Mount Cook
27.–28. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Had to cancel Mueller Hut due to rain and extreme wind 😔
Day hike next day also cancelled due to rain and wind. Gusts up to 90 km/h. Shaking the van in the middle of the night
Lake Ohau
28.–30. nov. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Left Mount Cook rainy weather. Drove to Lake Ohau and enjoyed a sunny walk along the lake and a chill campsite on the lake
Enjoyed a 2nd chill day on the quiet lake
Kidds Bush Reserve - Lake Hawea
30. nov.–2. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 12 °C
Nice spot on Lake Hawea
2nd day Kate feeling sick, I solo hiked up to Sawyer Burn Hut, amazing views of Lake Hawea
Kingston Freedom Site
2.–3. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Wye Creek day hike.
Near Queenstown to pick up Ian tomorrow!
Papa Billett Visit - Te Anau
3.–6. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Picked up Ian at the Queenstown airport. Went for pies at Fergbaker. Walked around Queenstown.
Drove to Te Anau.
Big AirBNB that sleeps 10-12
Day 2:
Key Summit day hike, saw Kaka birds (likeLæs mere
Papa Billett Visit - Wanaka
6.–8. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Day 1:
Drove from Te Anau. Stopped in Queenstown for shopping and Ferg. Has one last Fergburger AND Fergbaker pie 😂. So stuffed.
Stopped in Arrowtown. Continued to Wanaka.
Day 2:
Chill day
CoffeeLæs mere
Papa Billett Visit - Twizel
8.–11. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Day 1:
Coffee in Wanaka
Day hike at Diamond Lake
Stopped at Lake Hawea and walked along the shore
Drove to Twizel
Nice AirBNB just outside of the town
Day 2:
Mount Cook
Tasman Glacier hike & BlueLæs mere
Papa Billett Visit - Arthur's Pass
11.–12. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Klondyke Corner Campsite
Beautiful drive through Arthur's Pass
Short bit amazing walk through Castle Hill
In campsite shelter, two bell birds ruthlessly attacking a robin in its nest
Papa Billett Visit - Hokitika
12. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Stopped in town before going up to the AirBNB, for shopping and fish & chips
Papa Billett Visit - West Coast
12. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Bach near Fox River right on the coast. Beautiful spot.
Pancake Rocks
Day 2:
Super chill nothing day at the airbnb
Papa Billett Visit - Motueka
14. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Sunday market en route to Nelson
Argentinian steak salad!
Papa Billett Visit - Nelson
14.–17. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Day 1: Drive from west coast and stop at Sunday market in Motueka
Relax at the beach in Nelson for a bit
Chill night in at Airbnb
Day 2:
Park walk. Oysters, wine, dinner w/ live music
Day 3:
AbelLæs mere
Papa Billett Visit - Picton Ferry
17. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Early morning in Nelson. Dropped Ian off at the Picton ferry, then headed to Blenheim to get a new tire (front tire down to the steel cords, for the 2nd time) 🤣
Nelson Lakes Park
17.–20. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Buller Campsite
Sabine Hut - Nice spot on the lake, went for a swim with the eels! Met a couple cool American guys on a fly fishing trip
Angelus Hut - First 4 hours of the hike up were nice, last 2Læs mere
Blenheim
20.–21. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Finished Nelson Lakes hike.
Drove to Blenheim for hot tub, hot shower, and laundry.
Last night on South Island!
Ferry!
21. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Chill day.
930pm ferry to the North Island.
Picton to Wellington
North Island... Again!
22. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Ferry arrival on north island.
Kate arrival.
Drive directly to a campsite to catch some ZZZs
Paremata
22. december 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Late night freedom site after taking the ferry
Whanganui
22.–23. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Chill day.
Got some supplies, replaced a tire on the van.
Called family.
Nice freedom site on the beach
Mangahuia Campsite
23.–24. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Near Tongariro, getting ready for Alpine Crossing tramp tomorrow
Tongariro Northern Circuit
24.–26. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Amazing 3 day / 2 night track at Tongariro!
Day 1: (Christmas Eve)
Short 25 minute walk to the first hut. Parked at the village, shuttle to the trailhead (because part closed due to damage from theLæs mere
Ongarue
26.–27. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Auckland-bound.
Finished Tongariro and had a chill day.
Continue towards Auckland and clean the van for showings.
Auckland
27.–30. dec. 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Drove through Hamilton, belated Christmas calls with family.
Clean and prep the van for viewings .
Drove to Auckland and stayed with the Germans.
Day 2:
Showed van to 2 couples
Met house sitLæs mere
AUM Festival
30. dec.–2. jan. 2026, New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 23 °C
Unreal new years crew that randomly came together.
Lara & Joschka (Germany, met on Abel Tasman Walk)
Lukas (Germany, invited by Germans)
Stan (Netherlands, met on Tongariro Northern Circuit)
HugoLæs mere
Auckland
2.–6. jan., New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
House sitting, hot tubbing
Getting ready to sell the van
Sold the van to Wayne Hamilton (guy in his 80s living in Wellington), conditional to WOF and oil change. Did the WOF and oil change the nextLæs mere