Take a Hike - Milford Track, New Zealand

Hiking The Milford Track

The Milford Track is an amazing 35+ mile hike through a pristine and impressive ecosystem.  Hikers encounter lazy rivers, mirrored lakes, lush valleys, steep cliffs, and countless waterfalls.  Wildlife abounds and crowds are nonexistent.  It truly is a nature lovers’ paradise.

Only 90 hikers are permitted on the trail each day, all headed in the same northward direction.  While one may encounter others in the early part of the day, the afternoon provides space and presents an enjoyable sense of seclusion.

We began the hike on April 1st, completing it on April 5th.  It should be noted that the bulk of our progress was recognized on April 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, a three day period during which we covered much of the total distance.  Along the way we encountered:

• Friendly wildlife – Blue Duck (endangered), Kea, and Weka along with eel and huge trout (rainbow and brown).
• Hostile wildlife – Sandflies and many of them, each with a bite far worse than that of a mosquito.
• Adventure – We traversed slippery and narrow terrain, crossed large areas where rock slides had occurred, and were rattled awake during a relatively minor earthquake.

The sheer beauty of this trek makes it unlike anything we’ve ever encountered.  We highly recommend it to anyone traveling to New Zealand and seeking a rewarding challenge.

We’ll close this entry with an insider tip to anyone contemplating the Milford Track – Consider departing from the lovely little town of Te Anau instead of Queenstown.  This approach shaved many hours from the somewhat lengthy bus ride.

The Weird, Wild Landscape - Moeraki Boulders

The Wonderfully Weird Moeraki BouldersIt's rare for us to want to return to a site we accidently passed on a road-trip, but we recently backtracked...and for good reason.  The Moeraki boulders are rock formations left on one particular New Zealand beach; they were formed over 55 million years ago when shells, mud and pebbles were deposited and buried on the sea floor.  Over time, deposits of lime encased each item to form these spherical boulders which are revealed as wind and surf erode the no longer submerged cliffs.  The quantity and unique shape and size are truly a site to behold.

Time to Unplug

Utopia!

The time has arrived to check off another item on our bucket list.  We will be offline during the first five days in April to hike the Milford Track, a 54 kilometer (33.5 mile) trail through New Zealand's beautiful fiord country.  If paradise is a place where cell phones don't work, we'll certainly have explored it.

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour - Marlborough, New Zealand

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour in Marlborough!Back in January we had a blast touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  Jenn's brother Brent planned the route and blazed the trail along with Matt, Jenn, and Jenn's stepdad, Bill.  When Brent sponsored Bring Back Cocktail Hour, we thought it would be fitting to apply it to another libation-related tour...This time on the other side of the world.

New Zealand is known for its quality wines and we were keen to sample a wide variety. We drove to Blenheim, New Zealand, rented two bikes, and spent a fun-filled day visiting a variety of tasting rooms.  When lunchtime arrived, we were fortunate to be close to The Brothers winery where we paired a 2011 Pinot Noir with their more-than-generous charcuterie plate which contained a selection of breads, meats, cheeses, seafood, pate, olives, and mixed greens.  We left energized and fortified, ready for a riverside path peddle before proceeding to another winery known for its sparkling wine.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Brent for his "Include an Appetizer" contribution.  It helped us create new memories while reminding us of the good times we shared this past winter.

Rooting for the Home Team in Dunedin, New Zealand

Before we arrived in New Zealand we started exploring our options to attend a rugby match.  We were pleased to secure two tickets to see the Otago Highlanders take on the Wellington Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin (South Island), New Zealand.

The sport’s rules and regulations are somewhat confusing to the uninitiated, so we watched the above instructional video.  We highly recommend it to anyone hoping to learn about rugby…It demonstrates the complex concepts in a way that is memorable and easy to understand.  This learning tool was particularly valuable to Matt who viewed it numerous times in an effort to fortify his ability to keep up with the fast-paced action.

We joined the locals, cheering on the Highlanders as they secured an early lead.  The Hurricanes rallied during the second half, but the rally fell short and the Highlanders triumphed with a final score of 35 to 31.

The fans filed out of the stadium en masse and we enjoyed good company during the 20 minute walk back to our hotel – It was a perfect evening for new experiences in this foreign, yet familiar land.