Our February Highlights

We have been traveling through New Zealand for four months now. For some, this may seem like a long time, but for us, it has flown by. Even in the shortest month of the year, the number of adventures did not decrease.
We traveled down the East Coast of the South Island to the southernmost point. We got to see and experience the wild New Zealand.

February was packed with unforgettable experiences. With the next eleven questions, we will review them. To make it clear which answers belong to whom, Tobi's answers will be marked in bold and mine will be in italics - because of course, the two of us don't always have the same opinion. ;)

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- We traveled along the coast for a long time. Which beach was the most beautiful? -
Tobi: Even though the weather didn't play along that evening, Sandfly Bay was my highlight. We encountered sea lions, fur seals, and yellow-eyed penguins.
Nadine: Tunnel Beach is not a beach in the classical sense. But for me, it is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand because the view of the coast and the sea is breathtaking.

- Let's continue with the good things in life. What did you have to snack on during the month? -
A bag of English wine gums from the candy store. Yummy!
Five bars of chocolate from the Cadbury Factory Outlet. Yummy!

- And on which great hike did you shed some pounds? -
The Circle Track at Lake Manapouri can only be reached by water and leads through a nature reserve. We were rewarded with a beautiful view.
The track at Lake Hauroko was particularly challenging and varied. From the top, we had a view of snow-covered mountains, the lake, and the Fiordland.

- On which campsite did you feel particularly comfortable? -
It may sound banal, but near Lake Manapouri, we were impressed by the facilities. There were five separate bathrooms with a toilet, shower, and sink. So in one room, you had everything you needed to freshen up.

- Do you have any insider tips for (future) New Zealand travelers? -
Doctors Point, north of Dunedin, is a good alternative to the crowded Cathedral Cove. A beautiful tunnel passage leads to a secluded beach.
If you want to find the rare Paua Shell yourself, you have a relatively good chance at the Waipapa Lighthouse. ;)

- The East Coast is known for its wildlife. What was the most exciting encounter? -
The free swimming with wild dolphins in Curio Bay is unforgettable. If you ignore the wind and water temperature, you can fully immerse yourself in the experience with the animals.
At Surat Bay, we will remember the encounter with two wild baby seals fondly. Seeing them lying alone on the beach between algae and branches was unimaginable to me until then.

- Where did you have your biggest adventure this month? -
It started with the hike to Lake Marian. But the real challenge was swimming in the glacial lake.
Having followed an indistinct path to the beginnings of a waterfall on our own was my biggest adventure.

- Where did you have the best view? -
The sunrise at Nugget Point Lighthouse - watching the sun rise behind the lighthouse was simply beautiful.
On Key Summit, there was an atmosphere that I had never experienced before. The lakes on the summit and the moss-covered trees made this place so special.

- For the architecture enthusiasts: Where was the most striking building in February? -
Waipapa Lighthouse is a lighthouse straight out of a picture book.
The Dunedin Railway Station is not without reason the most photographed building in New Zealand.

- Did you notice anything particularly useful in New Zealand? -
In New Zealand, the car is a multi-purpose tool - you can sleep, live, or open a café in it.
Bigger is better - shampoo comes in 1L pump bottles here. No more annoying opening of lids, just two pumps and you're done. ;)

- And last but not least: Your favorite pictures from February! -

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We hope you enjoyed this little review as much as we did. You can find more details about the respective places and experiences in our previous posts.
The month of March, Nadine's birth month, is now approaching and we are excited to see exactly where we will celebrate her birthday and what else awaits us.

As long as the internet connections allow, we will continue to report to you from this incredible adventure on the other side of the world.