The University of Canterbury in Christchurch has a three week mid-semester break that splits the semester in half. Like many other students on exchange (studying abroad), I took this opportunity to travel with friends. With packed suitcases and a great road-trip playlist, we spent our first week travelling around the south island.
Here are my favorite photographs which highlight my travels around the south island. Our journey began in Hokitika, where we explored the beach and some creative designs. Next we travelled to Franz Josef, where we did a short tramp to the glacier and enjoyed the views on the winding roads to Wanaka.
Home of #TheWanakaTree, Wanaka was my favorite stop of the entire week, and I highly recommend this stop to anyone traveling around south island. Here we hiked up Roy’s Peak, a grueling uphill climb with the most rewarding, sunset views at the top. Next we drove to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.
On the way to Milford Sound, we met a friendly Kea bird and saw Mirror Lake in the Fiordland National Park. Milford Sound was also breathtaking, starting with gloomy clouds and ending with rainbows at the bases of the many waterfalls.
Our trip around the south island of New Zealand was unforgettable, and we were blessed with great weather and views at every turn.
Madalyn Trombley
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:2.35pt; margin-right:12.3pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; margin-left:5.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%">One fun fact about myself is that I am not sure the exact date of my birthday! Before I was adopted, I was a baby in China and my parents could not keep me because of the one child policy. Therefore, as was the way of many families in China in the 90s, I was left on the steps of the police station. When the police found me, they estimated my age. This estimate is the age on my birth certificate and on every official document. It is interesting to think about my birthday being one day before it is written, or maybe a few days after!</span></p>
