New Zealand: The Rolling North

We recently returned from an amazing journey to New Zealand. Our trip lasted ten days, and began with three of those days spent on the North Island. NZ has the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen. I will admit that after going to Patagonia and being stunned by the scenery, I was not sure I would ever get that "wow" feeling again, but I am happy to say that I was a complete moron. Every place that we visit has a uniqueness that elicits an entirely new feeling, and we both feel so very blessed to have the opportunity to explore the far corners of this amazing world that God has made.

We flew into Auckland, and then drove to Waitomo to see the famous glowworm caves. I was not able to capture a photo of these bioluminescent beauties in the dark, but imagine a pitch black sky filled with tiny blue stars...tiny blue stars covered in glowing worm poop. Yes, that's what makes the worms glow to attract their prey. They also hang down long silk threads to ensnare bugs. So you essentially have a glowing poop scarf, but "glowworm" sounds much more enchanting (and elicits fond memories of the Glo Worm that lulled you to sleep as a child of the 80s).

We visited two caves while in Waitomo, and here are some shots from Ruakuri cave. It was like a neverending underground castle of stalactites and stalagmites.

Whit trying to push me out of the way of the stalactite that was about to slice off my left ear. What a good boy.

The Waitomo countryside

Notice the faint striations on the hills. Those are tracks from the livestock scaling the hills and playing follow-the-leader as they munch. Which brings us to an important fact: sheep outnumber humans 10:1 in NZ. These are the luckiest sheep in the world in my opinion. They have the most beautiful paddocks of steep rolling green hills, and every part of their being is lauded; their wool makes luxurious clothes, their lanolin is the special ingredient in every skin care product you see, and even their placenta is marketed as having amazing rejuvenating powers. Now you tell me of another creature like that on the planet. All I know is that no one was lining up to take my placenta after Whit was born.

Then it was off to Rotorua and its haunting volcanic land. Sure, it smelled like the entire region got egged the night before, but it was worth the stench to see nature's amazing palette.

Click here to see a video of the mud pools plopping!

Stay tuned for the South Island!