Facebook Memories is a truly wonderful thing. For the last couple of weeks I have been reminded of that time we took a trip to New Zealand two years ago. Generally I take photos (almost exclusively) of landscapes but on this particular trip our Lego avatars were the stars of the journey. (This took the place of having to actually be in the photos!)

We started in Queenstown and worked our way up to the North Island via camper van. The first thing we did while in the South Island, before picking up our smelly camper, was one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, Routeburn Track. In this case, we most certainly did not save the best for last. When people ask me what our favourite part was, this is it. Wow, just wow! It was three and a half days of hiking and the trifecta of terrible sleeps, but I will forever remember it as the most amazing experience (until the next one if course). Fantastic scenery galore! Never again will I complain of walking in the rain as it always brings back memories of our breathtaking trek through the Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. To top it off we hit up Milford Sound on the loop to Q-Town.

Of course while were back in the “Adventure Capital of the World” we had to do something extraordinarily adventurous. (Sorry, no skydiving for this gal.) Our wonderful hosts at Pounamu Apartments suggested we try the Skipper’s Canyon Jet boat. It was a little out of the way (there is one closer to town) but when they say “GETTING TO THE BOAT IS HALF THE ADVENTURE” they mean it! Tons of fun! A truly terrifying bus ride and so worth it.

From there we went gold digging in Arrowtown, saw what I am pretty sure will be the most amazing sunset of my life from the Otago Peninsula in Dunedin, checked out NZ’s only castle, drove through Arthur’s Pass, hit up the West Coast and the pancake rocks (Punakaiki)!, caught the sunrise in Abel Tasman National Park and missed the ferry in Picton.

After being put on the waiting list for the following day we just squeaked on the boat to Wellington. If we did get a do over for the whole trip, we would have book this ahead of time. We would have also looked into dropping the van off and getting a new one on the other side. It is a lot cheaper to just take the ferry without a vehicle.

Though we did not have quite as much time for the North Island, we did make some great stops. We stayed in Taupo (Lake Taupo) on the first night, and hit up a small hot spring in a local park early in the morning. From there we stopped at Wai-O-Tapu. Arriving just before they set of the geyser, we decided to skip out and head straight into the park. (We had already seen a natural one in Iceland.) What a great idea! We literally had the place to ourselves. So cool! And the colours were amazing! The mud pools are a must! Thoroughly entatained.

We ended our stay in Auckland after stopping by Redoubt – Bar and Eatery in Te Awamutu. (A favourite spot of a friend of ours.) New Zealand’s largest city brought walks on the waterfront, fresh oysters, souvenirs and, of course, our very first rugby game! It also brought the end of our trip that we were so very sad to say goodbye to.

However, our Lego characters live on in Facebook Memories and a Canadian Living blog post by Jamie Anderson.

Cheers to enjoying life in the moment and creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Everything is Awesome!