So, we're not great bloggers. I said it.

Life just flew by these last few months in the beautiful Cardrona Valley. Between working as much as possible to fund our next adventure, hosting a variety of guests, and getting outside as much as possible, there wasn’t much time left over for keeping up with you all. And for that we apologize! (Again). Let me catch y’all up on the happenings of the last few months.

Engagement-Palooza

Back in March we played host to four of our great friends: Abby (a good friend and roommate from college) and her boyfriend Shua, and Kat (a good friend from camp and living in Madison) and her boyfriend Sam. It was great to see them, and while they started their trips in different areas of New Zealand, we were all able to get together in Queenstown for a night of fun and celebration. They brought with them the things I love and missed while away: Abby’s razor sharp wit, Kat’s bubbly optimism, easy friendship, contagious giggles, and sense of belonging without having to try too hard… the invisible and wonderful things that come with time spent alongside long-time friends. I was so grateful to get a healthy dose of it all.

The cherry on top of being able to spend time with some of my best friends and their partners, was that both couples left New Zealand engaged! It’s hard to beat New Zealand in regards to sweeping, romantic landscapes, and both lucky gentlemen took the opportunity to pop the question. We were so overjoyed to be able to celebrate with them all in person, and are looking forward to the weddings!

Newly engaged couple number one! Abby and Josh (known as Shua).

Forced engagement shoot in epic settings.

A sampling of Abby and Shua's awesome poloroid camera photos.

Newly engaged couple number two! Kat and Sam :)

Sam admiring the views at our Queenstown Air BNB

Strolling around Castle Hill with some funny shaped rocks.

A pretty hike in the Arthur's pass region.

Failed jumping picture near Mt. Cook/Aoraki.

Fun costumes at the Escape Room, a team mystery-solving experience gifted to Kat on her birthday by our friend Andrew.

Bro-cation

Our next set of visitors in April were Will’s three college buddies and former roommates: David “Sweet David Klein” Klein, Alex “The Vest of Us” Steele, and Ryan “Get Outta Here Dude“ Connelly. Though they all battled gastrointestinal hardship at some point in the trip, their humor and camaraderie was a welcome addition to our home for the few days they spent with us. I was definitely impressed that each one of them battled through illness to experience New Zealand as fully as possible while here. One of the highlights for me was when we all hiked through our favorite Mt. Aspiring National Park. The boys took on the Rob Roy Glacier track and trekked out to Mt. Aspiring hut, while I challenged myself to a tough solo hike (read: largely hands and knees climb) up to Liverpool hut.

After picking up a hefty campervan, the boys packed up and headed out on a road trip through both islands. Part of which Will got to participate in. While they didn’t leave engaged to one another, I like to think they left with some good memories, a clean bill of health (eventually), and a new appreciation as to why their friends decided to move all the way across the world!

Will's Words:

Quintessential Kiwi experience. Heavy quantities of driving. Battling obstacles such as weather (weaving between two tropical storms), food court fire drills, and sparsely-detailed campervan troubleshooting manuals. Unexpected surprises like a flawless-condition West Coast sunset, campground petting zoo starring emu and wallaby, and the aforementioned gut destruction that went 3/3 by the end. As I told the guys when I had to splinter off at the top of the South Island: in spite of the rain and cloud obstruction, in spite of the tummy rumblings, all should be forgiven if you get a clear day for the awe-inspiring 8-hour Mt. Doom lovefest known as the Tongariro crossing (pointless in even mediocre weather). And because Aotearoa seems to always restore the balance of battering vs. beauty, she offered them just that. Great scenery, great food and drink, great adventure, great friends.

On their way to start the Rob Roy Track.

The last section of the trail was just hands-and-knees climbing up rocks and tree branches. Tough!

The views that make it worth it! Featuring my abode for the evening, the Liverpool hut.

The guys, in spite of TLC's age-old advice, go chasin' Rob Roy Glacier waterfalls.

The sunset the guys raced to witness on the West Coast of the south island.

The guys enjoying Rippon winery in Wanaka. Or perhaps recreating a 90s band album cover?

Milford Track

Will and I were lucky enough to be able to hike the Milford track, one of the most regulated great walks in New Zealand since it’s coronation as the alleged "finest walk in the world." We actually had to book the tickets for the walk back in April of 2016, back before we even left the USA, because it can book up fully even a year in advance! In late April we set out on our last Great Walk, which started off with a boat ride to the trail head. Three days of walking took us through some magical landscapes, which really do come to life in rain as the famous waterfalls collect the massive amount of rain Milford receives each year and sends it down the mountains in countless streams. We left Milford feeling strong, damp, and revived.

Feeling lucky that it's not raining on our first day on the trail.

Reaching the summit of McKinnon Pass on Day Two.

On our way to the warming shelter at the halfway point of day two. Windy and cold!

Feeling like we are in a tree house on Day Three.

Our Last Days in Cardrona

May in New Zealand is when the permanent residents in the area get to take a deep breath, as overwhelming stream of tourists passing through slows down to a trickle. It’s a month of sunsets starting at 5pm, and temperatures plunging at nighttime. It’s a month of keeping the fires lit all day and night, huddling together over mulled wine, and taking a much needed break before ski season starts up and the business booms again. We tried to use our last month in Cardrona to prepare for our next adventure, while still appreciating the beautiful place we’ve called home as fully as possible.

As I write this, we are on the ferry pulling away from the south island the last time in probably a long time. The fragile tendrils of the Queen Charlotte Sound seem to almost be reaching out in farewell as we cross the Cook Strait. Cardrona has become our home-away-from home. The small community of 38 permanent residents honestly felt like it became our community, despite our transient, temporary status. The valley sees “backpackers” like us come and go many times each year, but I like to think we left a least a small imprint of our own behind. I know the valley, and the people in it, left a big imprint on me. These six months are ones I will never forget, and I get emotional even now as I type this. Will and I shared our first real home together in Cardrona, our little alpine chalet at the base of the mountain. We made great friends, who I tearfully bid farewell to, hoping beyond hope our paths cross again. Like, I cried a lot. But as Will told me that night as I sniffled in bed after saying goodbye to people who have come to mean so much to me, “it’s okay to cry. That just means that it meant something."... and that’s a really nice feeling.

It’s hard to believe that nine months ago we were checking-in an embarrassing amount of bags at the Los Angeles Airport and boarding a flight to Auckland, with so many unknowns. Now there’s so many things I know about New Zealand. Its true name is Aoteoroa. It’s filled with funny, self-deprecating, and friendly people with a no-nonsense attitude about life. One-lane bridges are a thing, along with traffic jams caused by hundreds of sheep or just one stubborn cow. It truly is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world, which has earned a permanent spot in my heart.

In few short days, after retracing our steps north, we will fly away from this magical place and embark on a pretty darn epic adventure. We're going the “long way home.” Our world tour continues, so stay tuned for more adventures from Haffsway Around the World!