Picton: gate to the south island! #happymoments: - lovely morning stroll through harbour of Picton; drinking a 'flat white' with Jane & Ann (both from UK) - seeing many seals near the coastline of Picton through Kaikura - kayaking with Jane in the Kaikura sea, singing lots of songs! #neveragain: - the camping site next to a highway; lots of trucks aren't very good for sleeping - not enough jumbalaya for everyone #sleepover: - tent next to highway = n...

Wellington: small harbour with lots of coffee shops and sushi! #happymoments: - great view from Wellington by the cable car - 75 years of New Zealand air exhibition @ Te Papa Museum - drinking beer with Annika and discovering we're both born on the same date and year! neveragain: - flight simulator at te papa museum; 4D glasses freak me out! - waiting for over an hour to get in the papa museum - the ferry crossing at night; do not sit in the front of the ...

Tongaria Alpine crossing: volcanos, mountains, lakes, springs and caves! #happymoments: - finishing the Tongaria Alpine crossing, my first hike ever! (19,4 km of climbing) - sharing stories with my hike buddies Jane & Annika - recognizing lord of the rings landscapes; truly felt like an elf! #neveragain: - doing an hike without perfect gear; sneakers are a no go! - arriving a little bit late from the hike and getting bad stares from the group; we're n...

Rotura: ziplining through the forrest #happymoments: - flying through the forest like a bird with Canopy "zipline" tours - drinking L&P soda; famous NZ drink! - bus tour to Rotura, telling jokes & stories with Jane (from UK) # neveragain: - lots of mushrooms at dinner (which Jane the veggie hates haha) - "tractors" yelled on and on whenever our busdriver spoted one - no guide; not knowing where you are (our tourleader doesn't say much) #sleepover...

Waiotapu geothermal wonderland Visted the Lady Knox in the morning followed by Waiotapu. Acid waters attack and dissolve adjoining ground to digest many minerals in the rock, forming viscous mud pools. Loved the Devil's batch (yellow pool) and the Palet (colorfull lake). Did you know: - 45 km covered with pools - temperature about 60 to 80 C - geothermal is about 7000 years old