| day one |

Possibly one of my favorite days of the whole trip. We woke up early to make the 2 hour drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound--except it ended up taking us 5 hours, due to stops to chase sheep, hop into a pasture with horses, dance in the road, clamber on giant rocks in a roaring river, and get way too close to the surprisingly vicious kea birds.

And then Milford Sound itself was breathtaking, a fjord which Kipling once called the eighth wonder of the world. I'd accept that. Prepare yourself for way too many photos of waterfalls and mountains.

 

| day two |

This was an explore-Queenstown-and-take-a-break-from-the-camera-load day. Except at the end when I couldn't resist the sunset.

 

 

| day three |

You'd be surprised how hard it is to get a decent photo while bouncing on the back of a horse. So I'm thankful I ended up with three.

Also: this is the river that Arwen rode through with Frodo when escaping the Ringwraiths. So I'm basically one of the elves now.

 

 

| day four |

Queenstown is just too picturesque. Cue Buddy the Elf voice: "Your town is so pretty, you should be on a postcard!"

 

 

| day five |

Queenstown -> Auckland

Early morning flight, ineffable views

 

 

| day last |

Ferry rides, Waiheke Island, and fancy wineries.

Three of the best weeks of my life ended well.

Thanks, New Zealand. You were a champ.