*Hover cursor over blue dots to reveal location and dates

 

My month long excursion through the North and South Island of New Zealand is complete.  I cannot believe it is over.  Numerous people have asked if I consider my time in New Zealand a success.  I believe I got everything out of New Zealand that I could have without going drastically over budget.  New Zealand, like most countries, offers such a wide variety of activities and landscapes that in order to take in each you need to reside here permanently.  I spent my fair share of time in large cities (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown), small cities (Greymouth, Dunedin, Nelson, Hokitika), and rural towns (Ta Anau, Milford Sound, Turangi).  I went kayaking, hiked, biked, wandered for miles on city streets and town roads.  I navigated public transportation systems both in cities and countrywide.  I was challenged and overcame many hurdles.  New Zealand, while granting me a wealth of activities and landscapes to behold, has giving me self-confidence.  Confidence that any traveler needs to venture into foreign lands, find food, water and lodging and make it out in one piece.  I have met travelers from all over the world, exchanged stories with them and bid them farewell when we went our separate ways.  I look forward to meeting up with a number of them as my travels continue.  Tomorrow, I board an early morning flight from Christchurch, New Zealand to Cairns, Australia.  Over the next four weeks, I will make my way down the east coast of Australia, meet more travelers, celebrate Christmas and New Years and build upon the confidence I garnered over the previous weeks.

 

*The final group of photographs from Dunedin and Christchurch can be accessed within the New Zealand Portfolio section on the Perpetual Footsteps homepage.

Final New Zealand Statistics

Stops:

Finances:

During my time in New Zealand I spent $2,303.96 USD with a daily average of $56.19 USD.  The majority of these expenses were accommodations and transportation.