A Culture of Conservation

New Zealand is undeniably a very unique, beautiful and special place to visit.  While certainly you can enamor of the delicious food and wine, gregarious, welcoming locals, charming towns packed with cultural events, or adrenalin-fueled fun (we passed on the bungee jumping), what you come to New Zealand for most often is to experience the magnificence of its natural beauty. It’s impressive that three areas within this small country have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites and that 30% of the country has been given land protection.  While driving in this country, you feel that you’re moving through equal parts park and farm land – two of our favorite places to be!

Putting our feet up in Deer Flat en route to NZ's majestic Milford Sound (Jan 8).

After a 2.5 KM trek from Totaranui, we arrived at beautiful Anapai Bay in Abel Tasman National Park (Jan 17). 

High tide at Lake Kaniere near Dorothy Falls and Hokitika, which was our first stop on the West Coast after braving Arthur's Pass (Jan 5).

At Haast (West Coast), you can either walk the Ship Creek dunes or the bog (Jan 6). 

A 20-min walk through the Ship Creek Bog revealed pre-historic like trees and plants (Jan 6). 

The Hokitika Gorge features ice blue water and a famous swing bridge (Jan 5). 

Not surprisingly, during our nearly three weeks on the South Island, we spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying stunning vistas, tranquil treks, and rushing waters.  Wherever we went, we were impressed (and thankful) by how perfectly maintained the parks’ facilities were.  From trails to information sites, and in fact all public facilities, we were consistently amazed by the effort that the Department of Conservation (DoC) went to ensure visitors have a safe and pleasant experience.  With a country as beautiful as New Zealand, it makes sense that Kiwis (an endearing name that New Zealanders call themselves in honor of their national bird, the flightless Kiwi) want to do everything that they can to conserve the land for many to enjoy. 

A scenic walk through the Ship Creek dunes with sea grass, driftwood and rocky sands (Jan 5). 

At the Wilderness Scientific Reserve near Te Anau, we got the idea of what the lands may have looked like during the last Ice Age (Jan 8). 

A beautiful tree grows at the Mirror Lakes, which reflect the stunning Earl Mountains (Jan 8). 

The hike to Anapai Bay is the first section of the Coast Track (a 3-5 Day return) in Abel Tasman National Park (Jan 17). 

The winds on the walk to Wharariki Beach just west of Farewell Spit (the northern most point of the South Island) nearly blew us off the track (Jan 13). 

The Ship Creek Dunes walk also took us through marshland just over the dunes (Jan 6).

It is also worth noting that a robust debate is currently under way in New Zealand regarding the preservation and conservation of the natural beauty of this country.  When European settlers arrived some two hundred years ago, they brought with them invasive and non-native species that have decimated native, vulnerable flora and fauna.  The DoC has been battling against the onslaught of non-native land mammals, which kill indigenous birds (including their beloved national Kiwi) with a variety of kill methods and have recently introduced the substance 1080 in rural parts of the country.  This particular lethal poison kills vermin such as rats, stoats, weasels, ferrets and possums, however, remains active and lethal in the body of the vermin and can affect native predators and potentially contaminate the local water supply and environment in which the poison is introduced.  We will continue to following this debate and wish the DoC all the best in their fight to combat non-native species in their preservation of this beautiful country.

We would humbly like to say thank you to the wonderful DoC staff, who made our experience in New Zealand educational, enjoyable and easy – cheers!