Exploring New Zealand - Ten Epic photos from ten days in Queenstown, Dunedin, Catlins New Zealand

Exploring New Zealand - Ten Epic photos from ten days in
Queenstown, Dunedin, Catlins - New Zealand (South Island)

SUNSET AT QUEENSTOWN LAKE // QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND IMAGE BY FRANKIEBOYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

SUNSET AT QUEENSTOWN LAKE // QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND IMAGE BY FRANKIEBOYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Day 1 - started with us landing in beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand - we got situated and head into town for the famous Fergburger and to walk the edges of the breath-taking Lake Wakatipu

Day 2 - we hiked up underneath Queentown Skyline gondola - and walked the beginning of the Ben Lomond trail, ate lunch at the top and admired the 360º views of the Remarkables and the city of Queenstown

Day 3 and 4 - After settling into Dunedin, New Zealand we head off on another adventure of Heyword Point hike and to check out Aramoana Beach - including some really promising sea shelling

HEYWORD POINT HIKE // DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND

HEYWORD POINT HIKE // DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND

ARAMOANA BEACH // DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND

ARAMOANA BEACH // DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND

Day 4 - we hopped in the car for another full day of adventuring - we drove Southeast towards the southern most point of NZ towards Curio Bay and the Catlins National Park.  We stopped at two different waterfalls along this drive through vast farm land mixed with forests: Matai Falls (and also Horseshoe Waterfall) and Purakauni Falls.  This drive from Dunedin to Curio bay took approximately 2.5 hours - we also saw Hector Dolphins during our time at the bay.

HORSESHOE WATERFALL AT THE TOP OF MATAI FALLS // MEET YOU THERE TRAVEL IMAGES

HORSESHOE WATERFALL AT THE TOP OF MATAI FALLS // MEET YOU THERE TRAVEL IMAGES

MATAI WATERFALLS, NEW ZEALAND'S CATLINS NATIONAL PARK

MATAI WATERFALLS, NEW ZEALAND'S CATLINS NATIONAL PARK

Days 5 - 8 were spent inside and exploring local city of Dunedin, New Zealand... the rain comes and goes here during New Zealand's summers the weather can be rather unpredictable and storm patterns move in and out quickly - creating mediocre days with mixed rainy conditions. 

WAVES CRASH INTO THE COASTLINE DOWN AT CURIO BAY, NEW ZEALAND

WAVES CRASH INTO THE COASTLINE DOWN AT CURIO BAY, NEW ZEALAND

Day 9 - A break in the crappy 'summer' weather as we jumped for joy - the NZ sunshine warmed the house up with 70 degree breezes and a feeling that felt like 'summer'.  We loaded up the car drove up some of the most winding roads I've ever seen in my entire life... revealing some of the most epic valleys and coastlines I have ever witnessed in my entire life - I raised my camera to my face and couldn't stop snapped... this has happened quite a few times on this trip to New Zealand.  Today we were challenged with another Dunedin, NZ coastline hike: Lover's Leap and the Cassum - thru the dunes and up around Sandymount Summit. 

Sheep called out at us as we entered their territory - they also scatted about and ran away as we neared closer to them... letting us know they were quite terrified of our presence.  After climbing up the grassy hillsides through the enchanted forests - we found ourselves on top of a large sane dune looking down at another remarkable Dunedine coastline view... I kept my shoes on like a shoobie - other hikers in our party lost their shoes + socks and proceeded to run down the sand dune like a kid in a candy store off to the beach below.  This is New Zealand, this is Pure New Zealand greatness - I've been starring at this place for a long time now, waiting and waiting to make it here - but this is place is otherworldly, movies like Lord of the Rings barely do it justice - you must come experience these islands for yourself to really understand the greatness that is South Island, New Zealand. 

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Day 10 - is today, the now... I've stopped counting the days we have left in NZ as that's counterproductive - I wish my time here would never end.  I'm inspired by the endless views, the landscapes captivate me and my camera is attached to my side like a third-robotic arm.  The coastlines inspire me and hiking makes me feel alive - I hope you can experience New Zealand once in your life... you'll remember my words.  ~MYT

Aotearoa (New Zealand) - in Māori language means ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’
— Māori language