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
After three weeks in the South Island of New Zealand, I took the ferry over to Wellington. Cool city. I had around a week on the North Island before I was flying out, which wasn’t enough time to see everything, but I still hit up a few highlights! One thing I did not do was visit the Lord of the Rings Hobbiton set. I love those movies and the scenery, but am happy leaving them as part of my imagination.
While I have several hundred photos of NZ that I would happily share, I think we’ll stop here :). Coming up next – Australia!
This happened a few times! Sometimes the sheep need to get somewhere, and that’s okay. Just a fact of life. Oh and yes, in New Zealand they drive on the other side of the road (from the US). I was a little nervous about that, but it turned out that with the steering wheel on the other side of the car, it felt surprisingly natural. I think I only had one ‘oops!’ moment.
I do not remember where this was. But it was one of the sunset pictures that I loved; the orange glow highlighting mountain tops is kind of my ideal image.
Of course, water and mountains and clouds in any combination is pretty excellent!
I took a tour through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, which was super cool. You wander through a dark cave area, stopping occasionally, and the guide shines a very dim flashlight so you can see the worms. Here the glowworms have left threads, which act like a spider’s webs to catch bugs for food. After a short walk you board some small boats and float down an underground river. The guide asked everyone to be quiet and not use cameras and just enjoy the moment, which we all did. A very worthwhile adventure.
I stopped in Rotorua for two days. The area is famous for geothermal activity, resulting in geysers and mud springs. It also means that there’s a fairly constant scent of sulfur on the air. Nearby is the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland park, where you can find the famous Painters Lake. I was amazed at how vibrant the colors are.
The park is an absolutely fascinating (and smelly) place to walk around. The lakes have such interesting colors from the chemicals in them, and the fact that despite the high temperatures plant life can still thrive. The smell was quite strong, but you also got used to it very quickly.
The park had these very nicely laid out paths for walking around. I appreciated that there were lots of little loops and side trails; you could walk directly ‘through’ the water, or go up high and get a more picturesque view.
The final image I’m sharing with you from New Zealand, and it’s another road. But in this case, I wanted to leave you with the same emotion I felt so often during my time in this phenomenally beautiful country. A feeling of joy, with the natural world around you; and a feeling of excitement, while you look down the road towards the horizon and wonder what’s coming next. Thanks for sharing this journey with me :).
JPL
Wow!
YY_Sima Qian
@Dagetch
Great!
The 3rd pic is clearly Milford Sound. I have a similar pic from a similar vantage point, but different time of day.
How did you get the nice shot of the glowworms in such dark lighting?!
When I visited Rotorua’s mud springs it was rainy & foggy, I could not see much of the scenery at all, just some bubbling mud pits up close, & hearing the gushing sound of geysers.
StringOnAStick
Are the glow worms actual worms, and what is the reason for the glow, to attract insects? I swear, the flora and fauna of NZ and AUS is some of the wildest on earth.
Geo Wilcox
We’ve always been stay at home folks due mostly to having dogs. Our last dog is nearing 9 and he is a giant breed so we don’t think he will be around in a couple of years.
We were going to go to England when he passed but now, with the help of your articles, we are dead set on New Zealand. Thank you.
Betty
Wonderful selection of photos. I am happy you said the other side of the road instead of the wrong side like most Americans do. Right v. left, rather than right v. wrong.
Trivia Man
One of the things I miss most about Salt Lake City is the daily Alpenglow. Perfectly placed for a glow at sunset every day it’s clear. Magnificent,
AM in NC
What a fantastic series! Husband and I just retired early; we are about to be empty-nesters, and we want to do some serious travel. Taking a month in New Zealand sounds amazing!
JeanneT
Thank you for taking us on your journey. That last photo especially touched my emotions – a yearning toward the path ahead. Wonderful!
cope
Once again, wonderful pictures of spectacular places, elegantly described. Thank you.
On to Australia.
stinger
Oh my. All great, but that last photo is where I want to LIVE.
You can take us back to New Zealand any time, Dagaetch!
RaflW
These threads are fantastically helpful. We leave for NZ in 29 days (whoohoo!). Planning 19 nights, eight north island, eleven south island. Then 10 nights in Oz. Oh, and we’re kicking it off with 2 nights in Honolulu.
HNL is our hopeful hack – overused term but whatevs – for jet lag. We have a day flight to America’s 50th state, spend two nights at -5h time change (a beach day should help plenty). Then a day flight to Auckland, landing at 9pm local time, -2 from HNL body-time, or +22 by clock/calendar after losing a day somewhere up there in the skies over the imaginary (date)line. We just couldn’t quite imagine MSP-SFO-AKL with that second flight being 13 endless hours in a reclining seat (or, g-d help me, 16.5 hrs from O’Hare!).
I’m super excited!
kindness
You really should have visited Hobbitown. Yea, it’s a 3-4 hour drive from Wellington but it’s spectacular. Well worth the time.
RaflW
@kindness: Alas, Hobbiton is under remodeling during our trip. It’s still open, but Bagshot Row is temporarily inaccesible. Tours still on offer (at full, eye-watering price) with “being able to get a special glimpse of the project as it unfolds”. That’s some spin there.
bob7094
Are there glow worms with right hand threads as well as left?
Geoffrey Knobl
Most beautiful country I’ve ever visited. I want to go back with my wife and kids if that’s still possible for us. The wife wants to see Australia but I can’t imagine how it would be better than NZ. And yes, it’s takes a surprisingly short amount of time to get used to driving on the left with right-hand drive. I visited back in 1991 and I miss it very much. I know I and my family could find peace there (and much needed financial safety).
Mo MacArbie
Maybe you didn’t do Hobbiton, but that last shot puts me on the lookout for Nazgul.