Heading to the tippity top of the south island, past the Abel Tasman National Park, along Golden Bay to Wharariki Beach. Mike rushing me so we could see the sun set. Up the trail through green pastures, past cows and grazing sheep - wondering why we were on their trail. About fifteen minutes later we are enveloped by sand dunes and the setting sun on a private beach. Sandstone arches, crashing waves and birds heading home to roost. Another magical moment. The hol...

Have you ever seen a forest creek and waterfall teeming with seal pups? We hadn't either until this day. Following a few hours with Kaikoura Whale Tours, an awesome cruise where we were able to see two sperm whales taking a break from feeding. They are carnivores and use their sonar to stun fish, then munch on all that seafood. They come up for air, hang out, flip a fin for our enjoyment. Luckily for everyone involved this being the start of the winter season the...

Tidbits from the road: Sand flies don't only exist on the beach. In Christchurch around 900 businesses will be torn down in the 'red zone' following the earthquakes. We asked a local lady in the cafe how the drive and weather along the coast was.... She replied, "yum!" It was so cold one night we couldn't open the door in the morning, it was frozen. The next night it was also cold and we couldn't open our door, but it wasn't frozen...the child safe...

A full day hike atop the Fox Glacier. Our guide was Cole. The weather was clear, although because of the mountain alignment the sun wouldn't shine on us. But it won't be raining. The glacier keeps going and going. Each time it may seem we're getting to the top, the reality is we've barely touched it. Cole, with his trusty ice pick, chips out steps for us to traverse a rather tricky spot. A chance to walk through a crevice, crawl through an ice tunnel, marvel at ...

Our drive after Queenstown took us across Haast Pass and the northern part of Mt. Aspiring National Park, a moss covered, misty and windy road. Green, green and more green. Reaching all the way to the sea. The landscape is loaded with rainforest trees and ferns, lakes and mountain peeks. Reaching the West Coast is our start north along the uber scenic Southern Alps. Almost 80% of the West Coast land area is protected under the Department of Conservation. Our goa...