The Routeburn Track is a truly spectacular alpine hike on the South Island of New Zealand. These tips and FAQ will help you plan your hike on this track. One of the first things that I like to do when I’m thinking about doing a…
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Native, endemic, and introduced are terms that describe a plant or animal. Here is a quick overview on what those terms mean and examples of each in New Zealand. There are thousands of species of plants and animals found throughout the world. Some of them…
Lake Waikareiti near New Zealand’s Lake Waikaremoana is a gem. Here is some info about our day hike and try fishing this lake. New Zealand is such a cool country to explore. I feel so fortunate that we’ve lived here for the past few years.…
The Kereru, or New Zealand Native Pigeon is a beautiful, fat, clumsy bird that I love. Here are 9 facts about this common New Zealand bird. My son and I recently took part in the Great Kereru Count in New Zealand. This was a week…
Bats are the only land mammals that lived in New Zealand for millions of years. The two endemic bats are the Long-tailed bat and Lesser Short-tailed bat. Yes, as crazy as it seems it’s true that New Zealand had no other mammals. The land that…
The Fantail is one of the most common New Zealand birds that you will see. Here are 8 facts about this friendly, curious native New Zealand bird. It seems like just about anytime I go for a walk in a park or forest in New…
The Pohutukawa is an absolutely stunning tree that grows only in New Zealand. Here are 6 facts about this tree that is called the NZ Christmas Tree. When I first moved to New Zealand several years ago I was quickly blown away by the amazing…
Henrys Peak is a high point on the famous Pouakai Crossing in Egmont National Park. This peak makes a great long day hike in the Taranaki area of New Zealand’s North Island. Taranaki is an incredible area on the North Island of New Zealand. The…
Plate tectonics plays a huge role in shaping New Zealand’s landscape. The volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and mountains are all due to plate tectonics. New Zealand’s landscape is stunning. You can see beautiful beaches, hike in big mountains, visit glaciers. and ski on a volcano.…
The Whitecliffs walk is one of our favorite walks to do in the Taranaki area. Here is an overview of this hike that crosses some paddocks, tall cliffs, and a beautiful stretch of beach. Most of the walking or hiking tracks in the Taranaki area…