On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Dagaetch
I love New Zealand. I love New Zealand. Can I tell you how much I love New Zealand? THIS MUCH. Seriously. In the 3 weeks that I drove around the South Island, there was not a single day that I didn’t come across a scene that had me smiling wide. It was, quite simply, phenomenal. And there is a part of me that doesn’t want to go back, because I’m afraid I wouldn’t ever leave, and…uh…there’s probably some reason I couldn’t do that, but you’ll have to remind me later.
Not a clue where I was. Just another vista by the road, with beautiful skies.
I found I liked including the road in some shots. In addition to giving the photo a better sense of scale, it provides the leading lines for a viewers eye to follow, drawing you into the scene. Not that the scenery requires much help to draw you in.
These are the pancake rocks in Punakaiki. I thought I got lucky to see this rainbow, only to discover that it was a regular occurrence caused by the spray filtering over the top. Still, the scale (this formation was easily hundreds of feet high) was truly impressive.
More rainbows! I took a one-day boat trip in Milford Sound (which, technically, is a fjord, but changing the name is apparently too much trouble). We happened to be there after a night of heavy rain, so all of the waterfalls were running full bore, and the spray created some phenomenal rainbows.
New Zealand is the first (and, so far, only) place where I have picked up hitchhikers. It is (or at least was, in 2015) a very common thing on certain routes and in certain places. I had a couple of nice conversations, but also probably confused a passenger when I stopped talking in the middle of a sentence to pull the car over and grab my camera. Oh well!
Again, I have forgotten where this was. I could probably track it down using date stamps. I enjoy a nice bit of kayaking in calm waters; you will never catch me paddling in a spot like this. This individual (who thankfully was wearing a helmet and life vest) was casually holding on to a boulder for a bit of a rest, before continuing his own adventure. [I checked and this is at Okere Falls, on the North Island, actually!]
Wanaka. *sob* I love Wanaka with a deep, unreserved passion. If New Zealand is my favorite place in the world, Wanaka is my favorite place in it. I took a bit of a breather, staying here for 4 days. This was the beach at the edge of the lake, where I would find a seat on a bench and read a book, with this as my backdrop. I didn’t get much reading done. Too busy just relaxing.
The famous lone tree! I wandered over there several times, and never got amazing light. But it was still a delightful scene.
One of the few sunset photos I have. The downside to driving around a lot in a strange country is that I was reluctant to drive at night, so it was harder than I had realized in advance to take sunrise or sunset photos. Of course, when there are scenes like this literally outside the hostel I was staying at, who needs to go anywhere.
Baud
I wish NZ wasn’t so far away, but OTOH, if it were closer, we’d probably have ruined it.
J.
Beautiful photos. My daughter is going to New Zealand on her own in February, and I am so jealous.
Chris T.
Limit of 6 months per visa. You could split your time between NZ and, I dunno, Norway or Iceland or something…
(I looked into immigrating, and I probably could have done that when I was younger, but now I’m Old. Would have to learn to be a Large Animal Vet or something.)
By the way, I’m guessing that that first photo is somewhere on the Canterbury Plains, perhaps on the way back to Christchurch from Arthur’s Pass.
PIGL
Also, too, The Beths.
Dorothy A. Winsor
I also love New Zealand. It’s the only place we’ve ever visited that I thought I might like to live in. As your pictures show, it’s gorgeous. No matter where you go, there’s sea and mountains. And people are so laid back.
twbrandt
I’ve never been to NZ, but it’s very high on my list.
I was in Iceland last month (note to self: put together an OTR), and was surprised to see hitchhikers. But a native told me it’s somewhat common, and very safe because Iceland is a very safe country.
Dagaetch
@Chris T.: I mean, the idea of becoming a permanent nomad and just traveling endlessly between beautiful places certainly has its appeal!
Gin & Tonic
As most others, I *loved* NZ and would gladly go back. Were it not for some family obligations, I would have looked to make it permanent.
Story about the six-month visa – when I was there, early spring, I went skiing. On the lift one time, I was chatting with a woman, a retired schoolteacher from the Philly area, who hated heat. So she’d go to NZ in April-May, stay for just shy of six months, then return to the US. Had some arrangement with the place she stayed at in NZ that they’d store her stuff. Never had to deal with summer.
ETA: Here’s Lake Manapouri
Helena Montana
My brother loved New Zealand (and Australia) the way you do. He used to try to go every other year for six weeks. He’d bring tons of pictures back, but he always complained that he couldn’t capture exactly what he was seeing.
OzarkHillbilly
I did a lot of hitch hiking when I was younger, including one cross country trip. I still pick up hitchhikers. I would love to hitchhike across New Zealand or Iceland, but I’m a little too old and creaky for such shenanigans now.
Thanx for the pics, Dagaetch.
frosty
@OzarkHillbilly: I also did a bit of hitchhiking in my 20s. I haven’t seen a hitchhiker in years and unlike you, would probably not pick him up. If you want to relive your youth, read Kingbird Highway by Kenn Kauffman, who set out on a birding Big Year, hitching all over North America in the early 70s. The stories took me back!
Kabecoo
Our son went to NZ for school, quickly realized he should quit and hitchhike all over, had an amazing time. When drivers learned he was traveling they would often offer him a place to stay or dinner with the family. Fifteen years later he still wants to go back!
kindness
I went to NZ & AU in 2015. I went to the north island. I’ve vowed to go back and ski the south island one summer (their winter).
stinger
Love the purple mountain majesties!
eclare
Gorgeous photos!
pieceofpeace
A place made for dreaming – terrific shots!
BigJimSlade
I think in Maori “Wanaka” must mean, “fucking-A, this is nice!”
Ruckus
I’ve written this here before. I did, back in 2003, a 3 week motorcycle tour of NZ. It is one of the most amazing places on earth. The first day it rained, not all that much fun on a motorcycle. But it’s NZ and after stopping at a gas station to get a couple of paper towels and talking to the owner for 2 minutes, I found that it wasn’t the rain that was the problem, it was ME, thinking how the rain was ruining my trip, when the rain is one of the things that makes NZ so, so, so beautiful. I have ridden over 1/2 million miles on motorcycles in my lifetime and that 3 weeks was by far the highlight. Rode from Auckland to the southern tip of the south island on the east side and back up the west side, back to Auckland. So much natural beauty and amazing people in one place. We could learn a thing or 20 from them. Once, I passed a farmer in his pickup and about 10 miles later he stopped alongside me to ask if I was OK, because I’d stopped to check the map. I’ve ridden motorcycles over a half a million miles in 4 different countries on this planet on 3 continents and that’s the only place that’s ever happened.
JCNZ
If anyone decides to visit, make sure you come to Waiheke Island, a 30-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. You think mainland New Zealand is beautiful? We have a spare bedroom, Jackals always welcome. Watergirl has my email.
Omicron
Apparently you missed Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula not far from Christchurch. Incredible views (it’s on a beautiful bay), incredible people. As to the latter, I was wandering around on the streets, an obvious lost foreigner, and was asked by a couple of perfect strangers to join them at their home for lunch. *Twice* in two days! This was nearly 40 years ago, but I bet it’s still that way. I was so affected by the natural beauty and kindness that I totted up my net worth and priced real estate to see if I could make the move. Didn’t quite compute. Too bad for me….
YY_Sima Qian
Lovely photos! Brings back great memories.