One month in, one to go. It feels so normal now to be home and yet I have that lingering feeling of anticipation and preparation for the next step of my journey. I am now having to make real steps in planning once again, with flights needing to be booked, visas applied for and job …
The ferry returned us to Wellington to see the sprawl of houses among the hills basked in orange light cast down from above. That night we were to stay on the outskirts of the city, ready to set out on the northern road the following morning. Our ‘campsite’ was a beach side car park, with …
What started as an impairment to our view, became a key element in creating a wonderfully atmospheric and enchanting silent drama. Having gotten up early to see Lake Matheson, with the hope of still waters and a mirror image, the land was filled with low land fog. As we walked around the lake edge to …
Our final few moments on the North Island were much more eventful than planned. Miscommunication meant we were a man down for a short spell when we should have been heading toward the ferry terminal. Then, with all three now on board, Team Cockpit shared a dual sinking feeling as the motorhome thunked along with …
A year and a half ago I’d been overjoyed to share my travelling ways with my dad. Now I was lucky enough to be welcoming a second lot of visitors. My mum and step-dad (Ian) were joining me on the open road, the three of us embarking on a four week motorhome tour of New …
The final leg of our journey took my dad and I up the east coast. First stop was Akaroa, a peninsula to the south east of Christchurch, visiting my friend Cece who I originally met during my first wwoofing experience last April. A town with a strong French influence, Akaroa is reached by a long …
Our first view of Mount Cook National Park came as we rounded a corner in the road. A large turquoise blue lake emerged on our right, mirroring the small mountain range beside it. Up ahead, a brilliantly white jagged outline marked our destination. What we had first assumed to be Mount Cook, actually turned out …
Milford Sound was something of an epic adventure. After a four hour drive, our first stop was in the town of Te Anau. We quickly found no short walks in the area appealed to us and instead went to a film showing in the local cinema. The film, Ata Whenua (Maori for Shadowland), was the …
Our first stop inland was Wanaka, the small town where I had originally planned to spend my winter. Dad was looking forward to seeing this place, one of the more prominent features of my travels to date. I had mixed feelings, knowing it would not be the same without the people that had helped make …
From Abel Tasman National Park our journey led west to the Great Coastal Road. We stopped for lunch in Murchison, a small town with wide streets and hilly backdrops, making dad reminisce over time spent in Canada. A unique vintage shop housed within a barn had rusted trucks out front, setting the scene for the …
