Tongariro Alpine Crossing, NZ

Spring in New Zealand: A Road Trip to Remember

 

If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, like my son, New Zealand is probably on your travel bucket list. Even though I’d never read the books nor watched the movies, I’ve always wanted to visit this land of fields and fjords, a hiker’s paradise with no snakes. It might sound strange, but I have always felt a deep connection with New Zealand, knowing on a visceral level that I would enjoy my time there even though I never set foot on it. I’ve spent many, many hours researching places to go and things to do when planning my dream vacation to the Land of the Long White Cloud (the name in Maori, Aotearoa.) I was hoping to take a month to travel around the country, but with work and other responsibilities, I had to settle for a two-week vacation in November, the last month of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. I knew in my gut that I’d love New Zealand. As it turned out, it proved to be my favorite place on earth. I’d move there tomorrow if I could. I love everything about this beautiful South Pacific nation.