New Zealand...

was my first trip out of the country in 2014 when I was just learning more about nature photography. I went with a group of friends, some I knew only a short while and some I had never met before. A handful in our group visited much longer than me but I had a little over a week. During that time, I stayed in Queenstown at Nomads Queenstown Hostel, before taking on the awe-inspiring Kepler Track, a 37-mile (60 km) multi-day hike in Fiordland National Park where we stayed in cool hostels and saw beautiful birds, native forests, waterfalls, and breathtaking mountain valleys. After this, we took a little road trip further south to visit the infamous Milford Sound. and WOW! Still to this day, I would have to say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We continued on to the most southern point on the island, Slope's Point End. Stayed in the cutest cottage in The Catlins and explored the Cathedral Caves. Circling back to Queenstown, on our last day, we took the vintage steamship to the Walter Peak Farm to learn how wool was made then back in town did the luge before I headed home. Still one of my favorite trips, this beautiful country should never be passed up on. If you're wondering if you should visit, you definitely should.

FUN FACT: There are no native land mammals in New Zealand providing for a very vibrant and unique bird population with about 467 different species including the famous Kiwi!