Photos of New Zealand

My six week winter break went surprisingly quickly and somehow it is already the second week of winter term. I finally found time to put up some photos from break (The first week of term was especially hectic for some unknown reason). I spent the last two weeks of break hiking in New Zealand with my family and my boyfriend, Scott. We flew into Auckland on the North Island but then went straight to Christchurch on the South Island. We spent the trip traveling around the South Island (significantly less populated but called the mainland). I was not really prepared for the amount of hiking (or rain) we experienced. Nonetheless New Zealand is beautiful (although lacking in the wildlife department, in my opinion). Every time we would turn a corner there would be another beautiful mountain. I took over 600 pictures while we were there and I just wanted to share a few of my favorites.

I think the next few really showcase the landscape of New Zealand:

We were taken over to the start of one of our many hikes in a tiny plane. We saw some of the most incredible views from above  the river and the mountains (although the whole thing made me a bit nauseous).

This was a the view from the parking lot of a restaurant in Milford Sound, one of the most famous hiking locations in the world.

Mt. Cook was beautiful the day we arrived and the day we left but the day we were hiking in the area it poured rain harder than I have ever seen (the basement in the visitor center flooded). This picture was taken on the way in, however.

We took a cruise on the Milford Sound and the weather started off a little gloomy but nothing serious. By the time we were halfway through the cruise, the winds were blowing so badly that you had to hold on to the railing or hug the floor if you wanted to step outside. My mum pointed out to me that this photo looks like it was taken with black and white film which I think really captures the storminess of the day. Unfortunately raindrops kept attacking my lens.

This too was taken on the cruise. Our guide said he had once see a photo from a famous New Zealand landscape photographer of a waterfall being blown back upwards in the wind. He had never seen it happen himself until our Milford cruise.

Ok, this one is actually in black and white. The tops of the mountains were always covered in a layer of clouds, making them look quite mysterious.

New Zealand has these amazing ferns that started curled in a brown ball and then slowly unravel to reveal green fern leaves. I must have taken over 50 pictures of them. They were everywhere and often used as logos on gift shop products.

With the lack of native wildlife, I took advantage of every animal spotting I had. I really wanted to play with a sheep but none ever seemed interested. New Zealanders also have taken to domesticating deer. Its a very weird site to see 50 male bucks all snuggling together in an enclosed pastour.

The next three pictures I really like for their graphic quality, more than anything else.

I think this is actually my favorite of the trip. Mostly because it is just so graphic. I love the mixture of geometric shape and organic shape.