Hikes and Campsites: That’s What the South Island Does
Exotic Eats: New Zealand
**Posted by Kathryn Pisco
I absolutely love mussels and I order them whenever I can in the states. When I saw “New Zealand Green Shell Mussels” on the menu in Auckland, I decided to indulge. Once I did, I realized that I think I actually love the flavorful sauces and crispy bread that come with Americanized mussels as opposed to the mussels themselves.
Read MorePeople Tell the Story: New Zealand
Whenever we travel, we like to get out of the heavy tourist areas, wander, and try to see our destinations as a local would. As we make our way around the world, we want to experience as much as possible about each country, its people, and their way of life. In an attempt to really understand each country, we created a short questionnaire that we will use to interview 1-3 people. We believe that it is people (not places or things) that truly tell the story of a nation. Below, we hope you’ll find a mix of thoughts, ideas and opinions from various global perspectives:
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Biking under the influence: The Marlborough Wine Trail
If you know Mike and I well, you know that if there is a wine region to be toured anywhere in our vicinity while traveling, we will find it. This stems mostly from my love of wine and Mike’s willingness to start drinking at 10 am. We have explored California wine country (Napa and Sonoma), Italy (Chianti and Brunello regions), Oregon (Willamette Valley), and Argentina (Mendoza). We have savored every sip along the way and enjoyed learning about each regions’ technique surrounding this ancient art. It is amazing how much you can learn about a country and its people by spending a day exploring their vines…. California is laid back yet chic, Oregon more simple and relaxed, Italy is big, bold, and steeped in tradition, and Argentina is rustic yet dynamic. It seems that the personality of a region often shines through in their wines.
Read MoreIs Milford Sound the only fjord worth seeing? Doubtful.
This trip to New Zealand is all about “going with the flow” and seeing where life takes us. Even for the Type A planner like myself, it is easy to allow this laid back country to wash over you.
For the better part of a week, Mike and I have been cruising the South Island and stopping whenever and wherever we feel the urge. Most towns in New Zealand have one or two main streets and a handful of shops making it simple to breeze through stopping only to revel in the views. When the moment came to decide how to spend our time in the Fiordland region however, we had to choose which sound to visit: Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound.
Fiordland, an area on the Southwest coast of New Zealand, is the most untouched area of the country. Ancient glaciers carved out the landscape of Fiordland leaving behind the famous fjords that are now sprinkled throughout the country’s largest national park, Fiordland National Park. A visit to the South Island of New Zealand is not complete without a trip to one of these awe inspiring sites.
Read MoreGiving Back
A huge part of our journey is about giving back. While the personal travel is sure to dazzle, we are confident that it will be the volunteer experiences that will show us the most about the world and touch our souls. Read more...