Saskia’s face lights up as she starts talking about her time in New Zealand. “I was entrusted to lead an entire group of horse trekkers”, she tells me with pride in her voice, her eyes lingering on the photos of “her horses” in Hokianga, New Zealand’s North Island. Five minutes later, we are both under a spell, talking about one of the most fascinating countries on Earth as well as its happy laid-back people, the Kiwis themselves. Aotearoa, the “land of the Long White Cloud”, is how the Maori people have come to call their homeland. I got to spend well over a year there, fully supportive of the emotions brought to me by my dear friend Saskia. Who else would therefore be better suited to host an international travel talk about New Zealand, concerning relevant travel information, visa affairs, travel times, culture & creative travel as well as some of the country’s best nature spots?
Saskia and I may call ourselves true New Zealand fans, “happy as” to moderate an inspiring series of travel talks about a country that simply captures the soul.
“Now Elena, on your upcoming round the world trip, isn’t it New Zealand that you are going to spend the most time in – again …?”, Saskia gives me a wink. Oh, New Zealand. An entire category of travel tips & stories about the Kiwis & creative travel down under is dedicated to New Zealand on my Creativelena travel blog! I have simply fallen for this land, and could probably revel on forever about its magic and beauty. Now, both Saskia and me are going to do exactly that. During our next travel talk, we will share with you the stories of the following images, introducing you to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand as well as some of its most breathtaking travel spots.
Creativelena invites you to …
… to explore some of the most fascinating, breathtaking spots on Earth, such as Franz Josef Glacier here located at New Zealand South West Coast.
New Zealand is a land full of rugged beauty and wilderness …
… alive with unique natural contrasts, such as this glacier flowing down the mountain amidst a temperate rain forest …
… natural beauties that are best explored together with friends & fellow travellers on the road.
Again and again, New Zealand has you feel “on top of the world” …
… be it during a horse-riding trek …
… a vintage sampling the ripe grapes of Central Otago …
… or simply over stunning vistas such as this one, overlooking Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown in the south of New Zealand’s South Island.
The magic of New Zealand unfolds in front of you …
… even rain causing spectacular waterfalls such as this one means a delight here …
… as this waterfall at the entrance to Milford Sound clearly shows.
The Milford Wanderer is the perfect (overnight) vessel for you to explore the natural beauty of Milford Sound …
… and if like me you get lucky with the weather, it is perfectly “normal” to meet moments of peace, tranquility and natural wonders such as this one.
I am looking forward to meeting you soon, when we share even more stories from Aotearoa New Zealand with you!
On my travel blog, I also share many more New Zealand stories, such as travelling across the North Island for the first time, visiting the multi-cultural city Auckland, my first weeks of settling in with the Kiwis, the very first creative travel adventures (read here as to how it all began!), how everyday life & work feel like down under and how fortunate my first ever road trip across the South Island came to pass, thanks to meeting lots of wonderful people and to the endurance of my strong Honda Civic car built in 1987 …
See you soon in AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND !!!