Kate Sims
@k8sims.bsky.social
This is officially a daily New Zealand travel blog
Day 27: we rested up before the big journey back :'( did our laundry, went for a walk, and chilled out in the hotel room. Tomorrow, we'll be back in Madison with our boys ❤️ s/o to Rei for taking excellent care and sending these pics
February 27, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Day 27: we rested up before the big journey back :'( did our laundry, went for a walk, and chilled out in the hotel room. Tomorrow, we'll be back in Madison with our boys ❤️ s/o to Rei for taking excellent care and sending these pics
Day 26: traveled by train from Wellington to Auckland! We had a first class experience ✨️ I made a decent dent in my book, and we felt so fancy the whole time. A million times worth it for the upgrade.
February 26, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Day 26: traveled by train from Wellington to Auckland! We had a first class experience ✨️ I made a decent dent in my book, and we felt so fancy the whole time. A million times worth it for the upgrade.
Day 25: We jumped back to the north island! But not before checking out Cave Rock and the botanical gardens in Christchurch (some bits and bobs we didn't catch the first time around). The gardens had a really lovely rose garden 🌹 tomorrow: train to Auckland!
February 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Day 25: We jumped back to the north island! But not before checking out Cave Rock and the botanical gardens in Christchurch (some bits and bobs we didn't catch the first time around). The gardens had a really lovely rose garden 🌹 tomorrow: train to Auckland!
Day 24: the return trip begins, slowly but surely. Before leaving Dunedin, we visited the museum! So many pictures to follow. We're making our way back north but stopped in Timaru, where we got to see a wild penguin!!
February 24, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Day 24: the return trip begins, slowly but surely. Before leaving Dunedin, we visited the museum! So many pictures to follow. We're making our way back north but stopped in Timaru, where we got to see a wild penguin!!
Day 23: we celebrated our anniversary in style. We had lunch in the Glenfalloch Gardens, saw some sea lions(!!) at Sandfly Bay, visited a castle, and dinnered at a nice restaurant. Just a really pleasant day with my favorite guy ❤️
February 23, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Day 23: we celebrated our anniversary in style. We had lunch in the Glenfalloch Gardens, saw some sea lions(!!) at Sandfly Bay, visited a castle, and dinnered at a nice restaurant. Just a really pleasant day with my favorite guy ❤️
Day 22: We drove to Dunedin (pronounced dun-eden 🤦♀️ not dune-eh-den). We walked around the city a bit, enjoyed the fancy hotel room, and had dinner at Lone Star, which is an American-themed restaurant 😂 the food was actually amazing tho. I told the waiter we felt right at home.
February 22, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Day 22: We drove to Dunedin (pronounced dun-eden 🤦♀️ not dune-eh-den). We walked around the city a bit, enjoyed the fancy hotel room, and had dinner at Lone Star, which is an American-themed restaurant 😂 the food was actually amazing tho. I told the waiter we felt right at home.
Day 21: I booked us a last-minute trip to Milford Sound, and BOY was it worth it. We had to wake up at 6:30 AM for it, but I think Alexander eventually forgave me for that 😉 a minibus picked us up in Te Anau and drove us up to the sound. A flood of pictures incoming:
February 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Day 21: I booked us a last-minute trip to Milford Sound, and BOY was it worth it. We had to wake up at 6:30 AM for it, but I think Alexander eventually forgave me for that 😉 a minibus picked us up in Te Anau and drove us up to the sound. A flood of pictures incoming:
Day 20: we enjoyed the view until check-out time and drove to Te Anau! There were so many beautiful scenic spots along the way. 😍 Alexander got binoculars! And after we checked in to the motel here, we visited the Takahe bird sanctuary. Takahe were almost extinct 😭 but we saw a chick!!
February 20, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Day 20: we enjoyed the view until check-out time and drove to Te Anau! There were so many beautiful scenic spots along the way. 😍 Alexander got binoculars! And after we checked in to the motel here, we visited the Takahe bird sanctuary. Takahe were almost extinct 😭 but we saw a chick!!
Day 19: we said goodbye to Aoraki and moved along to Wanaka! We shopped around (I got some really nice wool sweaters), ate lunch, and walked along the lake before heading to our Safari Tent. The private view was amazing! I spotted a wind surfer. And then at dinner, there was a really handsome guy 😍
February 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Day 19: we said goodbye to Aoraki and moved along to Wanaka! We shopped around (I got some really nice wool sweaters), ate lunch, and walked along the lake before heading to our Safari Tent. The private view was amazing! I spotted a wind surfer. And then at dinner, there was a really handsome guy 😍
Day 18: we took it easy and rested our blistered feet. It was rainy all day, so that helped. A duck came by to say hello in the morning. We worked on our separate projects and started watching Severence. At dinner we shared a fishbowl 🐠
February 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Day 18: we took it easy and rested our blistered feet. It was rainy all day, so that helped. A duck came by to say hello in the morning. We worked on our separate projects and started watching Severence. At dinner we shared a fishbowl 🐠
Day 17: we hiked the Hooker Valley Trail, a winding, hot, mostly flat walk that took us across three suspension bridges and to a glacial lake at the base of Mount Cook. There were a few icebergs still in the water! And some rocks fell on the other side which had a small tsnunami wave effect.
February 17, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Day 17: we hiked the Hooker Valley Trail, a winding, hot, mostly flat walk that took us across three suspension bridges and to a glacial lake at the base of Mount Cook. There were a few icebergs still in the water! And some rocks fell on the other side which had a small tsnunami wave effect.
Day 16: y'all are not ready for this one. We drove west to our motel in Mount Cook, and not only were we treated to beautiful sights and lakes along our journey but also the view out of our room is insane (fourth picture)
February 16, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Day 16: y'all are not ready for this one. We drove west to our motel in Mount Cook, and not only were we treated to beautiful sights and lakes along our journey but also the view out of our room is insane (fourth picture)
Day 15: we stepped back in time at Ferrymead Heritage Park and got to ride the tram there! Alexander got to check out their model train museum. We visited the Quake City museum after hearing so much from locals about the 2011 earthquakes. And then we had dinner on the tramway restaurant!
February 15, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Day 15: we stepped back in time at Ferrymead Heritage Park and got to ride the tram there! Alexander got to check out their model train museum. We visited the Quake City museum after hearing so much from locals about the 2011 earthquakes. And then we had dinner on the tramway restaurant!
Day 14: Valentine's Day ❤️ we went punting on the Avon River and then we soared above the city in the sky gondolas. We took the tram around the city and enjoyed the pop-up museum! And topped it off with a fancy dinner date
February 15, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Day 14: Valentine's Day ❤️ we went punting on the Avon River and then we soared above the city in the sky gondolas. We took the tram around the city and enjoyed the pop-up museum! And topped it off with a fancy dinner date
Day 13: after a 5-hour drive south, past Mount Doom and through beautiful rolling hills, we arrived in Wellington! Just in time to almost immediately board a plane and take off for Christchurch! Day 1 on the south island begins tomorrow
February 13, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Day 13: after a 5-hour drive south, past Mount Doom and through beautiful rolling hills, we arrived in Wellington! Just in time to almost immediately board a plane and take off for Christchurch! Day 1 on the south island begins tomorrow
Day 12: very late, but we had breakfast in a cute cafe! Alexander got the cookies and cream waffles. Then we stopped by a Lava Glass shop where I picked up a few trinkets. We walked around the (stinky) Craters of the Moon and then headed back to the Cottage to cool off and chill
February 13, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Day 12: very late, but we had breakfast in a cute cafe! Alexander got the cookies and cream waffles. Then we stopped by a Lava Glass shop where I picked up a few trinkets. We walked around the (stinky) Craters of the Moon and then headed back to the Cottage to cool off and chill
Day 11: big day for us! We got an early start to arrive at the Otorohanga Kiwi House right as it opened. Then, we hit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves along with a last-minute booking to Ruakuri Cave. Then, we drove a couple hours to Taupo where we watched the sunset over Aratiatia Rapids!
February 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Day 11: big day for us! We got an early start to arrive at the Otorohanga Kiwi House right as it opened. Then, we hit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves along with a last-minute booking to Ruakuri Cave. Then, we drove a couple hours to Taupo where we watched the sunset over Aratiatia Rapids!
Day 10: we lounged around our cutie hotel room before taking off to the lake to feed the ducks and walk around. Dinner turned into a surprise trivia night! The guy leading trivia helped us out on a couple of NZ-specific questions, but we still placed last 🫠
February 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Day 10: we lounged around our cutie hotel room before taking off to the lake to feed the ducks and walk around. Dinner turned into a surprise trivia night! The guy leading trivia helped us out on a couple of NZ-specific questions, but we still placed last 🫠
Day 9: early post today because we just finished at Hobbiton! I'm going to dump as many pics as I can in the replies.
February 8, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Day 9: early post today because we just finished at Hobbiton! I'm going to dump as many pics as I can in the replies.
Alexander keeps telling me stories about Maui and getting You're Welcome stuck in my head 😂
February 8, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Alexander keeps telling me stories about Maui and getting You're Welcome stuck in my head 😂
Day 8: we celebrated my 28th birthday in Mount Maunganui with massages and a dip in a hot pool to relax our sore muscles. After that, we said goodbye to the ocean for a bit as we head inland and had an AMAZING dinner.
February 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Day 8: we celebrated my 28th birthday in Mount Maunganui with massages and a dip in a hot pool to relax our sore muscles. After that, we said goodbye to the ocean for a bit as we head inland and had an AMAZING dinner.
Day 7: we checked out of our hotel in Auckland and headed to Hahei beach to go kayaking around Cathedral Cove (not pictured because our phones were safe in the waterproof bag; tour guide took pics so tbd on those). But we saw some beautiful sights on the drive to share.
February 7, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Day 7: we checked out of our hotel in Auckland and headed to Hahei beach to go kayaking around Cathedral Cove (not pictured because our phones were safe in the waterproof bag; tour guide took pics so tbd on those). But we saw some beautiful sights on the drive to share.
Day 6: Relaxation. I had my morning coffee on the porch and read my book, and we got some necessities (blister bandaids, bug bite relief cream, and 1 liter of sunscreen). NZ Pizza Hut has something called The Limo. As we dug in, we saw a sign of cosmic approval: a cruise ship (the limo of the sea)
February 6, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Day 6: Relaxation. I had my morning coffee on the porch and read my book, and we got some necessities (blister bandaids, bug bite relief cream, and 1 liter of sunscreen). NZ Pizza Hut has something called The Limo. As we dug in, we saw a sign of cosmic approval: a cruise ship (the limo of the sea)
Day 5: we hopped on a ferry to Waiheke Island, where we went ziplining and hiked around the island. Ate some AMAZING fish + chips. The blisters are now forming 🫠
February 5, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Day 5: we hopped on a ferry to Waiheke Island, where we went ziplining and hiked around the island. Ate some AMAZING fish + chips. The blisters are now forming 🫠
Day 4: a hike to KiteKite falls and then a walk on Piha's black sand beach. We successfully avoided stepping on any Man o War corpses on the beach, but Alexander did get stung by a bee on our hike :( Piha beach had a cool ☝️ rock formation. Surfers were riding the waves!
February 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Day 4: a hike to KiteKite falls and then a walk on Piha's black sand beach. We successfully avoided stepping on any Man o War corpses on the beach, but Alexander did get stung by a bee on our hike :( Piha beach had a cool ☝️ rock formation. Surfers were riding the waves!