Sydney, Australia!!

Leaving New Zealand was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do... I bid farewell to so many loved ones but took with me so many irreplaceable memories.

I arrived in Sydney, Australia to clear, blue skies and the fastest paced city I'd seen in 8 months.  After checking into my backpackers I went out to explore the city.  I took my very first subway ride and managed to only trip one man during business rush hour and was fortunate to hop on all the correct trains to reach the ferry terminal!

The ferry ride between islands offered a marvelous view of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge...

My first stop was the Sydney Zoo where I made some furry friends...

...After discovering the Tasmanian Devil is actually quite lazy and wasn't down for a spin, I cruised on over to explore Manly Beach...

What a beautiful place! I hiked up the coastline until a storm snuck in and I decided to head back to the mainland to check in for the night.

I only spent 2 days in Sydney but I was fortunate to explore a good portion of the town and surrounding beaches as well as experience a busy city lifestyle (happy I made it out alive) && made many wonderful friends along the way!

Next stop... Cairns!

My Heart Country

From the depths of Poor Knights Island...

...over the falls of Whangarei...

...to the heights of the Bay of Islands...

...across the scape of Tongiriro...

...down the rapids of the Kaituna River...

...and through the Redwoods of Rotorua...

New Zealand has been the greatest adventure of my life thus far.  My heart will forever be in New Zealand with my Kiwi Families and within the trees and oceans that grasped my soul.

I cannot begin to thank everyone for making my journey through Aotearoa special nor can I fully explain how the country changed me.  My mind is clearer, my soul more pure, and my heart stepping to a whole new beat because of my experiences. && I cannot wait for more adventures to come!

Where Did The Time Go??

Oh where oh where has time gone?! They weren't lying when they said time flies.  It has been a hot minute since I last posted... Things got a little crazy in New Zealand... a good kind of crazy! I am going to attempt to catch everyone up on what happened during my last months on the other side of the world!

I left off with my adventure down the 309 rd.  The following couple of days I was so blessed to visit Hot Water Beach-- a beach in the Coromandel where you can dig your own pool in the sand and hot springs flow up from underground! 

You have to get there at low tide before the Antarctic water rushes in over the springs. 

Here I met a lovely girl called Sarah from Scotland who I became instant friends with! When the tide rushed in and devoured our holes, we decided to venture to Cathedral Cove together where Narnia Prince Caspian was filmed! 

 && what a magical place it was! The trek down to the cove was lush and the sun blessed us with its presence the whole way. 

The view was incredible as we ventured towards the limestone coves. 

One can definitely see why they chose such a place for a movie!

The end was ever so rewarding as we reached the beach. 

The Antarctic water did not stop Sarah and I from jumping in (and the fact that Prince Caspian once swam there may have had some inspiration too ;] ;] )

It was a splendid day and even better because I got to experience it with a fellow backpacker! 

The Karangahake Gorge--

On my over to Mount Maunganui on the east coast of the North Island, I stopped at the Karangahake Gorge, a winding canyon surrounded by rushing streams and home to old mining tunnels. 

Continuing to Mount Maunganui, I arrived to sunshine and calm, blue waters. 

Mount Maunganui is an extinct volcanic cone that rises up over the town Tauranga. In my 3 days at the Mount, I was able to climb it 4 times and experience some of the most incredible views--

Mount was one of my favorite places I visited in New Zealand and I think it was due to the fact that it reminded me so much of my home, St. Augustine.  I could definitely see myself living there one day! 

...to be continued