After a brief wait for our camper-van we went grocery shopping and started right away on our journey. Our first destination was the Coromandel. A beautiful part of the coast known for it's beautiful beaches and coastal views.
Here's where we are on the New Zealand map if you were curious.
It was so picture perfect!
Cows all along the hillside. It's amazing how far up the can climb.
And here's a nice shot of our fabulous camper we named the Kiwi Castle or KC for short.
That night we stayed at a campground by Hot Water Beach, where you are supposed to be able to dig your own hot tub, well a hole in the sand heated by the hot springs. Sadly when we ventured out that night we didn't find any how springs. Plenty of people were looking though. 
The following morning we weren't disappointed though.
We found the Hot Water!!
After soaking our feet in some nice hot sand we headed to Cathedral Cove.
If you happened to be thinking, hmm this looks a bit familiar, its because it is! Cathedral Cove has been featured in different movies, including Narnia.
Who's idea was it to go in bare feet? Oh well….. we might as well be Hobbits and embrace it.
Next it was driving down towards Rotorua. We stayed a a very nice DOC cite by Lake Rerewhakaaitu.
After a relaxing breakfast bird watching as the fog lifted, we headed to Wai-O-Tapu to see the colorful and smelly geothermals!
Here is the Lady Knox geyser which is scheduled to erupt daily using soap!
We found another nice campground to stay at Foxton Beach near Wellington to catch our ferry the next day.
After dinner my dad found this funny surprise, at first he thought it was a pine cone. But then the pine cone moved! It was actually a hedgehog.
Monday was an early start to catch our 7:30 ferry! It was worth it though the views were spectacular!
It was a bit windy!
We made it back to land to fit beautiful coastal view alongside stunning mountains.
We set up camp right along the ocean!
And even found wildlife!!
We got to watch to go to sleep with beautiful moonlit water and crashing waves and wake to a glorious sunrise!
Some oyster catchers.
And our friend the seal again. We also same dozen of small dolphins leaping from the water. It really was a wonderful experience of New Zealand wildlife.
After our eventful morning we began our drive again and headed inland on the Scenic Alpine Route to find some mountain views.
Our scenic picnic spot.
We stayed at Waitaki Waters Campground just above
Omaru.
The next morning we went to see the famous Morekai Bolders before heading towards Queenstown.
These flowers look nice, but they have sharp thorns you need to be careful of.
We have interesting seaweed here in NZ.
Turtle!!
After our nice walk along the boulders it was to Queenstown through very scenic New Zealand.
Cromwell
It's just like home!
We made it to Queenstown and the Remarkables!
After our hike it was off to diner.
Fergburger!! Yum Yum best New Zealand burger!
I guess they like it! Too funny!
Camping at beautiful Moke Lake.
Funny enough my friends form university were camping right next to us!!
Milford Sound was the next destination, sadly we had a rainy drive, but as we approached the Fiordlands the weather began to clear.
We camped at the Milford Sound Lodge right within all the mountains and waterfalls.
The next morning we did some hiking and exploring as we drove back towards Wanaka.
Can you guess what we are?? I give you a clue, the landscape looks like Jurassic Park…. So we are dinosaurs.
Thousands of waterfalls appear when it rains in the Fiordlands.
The Kaka bird.
There are plenty of ferns in New Zealand.
Mirror Lakes
As we drove away we had a lovely rainbow.
Dad's favorite driving companion Mr. Moo the arm rest.
We had an amazing drive over the Crown Range to Wanaka. We literally drove over the mountain range.
The pictures simply don''t capture the beauty.
After over evening drive we arrived at a luxury campground equipped with a chefs kitchen, hot tub, and mountain views. So in the morning we had yet another wonderful sunrise to watch.
Then that day more scenic views throughout our drive. Our destinations for the day were the Blue Pools. and glaciers.
The Blue Pools.
Franz Joseph Glacier.
We had another quiet night at a DOC site along a nice lake, listening to the sound of the Tasman Sea as we fell asleep.
It was off to the Pancake Rocks the following day.
Next we drove on towards Picton, through more vineyards, forests, and fog.
Another beautiful ferry ride.
Our picnic spot.
Camping along the water again.
The trees we named lego trees, since that is what they reminded us of.
Mount Taranaki, we were fortunate to get such an unobstructed view, it is very rare to see the mountain with so few clouds.
Mom's favorite crossing on wobbly rocks!
Back to the ocean for another evening.
Today was adventure day as we drove towards Waitomo Caves for Blackwater Tubing!
Here we go! What an adventure, the glow worms (or rather maggots) were beautiful and the dark caves full of excitement, it really was a true New Zealand adventure experiences.
Our final sunrise….
….. and our last day together, how sad.
Auckland skyline from Mount Eden.
Sadly this was the finish of our traveling in New Zealand. It was a fun filled weekend packed with adventure. Truly a once in a lifetime experience, thank you so much for sharing this with me Mom and Dad.
Thanks for doing such a good job capturing the weeks. It was a highlight of my life!! Being with you made it even more special.
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