I've been researching the Aurora Australis since before we moved to New Zealand. I was lucky enough to have spent some of my childhood in Alaska, and because of that I grew up watching the beautiful Aurora Borealis so close to me I felt like I could touch it. When I found out the Southern Hemisphere delivered the same phenomenon (just not so close or visible), I knew I just had to try and photograph it. The Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) are a bit rarer to view down here than the big Borealis is, and many people joke that Australis is Borealis' ugly stepsister. I feel like the poor Australis gets a lot of flack for it, but it's only because where New Zealand (and Australia) sit on the map degree-wise is quite a bit different than ... Read More
5 Reasons New Zealand Should Be On Your Bucket List
I am 100% completely in love with New Zealand. Although we aren't sure what the future has in store for us (whether we leave when our working-holiday visas are up or stay under new visas), this country has a special place in my heart and carries some of the fondest memories. I feel like I have so much I would love to share with you about New Zealand (including a TON of destinations I have yet to blog about), but for now I want to wrap it up in a pretty package and tie a big bow on top of all of it, just to get you over here to experience this country. New Zealand should be on the top of your bucket list, whether you plan on visit for a short time or stay long-term. 5 reasons why you should visit New Zealand: 1. Adventure central I ... Read More
Finding a Place to Live in New Zealand
So you've been approved for a visa, and you're headed over to New Zealand (aka paradise on Earth)! We've already talked about finding work, so the next logical step would be finding a [temporary] home! As much as I would love to tell you the opposite, hobbit holes are not readily available to rent in New Zealand. A girl can dream though right? Looking for a place to live outside Hobbiton (am I taking this Middle Earth narrative too far?) can be quite daunting , especially when you don't know the lay of the land or have no idea about how things are properly orchestrated over here when it comes to housing. Looking back at our 'housing journey' I would have loved finding material to read before we began the task of house-hunting. I will ... Read More
A Weekend Getaway at Kinross Cottages
In the 5 years we have been together, Derik and I have never made elaborate plans to celebrate Valentine's Day. However, this year I wanted to do something special 'just because,' and planned a weekend getaway in Queenstown. I booked our stay at Kinross Cottages last minute, and really had no idea what to expect, except that the place was new-ish and in Gibbston Valley (wine country). The Kinross Cottages Review The second we pulled into the Kinross drive Derik and I were completely blown away. We had somehow completely missed the part of the website description that stated our cottage would literally be smack dab in the middle of a vineyard, and that paired with the gorgeously designed 'General Store' and cottages, we felt like giddy ... Read More
Central Otago Wine Tour
I knew from the second I found out New Zealand was prime wine country, that I wanted to go on a wine tasting tour. I'm not quite sure why it didn't make my NZ bucket list, but would it be cheating if I threw it on there real quick just to cross off? It should have been part of the list for sure! For Valentine's Day I wanted to do something fun and romantic with Derik, so I booked a last minute wine tour through Appellation Central Wine Tours. Central Otago (and Queenstown) is only a few hour drive for us from Dunedin, and honestly I have no idea why it's taken us this long to drop by this area during the summer! We've visited Queenstown three times previously, but all have been in the winter/early springtime. If it says anything, we're ... Read More
Sunrise at St Clair Beach, Dunedin
One of my favorite things about living directly on the east coast of New Zealand is the incredible sunrises I get to experience almost every day. The summer days are long, and the sun appears bright and early (5am early). One of my favorite things to do is go out by myself and experience the sunrise in different locations across Dunedin. With a variety of beach locations (Tunnel Beach and Sandfly Bay are some of my favorites), the Moeraki Boulders an hour and a half north, and Nugget Point an hour and a half south, I've got my work cut out for me photographing these early mornings. Derik and I are a one car family, so I typically have to wait until the weekends, when Derik isn't working, if I want to see the sunrise from a different ... Read More
Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography
New Zealand is known to have some of the best starry sky visuals in the world. It's probably due to the fact that this little country is known as having some of the cleanest air in the world. I've enjoyed getting out and shooting the night sky a time or two while we've lived here, and after sharing a couple of those posts (found here and here) I thought it was high time to write a tutorial on how I take my night sky pictures. Astrophotography is a tricky thing. Not only do you have to get the light settings just right, but the proper infinite focal placement is insanely important. If you happen to stumble upon a quiet, clear night, head out and try your luck! What you need: -A camera with manual settings and manual focus -A ... Read More
Wellington, New Zealand
Before moving to New Zealand, Derik and I were 70% sure we were going to settle down on the North Island in Wellington. The city somewhat resembles the quirky, active, inviting atmosphere we left back in Portland, Oregon, and we were ready for that again. We were still open to other places, and that's why we decided to campervan around New Zealand until we found the place that fit us. We chose Dunedin which happens to be near the bottom of the South Island. It's not quite the hustling, bustling little city as Wellington is, but it's full of history, things to do, and coffee shops. Derik was also given a great opportunity job-wise, so that was a huge factor in our decision to stay. That being said, in the brief time we had in Wellington, ... Read More
Things I Find Strange About New Zealand
I'm sure all my Kiwi readers will pop up in the comments of this post, and my hope is I can give you all great laugh…or at least to crack a smile. The thing is, I'm not from your country, so obviously I'm going to find a few things strange about it, just like you would find strange in the United States. It's no secret I've fallen head-over-heels in love with New Zealand, but this little country does hold it's own when it comes to quirkiness. If you haven't been to here and get the opportunity to, you'll see that this country packs a punch with all things good, as well as a bit weird. Before we get started, you may have noticed I changed a few things up around here. I was hoping my last design would stay around a while, as I made it ... Read More
