We have been in New Zealand for 6 months today! Already!? It is so hard to believe how fast time has flown by! Can only imagine how fast the remaining 6 months will go before we head to Australia and onwards to Bali and Bangladesh…
After 6 months travelling in the North Island, we are finally heading to South Island this weekend. We are going on a 2 week campervan trip around Kaikoura (going whale watching here), Wanaka, Franz Josef Glacier and back to Picton to take the ferry. On the way we stop at Lake Taupo and Wellington and on way back we stop at Mt Taranaki. All new and all very exciting for us 🙂
Tentative route for road trip in South Island
But before we start new travel adventures in South Island, here’s a wrap up of our 6 months in the North Island (with 5 weeks of that in Thailand, England and Singapore.)
MONTH ONE – March-April 2015
We started our life in New Zealand with a big BANG by heading to Rangitoto Island  day 2 and Cricket World Cup Semi finals  day 3! This was followed by trip to the Bay of Islands, visiting historic kerikeri, fishing and kayaking in Paihia and swimming in some of the stunning beaches in the Northland region. And of course local travels around Auckland and just in love with living opposite the beach 🙂
MONTH TWO – April-May
My sister and her family arrives from USA and we do our second trip to the Northland region, this time in Whangerei and completely blown away by the paradise beaches at Tutukaka coast. Some sightseeing in Auckland – Museums, parks, Sky Tower and then headed to Hobbiton, followed by Rotorua – thermal springs and Wai-O-Tapu thermal wonderland and Waitamo Glow worm Caves.
MONTH THREE – May-June
Went on our first campervan trip around the Rotorua region again and did so much here! Kerosene Creek was our favourite, a magical place, swimming in heated waterfalls, Luge, zorbing, bursting geysers and Maori performance at Te Puia. Visited other local beaches near us – Mission Bay and Kohi beach, plus trips to parks, Art museums and making friends.
MONTH FOUR – June-July
Local sightseeing, visiting Ladies Bay and did lots of fishing here, went to Tahuna Torea Reserve, did some great birdwatching here. You get to walk around this lagoon and sandspit next to Tamaki Estuary.  Learning about the flora and fauna around the region. It felt strange experiencing Autumn in June! Prepared for our long 5 weeks journey ahead which started in Thailand. Went to Koh Samet with a bunch of friends, our 2nd time this year 🙂
MONTH FIVE – July-August
Whirlwind trip around Sheffield, London and Norwich for 3 weeks, at the end of which Ashique does a crazy motorbike journey through the Forgotten World Highway to Mt Taranaki whilst we get back to Auckland with 24 hours in Singapore
MONTH SIX – August-September
We did so much this past one month! Shakespear Regional Park, Maraeti beach and Omana regional park, our first skiing holiday at Mt Ruapehu, Scallop festival at Whitianga, swimming in hot water beach and walking to cathedral cove. We fell in love with the Coromandel region and look forward to being back here in November!
And that is a wrap up of our 6 months in North Island! I missed out tons of places and experiences, so do visit our New Zealand travel page to see other attractions. Feel free to ask any questions you might have if planning a trip to any of these places, have lots of suggestions, tips and advice from our travels here.
Tomorrow we off to South Island and once back I head to Italy and England to FINALLY finish off my PhD!
It is also a very significant moment in time, as it’s exactly one year since Shama had her second surgery, and a year on, she is doing wonderful and going strong 🙂 Forever grateful for her strong nature, all our good health, these wonderful travels, family time and the abundance of opportunities we have been given in this lifetime. Look forward to the remaining 6 months of travels in beautiful New Zealand 😀
Linked to #wkendtravelinspiration  #weekendwanderlust and Outdoor Wednesday
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Lovely post guys! Your images capture your stay in NZ well. All the best for the next adventure 🙂
What a fabulous place to have lived for the past 6 months, I can’t even begin to tell you how jealous I am 🙂 Your children will have so many life-changing memories from this that will stay with them forever, it’s the best education!
It really is the best education Heather 🙂 Children and both of us loving it here!
Looks like you had a really busy, and magnificent six months! I love your photo show, especially since most of these photos are of places that I’ve never been to (yet).
Wow, great round up, I love all your pictures of New Zealand, it’s a long time since I was there and seeing your post has brought back some great memories. I hope that you have as much fun in South Island and you have done in North Island, South Island was my fave!
I don’r know if your reason to travel is for business or pleasure, but I surely envy you Samiya. You’ve seen so much in these 6 months in New Zealand and you still have a lot coming up. A very daring travel plan for sure! I would have loved to visit Hobbiton just for the sake of the movie.
Wow, what a great adventure in 6 months! Thank God Shama is doing well. These photos of New Zealand makes me really want to visit!
It really has been quite the adventure Brenda 🙂 I hope you do get to visit New Zealand someday, it’s such a beautiful country! Thanks for well wishes for Shama too 🙂
I can’t believe you’ve lived in New Zealand for 6 months already, it feels like only yesterday you were talking about moving! Looks like you’ve seen a lot of gorgeous places during your stay there 😀
I know right Vlad?! It really does feel like it was only yesterday that we were getting ready to move! Guess time goes fast when you are having fun 😀
Have fun on your South Island adventure. It is so different from the north and I expect we will see many more incredible photos from you.
I’ve loved following your adventures so far! As I said before on your blog, I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand, so I have really enjoyed all these. Look forward to more…
Samiya, I can’t even begin to comprehend how much you traveled and saw in the last 6 months! You must be one of world’s most traveled families!
Thanks Victoria, we do like travelling a lot 😀
I love that you have managed to see and do so much in New Zealand – and that your journey there is not over yet! I spent a very hurried 10 days in the South Island 6 years ago and have been wanting to go back very since. Enjoy the next chapter!
We just had a 10 day around SOuth Island and omg! Can’t wait to go back there in December to explore more! Look forward to the next chapter, next 6 months 🙂
I have a soft spot for NZ as it is where we spent our honeymoon. Great to hear about your own explorations.
What a wonderful place to have your honeymoon! wherabouts did you have honeymoon?
We have travelled a lot in the South Island. Wanaka is lovely but don’t miss Queenstown. Yes it is touristy but in a small town New Zealand kind of way and the scenery is spectacular. From Queenstown you can take a day trip down to Milford Sound. It is a very long day but lots of places offer coach down and fly back or vice versa. We flew both ways in a light plane a few years ago and it was just fantastic.
Thanks for the information Lyn! We will be heading to Queenstown and Milford on our 2nd campervan trip to south island in December. Just came back from our first trip and it was fantastic!
so beautiful! I’d love to have a year in a country like New Zealand. Although geographically small, there is so much to do and see. It looks like you thoroughly covered the North Island in 6 months! Can’t wait to see the South Island, I’ve heard it is just as beautiful if not more so.
Samiya, You guys really have been making the most out of your trip! I love Instagram and love your photos!
You are blessed to be able to go on this wonderful trip. Now you have the memories and pictures. Thanks for sharing.
JM, IL-U.S.A.
Thanks JM 🙂 we are very grateful for being given such wonderful opportunities to travel in such a beautiful country!