I don't think my camera skills can justify how beautiful New Zealand is! The mountains, the crystal clear waters, the snow, everything is so overwhelmingly beautiful that I couldn't quite believe such a place existed. I remember the first time I went to NZ, my 12 year old eyes could only focus on the snow. I mean, I grew up in Sydney and we rarely get snow, if ever, and so seeing the snow for the first time felt like magic! And then I remembered snow is cold and I don't have gloves and so my fingers were tingling for the rest of the day. But enough about 9 years ago, this time I saw NZ with more maturity and more appreciation. It amazes me that a whole city, much less a whole country, can be hounded by tourists and still preserve their environment and live in a sustainable manner. The generosity and kindness of the locals astounds me, and New Zealand is truly a destination I would go to over and over again.
Over the last few weeks, New Zealand has been hit with earthquakes and aftershocks and I urge everyone, if you can, to donate to the Red Cross NZ to help out those affected. You can find a link here to donate.
These photos were all taken on South Island around Queenstown, Milford Sound and Lake Wanaka.
My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected in New Zealand.