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NüfNüf Go Round

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  • NüfNüfNüfNüf Go RoundTraveler

    Three Sisters and the Elephant Rock

    April 6, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    The good thing about staying at a place you don’t like is the lifting feeling when you leave it. Leave it we did—and much earlier than we had to. The Three Sisters and Elephant Rock were waiting for us.

    We should have researched the place properly before we got there, though. You can only see it at low tide. But! We got lucky—it was indeed low tide when we arrived. Just as we got out of the car, we saw a lady slip and fall in the muddy, slippery sand, so we proceeded with caution, intent on not slipping ourselves. Well, I almost made it to the end… when I did.
    It was about time I washed my clothes anyway. It had only been a few hours since I last did, after all...

    Needless to say, the 1.5 km it took to hike through the estuary to reach the rocks was incredibly slippery. Every step had to be taken with caution. I often got stuck in the mud, needing extra time, strength, and effort to free my shoes (cleaning them afterwards was quite the task too!). But the view was worth it—as it almost always is here.

    Though… I did fail to see the resemblance to the namesake elephant. I’m not even sure it’s in one of my pics. I just couldn’t figure out which one it was. 😄    Read more

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    Mount Taranaki

    April 5, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    The main reason we wanted to check out the east coast of NZ was Mount Taranaki. If you look at it on a map, the area surrounding the mountain is almost perfectly circular.

    When we arrived (it had been raining for the past few days and was going to rain again in the coming days, but today was a bit of a reprieve), it was sunny enough, though still partly cloudy—unfortunately to the extent that the mountaintop was almost constantly hidden behind clouds.

    In the evening, we checked into our Airbnb for the night. A house that could have been charming, but our noses and eyes thought otherwise…    Read more

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    Whanganui

    April 5, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    The first proper stop after Wellington was Whanganui.

    We visited the Durie Hill Elevator, one of the few earth-bound public elevators in the world, and the only one of its kind in New Zealand. Built in 1919, it still operates using the original electric winch system.

    To reach the elevator, you walk through a 213-meter-long tunnel, lined with moving, color-shifting LED lights that create a hypnotic, almost psychedelic effect. It’s definitely a cool experience—though I admit, it gave me a touch of motion sickness. 😄

    Once the elevator takes you to the top of Durie Hill, you're free to climb the 176 spiral steps of the Durie Hill War Memorial Tower. From the top, you get sweeping views over Whanganui, the Whanganui River, and even as far as Mount Ruapehu on a clear day.

    I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked the town! We were lucky to arrive on a Saturday, which meant we could check out the River Traders Market—a lively market that only runs on Saturdays.

    There, I tried strawberry matcha (interesting, but nothing beats pure matcha, and by pure I mean with vanilla ice-cream), Dutchies (deep-fried balls of joy—highly recommend), and a Japanese pancake (I had one in Bali once that was slightly better, but this one was still fantastic).

    I keep telling myself “tomorrow is the day I stick to my diet.” And then the other voice kicks in: “Seize the day!” 😄    Read more

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    Wellington again!

    April 4, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    After one more night in Nelson (more matcha and sushi! 😋), and with a hitchhiker in the back, we all drove to Picton. There, Sylvain hitchhiked on to Blenheim, while Shuan and I took the ferry back to Wellington. We went to the same gelato place I had been to with Maddie a few weeks earlier — and that’s when I saw it: they had an 8-flavour special! So, the next morning after breakfast, I rewarded myself with way too much ice cream, because my stomach had triumphed over its urge to defy gravity on the ferry. And to celebrate having had healthy food the past few days. (I'd be very much obliged if you didn't ask any further questions. 😅)Read more

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    Cape Farewell and Wharariki Beach

    April 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    For me, Cape Farewell was undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking sights in New Zealand—despite the relentless rain (at this point, it feels like it just won’t stop pouring). If the Earth were flat, Cape Farewell would be the perfect place to mark the edge of the world (the picture fails to get across just how amazing this place is). Now we just need equally awe-inspiring spots to complete the circle. 😁

    Wharariki Beach might as well be part of that mix. We arrived just in time for sunset, but the clouds had other plans. Still, the beauty of the place was undeniable—the vast, mirror-like beach stretching endlessly, followed by rolling sand dunes. A little sunshine would have made it even more magical.    Read more

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    Labyrinth Rocks

    April 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    This stop was rather coincidental, but a great one. It’s amazing what nature creates without human intervention—plenty of uniquely shaped rocks, small tunnels, adorable birds, and a truly maze-like structure. I had so much fun exploring all the hidden paths!Read more

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    Second Time in Abel Tasman

    March 31, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    My second time in Abel Tasman—though this time on foot, not by kayak. A 14 km hike from Totaranui to Awaroa, with plenty of nature to enjoy along the way.

    My favorite moment happened right at the start of the hike when a seagull suddenly spotted something in the water near the shore, picked it up, and dropped it onto the beach. A starfish! And such a pretty one. It was still alive, so I took the liberty of throwing it back into the water. Hopefully, it landed out of seagull sight.

    We didn’t quite make it to Awaroa. The tide was still too high, and we would have had to wait another hour. We gave it a shot and got about halfway before deciding that was good enough. It was only about 500m that were missing to complete the journey anyway. ^^

    P.S.: We got a new tent! Properly sized, with plenty of space. Okay, maybe I’m overselling it—it’s still a cheap tent, but definitely an upgrade. This one is almost (!) waterproof!

    We also splurged on $9 air mattresses. My back was very grateful!    Read more

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    Not Much to See in Blenheim

    March 29, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    In Kaikōura, I met up with Shuan, my new travel buddy. Together, we made our way to Blenheim—but the town seemed rather uneventful, so we headed straight to our campsite.

    While setting up the tent, we noticed that mold had formed on it. So, we drove back into Blenheim to buy a new one. Lucky us—we managed to get the last four-person tent they had!

    Back at the campsite, we got to work. Only… something seemed off. The tent was much smaller than expected—about half the size of a proper four-person tent. Somehow, the tents must have gotten mixed up. For us, that meant cozying up uncomfortably close and getting splashed in the face by condensation from the tent walls every time the wind blew.

    Before we could sleep, however, two other guys at the campsite needed our help—or rather, our phones.

    It took us a moment to understand the situation. Apparently, a man had just reached the beach with his kayak—it was pitch black outside, and the sun had set more than an hour and a half ago. He had been kayaking with his wife but had decided to paddle off alone to fish and explore, thinking it wouldn’t take long. Then dusk fell, and darkness caught him off guard. Realizing he was in trouble, he paddled to the nearest beach—about an hour away from where his wife and young child were waiting.

    The two guys at our campsite had encountered him, but for some reason, their phones weren’t able to make a call. Eventually, we found a way to contact his wife, who was already scouting nearby beaches, looking for him. Fortunately, she was only 20 minutes away and was able to pick him up.

    Once he was safely reunited with his family, we all headed back to our tents—but not before making sure he knew never to pull a stunt like that again.    Read more

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    Playdate with Dolphins 2

    March 28, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Lucky for me, my lack of singing was apparently appreciated by at least one dolphin, who interacted with me by continuously spinning around me. They like eye contact, so it’s good to try and keep up with them. It felt like a competition. The dolphin won. I got dizzy.

    This was definitely one of my favourite travel experiences so far!    Read more

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    Playdate with Dolphins

    March 28, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    This activity was definitely something I’ve always wanted to do—swimming with dolphins! And in perfect conditions… well, not the weather, that kinda sucked. But the dolphins here are wild and free, choosing to interact with you (or not) on their own terms.

    Equipped with our gear and after watching a short instruction video, we were driven to the marina, where we set off on a boat ride that lasted about 25 minutes. Unlike yesterday, though, being on the boat wasn’t as much fun. I struggled to keep from feeling sick, and the ride back was even worse.

    We were supposed to swim with dusky dolphins, but on our way there, we actually spotted the rare Hector’s dolphins! These small, shy dolphins are found only in New Zealand, and while they usually keep their distance, today they interacted with our boat.

    We were given two important instructions before getting in the water. First: to get the dolphins’ attention, sing! Apparently, they find it intriguing and are more likely to come closer. Honestly, though, if I were a dolphin and had to endure that cacophonous underwater assault, I’d have swum in the other direction. :D (To be fair, try singing underwater with a mask over your nose and a snorkel mouthpiece in your mouth - it doesn‘t come naturally to most of us…)

    The second rule: Don’t smile. Even if seeing the dolphins makes you happy! Smiling lets water into your mask, which is… not fun. That said, I’m not sorry to report that I did, in fact, get water in my mask. Worth it.

    Of course, there were other important rules too, like “Don’t jump off the boat unless instructed” and “Don’t pee in your wetsuit.”

    (I’ll split this post in two since this app only allows a max of two videos per post.)    Read more

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    Dolphin Watching in Kaikoura 2

    March 27, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    I hope you love dolphins as much as I do. Then these pictures are for you. Those are the Dusky Dolphins. Very playful in nature and evidently so happy they jump around a lot. Like I did in the trampoline park in Wellington. Yes, with equal amounts of grace, before you ask. (Maddie, in case you read this: I‘m gonna have to ask you to lie if you‘re called as a witness… :D)Read more

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    Whale Watching in Kaikoura 1

    March 27, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Even though I had initially had strongly mixed feelings about Christchurch, I was sad to leave. That hostel was awesome with its modern style and top-notch amenities. I shall miss my spot on the bar sofa.

    I left Christchurch for whale watching in Kaikōura, a small coastal town famous for its abundant marine life. Kaikōura is one of the best places in the world for whale watching due to the deep-sea Kaikōura Canyon, which creates nutrient-rich waters that attract a variety of marine species. The area is home to resident sperm whales (one of which we saw twice), as well as visiting humpback whales, blue whales, orcas, and even the occasional pilot whale.

    The sperm whale we got to see is called Manu. His name comes from the Māori word for "bird," referring to the distinct shape of his tail fluke, which resembles a bird in flight. Whales are identified by the unique shape and markings of their tail fins, which makes Manu easily recognizable.

    All we could actually see was about one-third of the whale above water, occasionally blowing off steam… :D And finally, when he re-emerged into the water, we watched him sink gracefully, his tail lifting into the air before disappearing beneath the surface. Apparently, that’s not always the case—sometimes, the tail stays submerged and they just disappear without pomp and circumstance.

    Sperm whales get their name from the waxy substance called spermaceti found in their large heads. Early whalers mistakenly believed it was whale sperm, but it is actually used by the whale to help with buoyancy and echolocation. A single sperm whale can carry up to 1.5 tons of spermaceti in its head!

    Once a sperm whale dives, it can stay underwater for up to 90 minutes before surfacing again. In our case, we had about 30 minutes to look for another whale before Manu would resurface. Unfortunately, we didn’t find another one in that short amount of time.

    After our second encounter with Manu and after spotting some albatross on the water, we had a little time to spare—and ended up having a get-together with a bunch of dolphins!    Read more

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    Arthur‘s Pass

    March 25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    After the cool cave experience, I drove on to the Arthur’s Pass Hiking Trail but decided to skip the hike and just visit all the best lookout points. a) I was pretty tired, and b) it was already getting late, with a three-hour drive back to Christchurch still ahead of me. A shame, really—the nature in Arthur’s Pass is nothing short of stunning.

    (Picture 1: Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall | Picture 2 + Video: Otira Viaduct Lookout | Picture 3: Arthur’s Pass Scenic Lookout)    Read more

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    Spelunking

    March 25, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    At the cozy lodge where I stayed for the night, I met two Brits, Imogen and Tom—two very kind people. Fortunately, we decided to explore Cave Stream together.

    Reaching the cave was easy enough, though when we got there, we saw plenty of warning signs advising against exploring it without proper equipment: warm clothing, a helmet, ideally a wetsuit, etc.—which we didn’t really have. Oh, and apparently, people have drowned there. Plus, the water was supposed to be rather cold.

    We hiked down quickly and inspected the entrance. It looked amazing! But as soon as we stepped into the water and realized how deep it got right away, we decided to turn back and call it a day. It was simply too cold, and the trail seemed pretty intimidating.

    Before returning to the car park, we took a quick look at the exit—just in time to see a guy emerging from the cave, his clothes soaked up to his chest. We asked him what he thought about the cave. Long story short, he told us it wasn’t all that difficult and that it hadn’t taken him long at all. He even recommended that we try it ourselves.

    The three of us exchanged glances. That settled it. We were going in—equipped with headlights and my fancy dry bag, which Tom kindly carried the whole way.
    (Tom and Imogen remembered that they actually had something like a wetsuit in their car, but they felt it would be unfair to wear them—wanting us to embark on the expedition under equal conditions so we could truly share the experience (and possibly suffer together 😁)

    Just as the water was getting hip-deep at the entrance, we were greeted by an eel. Later on, we even saw a baby eel! It felt both creepy and cool to be so close to them—just 5 cm apart.

    The cave itself was incredible. Pitch black, if not for our headlights. The rocks were fascinating—rugged yet smooth at the same time. We had to watch our step constantly, as the stream flowed through the entire cave with varying water levels. Depending on your height, the water could reach up to your hips at times, though it was mostly ankle-deep. It definitely wasn’t ideal to hold anything in your hands (as we saw some people doing with their smartphones, using them as torches). We were glad to keep our hands free to stabilize ourselves as we maneuvered through the cave.

    There were several waterfalls—some cascading down from the walls, others completely integrated into the stream with strong currents. One, in particular, was tricky to traverse. I struggled with it, finding it hard not to slip on the smooth rocks while trying to keep a steady stance against the powerful flow. But we all made it. That was actually my favorite part! 😁

    At another point, we had to crawl under a large rock, and toward the end of the cave, we encountered a deep pool of water. Thankfully, we didn’t have to go through it, as a few metal steps on our left led us upward. The final challenge was to slide and crawl through a narrow gap to exit the cave—before high-fiving each other for a job well done! We even only took about 25 minutes for the hike through the cave - instead of the hour that it was supposed to take.

    While the water was definitely very cold, I was actually fine! Surprisingly. Maybe because we were all moving the entire time or because of the adrenaline. 😁

    Exploring Cave Stream was definitely one of the highlights of my travels so far! And I was especially grateful for the supportive company. 😊

    This adventure is certainly worthy of my 100th footprint!    Read more

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    Castle Hill

    March 24, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Time to leave Christchurch—for now. On the way to my destination, Arthur’s Pass, I stopped at Castle Hill, which reminded me a lot of Scotland. And with that, I also thought of Maddie, who would have absolutely loved climbing on top of every single rock here.

    I hiked the 40-minute loop, wondering the entire time whether the rock in picture 5 was giving me the finger!

    I particularly appreciated the tourists who were trying to take a picture of the scenery (apparently not of me) as I was walking through. Wanting to be considerate, I stepped out of the way so as not to block their view. They thanked me for that. You’d think they’d extend me the same courtesy, right? Fat chance! That was hilariously rude of them.

    I continued driving to my lodge for the night—surrounded by hills, streams, and forests. I loved that. The lodge itself is nice, though there’s not much to do around here… apart from collecting a few mushrooms. Looking forward to dinner! 😃    Read more

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    2

    Alpacaaaaas!

    March 21, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Finally! Cuddling with alpacas! And at a reasonable price, too! Plus, a new hat made of alpaca wool… :)

    There were two groups—one English tour group and one Mandarin group. Both guides did a great job and taught us a few interesting things about alpacas. For example, males are gentler than females. Once a female is pregnant, she won’t appreciate the father approaching her—she’ll spit on him. 😁 Alpaca wool is three times warmer than merino wool. And you should never approach alpacas from behind—always from the front.

    Our tour guide even demonstrated this on one alpaca before we got to cuddle with the males. It was emphasized several times, in fact. That’s why it was both puzzling and increasingly irritating to watch one couple completely ignore everything we were told—all for the sake of a perfect photo of their child with the alpacas. The mother spent the entire hour yelling at her child to touch an alpaca for a picture, while the father kept touching them from behind, then acting confused when they didn’t like it. Infuriating.

    Anyway, after our cuddle session with the males, we moved on to the mothers and their young. Each of us got a bowl of dried grass to feed the little ones—adorable! I had a particularly persistent one sticking with me for most of the time. While most alpacas had a little taste and moved on, mine powered through one and a half bowls of food. ^^

    Watching the baby alpacas roam free with that breathtaking scenery in the background—just what I needed.    Read more

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    2

    Much better!

    March 21, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The Banks Peninsula is strikingly beautiful! Green hills, a turquoise bay, cute little towns, and Newton’s Waterfall—ah, I’ve missed sights like this! (Even though I’ll admit Christchurch is growing on me. A bit. But that might just be the hostel, which is quite awesome.) The drive there was so windy and nausea-inducing, though. It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten car sick while being in the driver’s seat. 😁

    Be that as it may, I enjoyed this place plenty! Especially capturing the little rainbow on my camera—it was only visible in the middle of the stream or from the other side. Believe you me, getting across was pretty slippery! With the camera attached to me, I wondered more than once whether the rocks I was putting my weight on were steady enough. Spoiler alert: most of them weren‘t. 😁

    I wanted to explore more, but I had an important 4 p.m. appointment!    Read more

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    Well… Ok. Getting there.

    March 20, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    First of all, the weather was much nicer today. Second, I explored a new area that looked far better than what I had previously seen. I might even go so far as to say: I see the appeal. ^

    I grabbed a matcha frappe-style refreshment at the Riverside Market (yes, with whipped cream—the matcha, that is, not the market) and made my way to the Earthquake Memorial by the river. I don’t know what Christchurch looked like before the earthquake, but now it feels very modern. There are still quite a few construction sites, though I can’t say for sure whether they’re ongoing repairs or just new projects.

    Opposite the Memorial wall, there’s a Pounamu with a sprinkler that created a pretty rainbow—an unexpected sight!

    I enjoy browsing souvenir shops and popped into one just to compare prices with what I’ve seen elsewhere. The cashier was a tour guide at heart, and it was adorable to see how much joy he got from giving customers the best travel tips while being equally kind to everyone. From my experiences in hostels and on campsites so far (at least sometimes), more people could take a leaf from his book.

    I asked where I might find a blue post box, and wow—what a detailed description! (Yes, I actually found it, despite my awful sense of direction.) He even, for whatever reason, had a photo of the post box on his phone, which he was happy to share. :D

    One great thing about some hostels is the ‘For Free’ box. Apparently, people really don’t like—or need—hot chocolate. Luckily, I know someone who does. :)    Read more

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    Still not convinced…

    March 19, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    I had only seen the city center so far and it wasn‘t for me. Fair enough. Time to explore the outskirts of Christchurch: Barnett Park (apparently, there’s a cave somewhere, but thanks to a rubbish GPS signal and three different hikes, I never found it…), Victoria Park, and Sumner Beach.

    More rain! That never helps make a good impression of a place. But I was farther from the city and enjoyed seeing more nature, which is always a win. Still, I stand by what I said—New Zealand has far more to offer. I used the word sobering before, and my opinion hasn’t changed, unfortunately.

    While trying to find a parking space at Barnett Park, my first stop, I suddenly spotted a car that had rolled downhill—airbags out, doors open. I pulled over and walked toward it, but there was no one inside. Odd. A little later, another car approached (the only one I saw in two hours) and stopped. The driver smirked and asked if the crashed car was mine. I said no and expressed my concern. He just shrugged and said not to worry—it had been there for a while, and someone must have pushed it downhill. Great. Worried for no reason. :D But that was enough excitement for me.

    Other highlights of the day: A dog so happy to see me that I would have taken it home if its owner hadn’t popped up a second later. A cool building near Victoria Park. Huh. That sounded like it was going to be a list.

    But things were looking up toward the end of the day! The hostel hosted a Paint and Sip night, which I gladly signed up for. And I finally got to drink an Aperol! Not the most important part of the night, of course. (Or was it? :D) I met seven new people, and with some wine (+ Aperol), painting, and good conversation, the night was shaping up well. Our assignment: Flightless Birds. After lively chit-chat at the beginning, the room went silent as everyone focused intensely, only interrupted by occasional laughs of desperation. What a variety of paintings! It‘s always fascinating to see how people come up with their very own interpretation and what can be achieved in only two hours.

    P.S. My painting may reflect my deep yearning for cute penguins, given my thus-far unsuccessful penguin hunt. I also enjoyed the chicken painting and the Bob Ross-inspired sunset featuring a mummy penguin and her steroid-abusing chick (the artist’s words, not mine). :D    Read more

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    So… Christchurch, huh?

    March 18, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    On my third day in Christchurch—having explored the city center over the past two days—I met up with the two sisters I had previously met in Timaru to visit the Botanical Gardens together. The gardens certainly had some beautiful areas (though the constant rain didn’t help), but overall, I found them rather sterile. The Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh are always in the back of my mind and, apparently, hard to beat.

    The city center itself has a few cool buildings with interesting architecture, but beyond that, it’s still just a city. It’s not Auckland, which is a plus. But after seeing the stunning variety of nature New Zealand has to offer, Christchurch felt rather sobering.

    That night, I finally found more company after Maddie decided to leave me. At the hostel, I spotted three girls playing Scrabble—I couldn’t let that opportunity go amiss! Thankfully, they let me join their game. After introductions, one of them joked, 'Wouldn’t it be funny if we lost Scrabble to a German girl?' That was the last time the topic was mentioned. Because, well… I won.

    Take that, Andrew!

    In all fairness, this time I didn’t have the letter 'V.' But had I needed it, I’m sure that casually slipping in the oversized fridge magnet with that letter—the one I now (proudly?) own—would have gone completely unnoticed. :D    Read more

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    Where are the Penguins?

    March 15, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Timaru was supposed to have more penguins—without the need to pay ridiculous amounts of money. When I arrived at my campsite, I asked about them, only to be told that they had just received an email that morning: the last penguin had left its nest, so there was no reason for any to return. Oh man…

    Still, I went to the beach anyway and had a nice time. I took a photo of something in the distance that looked like an explosion, though I couldn’t be sure. I was really hoping for a little volcanic eruption—from a safe distance, of course.    Read more

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    2

    Victorian Oamaru

    March 15, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Oamaru is famous for its well-preserved Victorian Precinct! I took a relaxed stroll down Harbour Street, exploring its many Victorian-style shops (though one shop owner seemed a bit tired of tourist conversations…). But then I suddenly realized—I had only one hour of free parking, and I was already 30 minutes past it.

    I rushed back, leaving Oamaru, my relaxed demeanor, and—most importantly—my not-yet-bought ice cream behind. Shame. It was a great day and I had a good time. But parking is expensive. :D    Read more

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    A Ton of Shags, Seal-Yoga and 1 Penguin

    March 14, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    My hunt for penguins brought me to Oamaru. Penguins are most active at dawn and dusk, and while it was still a bit early for dusk, I figured scouting the area in advance was a good idea.

    On my way to the penguin beach, I spotted an incredible number of shags! I had mistaken them for penguins before, and this time they were flying around, making them easy to identify. Still, plenty of people excitedly pointed them out, telling me to check out all the “penguins.” :D

    The penguin beach was gated off, but luckily, the gate was open. No penguins yet—just more seals. One in particular was awake and moving gracefully, which reminded me that I should really stretch more!

    While waiting, I met a woman who was also hoping to see penguins. She pointed out a tiny nesting chick tucked under some rocks, waiting for its parents to return. It was a kororā, the world’s smallest penguin!

    Determined to come back later for a better look, I returned at dusk—only to find the gates closed. When I asked at the tourist information center, they told me, Of course, you can still see them! For 45 bucks. Yeah, no thanks. These prices are ridiculous.

    Instead, I wandered over to a different beach but had no luck spotting penguins. On the bright side, I met two sisters from Brisbane, had a great chat, and even caught a glimpse of a partially eclipsed blood moon.    Read more

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    Rocks that Move

    March 14, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The hike to Sandfly Bay Beach was only 2 km—how hard could it be, even with a pretty heavy backpack? The way down was manageable, though tough on the knees. It was quite steep, and the sand made sure you never had good grip, forcing you to use extra strength to dig your feet out with each step.

    I foolishly thought the hike back up would be easier. As always, the Department of Conservation’s distance estimates seemed more like measurements as the crow flies—according to my watch, it was actually 3.5 km each way.

    When I emerged onto the beach, I paused to take in the view. I was standing next to a rock when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it suddenly stretch and look at me. What a fright! After gathering my wits, I realized the beach wasn’t scattered with shiny rocks—it was full of seals, basking in the sun.

    After some wildlife photography, I started the hike back. The heat made it even tougher. I decided to take a short break every time my heart rate went above 165. That happened about five times, each break lasting only a few seconds, until I thought, How much longer can this uphill stretch possibly go? I pushed on, determined to get it over with. But behind every promising corner, there was more uphill. I powered through, keeping my spirits up with the thought of an ice cream as my reward. :D    Read more