when it’s summer here, crowded cities here versus unspoiled nature there. And I have always wanted to verify whether the image of this farthest island is true. Or at least close to the truth. Today time spent over watching beautiful pictures and listening to the stories of travelers who got back from New Zealand is over, because I’m starting my own journey to this hindmost island. If you wish to check how life in southern hemisphere is, join me.

Be the first who sees the sunrise

A Hobbit’s Tale

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” This quote from J.R.R. Tolkien masterpiece came to my mind the moment I saw Shaun. He was sitting there in one of the cafes of North Shore of Auckland waiting for me. And I ... Read more

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Always wanted to be a travel writer?

New Zealand is full of beautiful sites and interesting people. Just recently I met Shaun Jefferson, a photographer, and today I’m sharing some thoughts by Sarah Bennett. She is not only a traveler and adventurer but also runs a publishing house and collaborates with Lonely Planet. She is an expert in New Zealand best trails, bike routes and camping sites. Exclusively for you she shared some of her best kept secrets on how to ... Read more

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Waiheke Island: wine, food and bike

This was a delightful day! Although in the evening I was very tired I had a great time. It is the middle of the summer here, in New Zealand so last Saturday I went to Waiheke. This is a popular recreational destination, not only for tourists but most of all to Aucklanders. It is easily reached by a ferry from downtown Auckland. A ride lasts about 35 minutes and a ferry goes every hour. Bike Not always, popular places are beautiful. ... Read more

Merry Christmas!

New Zealand is not the most popular place to spend Christmas. Most of the people chose to go to Europe and participate in Christmas Markets. They sometimes attend Christmas carols’ concerts. There are many things in Europe that you cannot find in New Zealand, at least not at this time of the year. There is no snow because it is the middle of the summer. There are no Christmas trees all over the place because most of people go ... Read more

Is New Zealand A Trekking Destination?

This spring was filled with short trekking breaks in different parts of Europe and it somehow made me think about New Zealand. One of the most spectacular hikes I did on the South Island was the one called Alex Knob trail. I can tell you this: there is no better view on Franz Josef majestic glacier than from this peak! This was a fantastic day and I can recommend this trail to all hikers. What is was special about it? A variety of ... Read more

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New Zealand Clip

I finally did it! It took me ages but this short clip showing New Zealand Off The Beaten Track is ready to be watched. The difficulty related to this clip was a tough choice of most beautiful scenes and sites. After a one month stay in New Zealand I had hours of recorded movies. And it was a tough choice. So many spectacular places I have seen! Hopefully the one I picked up will make you smile! Filming locations: Lake Tekapo, ... Read more

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Grief is the price you pay for love

It’s always hard to find proper words in grief and mourning. Although we all have tragic events in our past we went through it is very hard to imagine what the people who lost their loved ones and their homes feel. The earthquake that hit Christchurch in February 22nd, 2011, took life of 182 people and destroyed the city. All people who lived in the city center and suburbs by that time were affected by the power of the ... Read more

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New Zealand: My Regrets

Let’s make things clear: my biggest regret regarding New Zealand trip was not enough time to explore all I wanted! A month is relatively long to hanging around, get the first impression, enjoy some obvious stuff but not enough to go into details. New Zealand is amazingly rich in landscapes, wonders of nature, wilderness that I love and so many other things I haven’t seen nor experience. This is a classic regret of every ... Read more

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Queenstown: what is so special about it?

Queenstown is a very interesting town: it is located in Otago, along Wanaka and Dunedin and although is not the most populated town in the region it is a world capital of extreme sports. It was fascinating for me when I drove into the city center and for the first time since I rented a campervan I had troubled with finding a parking space. Needless to say I paid a fine for parking in a space that was labeled as 2 hours limit but ... Read more

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Gest Post: City Walk in Christchurch

It looks to me that 2014 is a year of guest posts. Courtesy of Michael and Marlys from travel blog Easy Hiker another one was published. This is a very interesting blog focused on short walks around big cities and also in countryside, coastal grounds and parks. I enjoy reading all posts but my favorite one was telling a story of Charles Dickens and his walks around London. I find it really fascinating and also useful. Next time ... Read more