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New Zealand: Queenstown

New Zealand was an incredibly beautiful and picturesque land! If you missed the first half of our trip in Taupo, you can read about it here. After we visited Taupo in the North Island, we went to the South Island to visit Queenstown. Queenstown is nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and has some of THE most beautiful scenery I have ever experienced! The views are literally breathtaking!

When we first checked into our Hilton Queenstown Hotel, we were so excited to see they had left us a note to wish us Happy 5 Year Anniversary and created towel swans on the bed. But, the most incredible thing about our room was the balcony and view out over the lakes and the mountains. Prepare to be amazed!

Hilton Queenstown

 

 

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Queenstown New Zealand

One of my favorite things we did while we were in New Zealand was horse back riding. We did a Lord of the Rings trail so we got to see lots of the areas where the movie was filmed and some of the horses that belonged to our tour company were actually in the movie! Not to mention the drive out along the HUMONGOUS lake was breathtaking with the snow-capped mountains, rolling green hills, and beautiful water! It looks like we are photoshopped into the beautiful scenery around us below.

New Zealand Lake

 

NZ Lake Wakatipu

 

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New Zealand Lake Eric and Heather

Below are pictures from our horseback riding adventure. I rode Court who was a little ornery and wanted to be the in the lead the whole time and Eric rode Scar who was much more docile and easy to work with. It was funny watching the horses interact and you’ll see in the video below how Court was not so much into listening to me…

NZ scenery

 

Horseback Riding in New Zealand

 

Horse Back Riding New Zealand

 

Queenstown New Zealand

 

Horseback riding in New Zealand

Unfortunately, we learned on this trip that Eric is super allergic to horses. If you know Eric, you’re probably not surprised. 😉 He’s allergic to cats, dogs, and many other things! He literally had red welts all over his back, neck and was itchy all over….Eeek! He was a trooper though. He knows how much I love animals and had been wanting to go horseback riding forever!

We spent a few of our days just lazing around the city and trying to take it in like the locals do. We ate a Fergburger which is one of their most famous burger joints in town, lazed around in the park, strolled through a street fair, ate way too much food, and enjoyed the beautiful weather!

New Zealand Park Heather

 

Eric New Zealand

If you go to Atlas on the harbor, you must get the steak! It’s so affordable and delicious! Obviously the beers are a must too!

Atlas in Queenstown New Zealand

 

New Zealand Eric and Heather

 

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Making friends with the “locals”…

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The infamous Fergburger! So big!

 Here I am luging down from the top of a tall mountain and below are the pictures from the top! I felt like I was going so fast but watching the video I am being so slow compared to others, ha!

View from the Luge New Zealand

 

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The Kiwi is the national bird and is very rare. New Zealanders also call themselves kiwis–so cute!

I thought I could wrap up our trip to New Zealand in two posts but clearly that is not the case…stay tuned for part 3!

Heather Brown helps busy mamas of young littles who are caught in the hustle to find encouragement in their journey to true health, from the inside out, starting with the heart. Read her journey of learning to live a life well-loved HERE!


11 Comments

  1. January 20, 2014 / 5:42 am

    Gorgeous pictures!

  2. January 20, 2014 / 11:12 am

    Queenstown has overtaken Tuscany as the international destination I would most like to live. I LOVED it there and was so sad to leave!

    • Heather
      Author
      January 22, 2014 / 11:56 pm

      Yes, it was fabulous, Lisa! I’ve never been to Tuscany, so I better add it to my list. Hehe.

  3. January 20, 2014 / 11:49 am

    It looks beautiful. Even the sun looks unreal LOL Looking forward to more travel posts in the New Year!

  4. Hannah
    January 20, 2014 / 12:18 pm

    WHYYY did I not jump in your suitcase!?
    Thanks for sharing. Great pics!

    • Heather
      Author
      January 22, 2014 / 11:56 pm

      I wish you could have, my love! Thank you! xoxo

    • Heather
      Author
      January 22, 2014 / 11:55 pm

      Thank you SO much!! Haha, that’s hilarious. They are a handful sometimes, huh? 😉

  5. Lydia Parker
    January 23, 2014 / 5:58 am

    Looks like an incredible place! Haha on your crazy horse and Eric’s allergy! I’m also severely allergic to horses… Word to the wise don’t EVER go to one of those Dixie stampede or indoor horse shoes like that unless he wants to be heavily medicated!!

  6. January 27, 2014 / 3:33 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing all the details of your trip. The Hubs and I are going in 2015 for our 10 year wedding anniversary trip, so we are just beginning to look into everything. Can’t wait to read Part 3! Everything looks so amazing, I can’t wait to go!

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