2016 Recap

Around this time last year, I put together a recap of 2015 and our ‘Big Trip’ adventures (coincidentally, it also marked our 1 year travel anniversary!). This 2016 Recap (marking 2 years since we first flew to Nicaragua!), started in Auckland, NZ where we set up residence after flying there from Chile.  After living in Auckland for a few months, we packed up again and set off on an epic road trip of New Zealand. We finally flew back home in mid-July (after having been gone for 19 months!). The rest of the year was spent catching up with friends & family, celebrating a wedding, and settling back into life at home! Check it out!:

2016 Recap

January

– kicked off 2016 on a jetty in the harbour watching the fireworks off the SkyTower

– hiked Rangitoto Island – home to a huge (dormant) volcano!

– had a Wellington Weekend! My parents & uncle came to NZ! Watched the Rugby Sevens tournament (NZ won… Canada didn’t do so great). Explored the city a bit too.

February

– had a fun weekend in Rotorua with my family. Hiked around the Redwoods Forest, saw Blue & Green Lakes, and took a bus tour to the Waitomo Caves! (Home to millions of glow worms!)

– toured a few wineries on Waiheke

– drove out to Piha for a final day spent with my family at the beach before they flew home

– checked out the lantern festival in the Auckland Domain

March

– day tripped to Raglan – a surf town south west of Auckland. Gorgeous cliff-side beaches!

– hiked to the Pinnacles – the highest point on the Coromandel Peninsula! (16km, 8 hours)

– Went on a Northland road trip with our flatmate Cristina! Hit up some incredible spots: Russell, Cape Reinga, Giant Te Paki Sand Dunes, Kai Iwi Lakes, Kauri Forest (Yakas & Tane Mahuta – some of the largest Kauri trees in NZ!), Opononi, & Koutu Boulders.

April

– set out on our New Zealand road trip!!! Camped in a few amazingly beautiful spots & gawked at the gorgeous scenery!

– hiked the Kepler Track Great Walk (60km, 4 days)

– did a tour of Milford Sound (in the pouring rain…)

May

– road tripped through the Catlins (a seriously underrated part of NZ)

– drove all around the South Island: Dunedin (visited Steampunk HQ!), Mt. Cook, Queenstown, Wanaka, Fox Glacier, & Franz Joseph

– volunteered for 2 weeks at a backpacker hostel in Greymouth (Noah’s Ark)

June

– hiked the Abel Tasman Great Walk (60km, 4 days)

– explored Golden Bay (Takaka, Farewell Spit, Cape Farewell, Wharariki Beach, Split Apple Rock)

– hiked around Lake Rotoiti (31km, 2 days)

– hiked parts of the Queen Charlotte Sound (Mt Stokes, Ship Cove, Eatwells Lookout)

– treated ourselves in Wellington (pedicures! & the Blue Man Group)

– toured Taupo (Aratiatia Dam, Huka Falls)

– explored the East Coast of the North Island (Napier, Gisborne, East Cape)

– hiked the Tarawera Trail in Rotorua (15km, 5 hours)

July

– went SKYDIVING! Jumped out of a plane at 15,000ft!

– hiked the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19.4km, 6.5 hours)

– explored the Coromandel Peninsula (Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Town)

– returned to Auckland (7800km later!)

– flew to NYC! Spent 4 days there (not recommended while super jet lagged!). (Top of the Rock/Rockefeller Center, Brand New/Modest Mouse concert, Trade Center/ 9/11 Memorial, Highline Walkway, Central Park, Natural History Museum)

– flew home to CANADA! I hadn’t been home since May 2015, and Mac since we left in January 2015!

– went to Wayhome Music Festival in Barrie

– wedding festivities for one of my bestie’s wedding: Bridal Shower, & Bachelorette Party!

August

– cottage weekends (Haliburton & Huntsville)

– Riverfest Elora (music festival)

– started applying for and trialing at various jobs!

Fall (September – December)

– signed a year lease on a one bedroom apartment

– bestie’s wedding in Niagara-on-the-lake!! It was SUCH a beautiful day!

– explored & hiked a bit of our new hometown (Smokey Hollow, Kerncliff Park, Borer’s Falls)

– easing back in to the ‘domestic’ lifestyle – having friends for dinner, visiting friends for games nights, etc

– lots of family time around the holidays (including a Christmas Eve shindig that lasted until 3am!)

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I had a lot of fun putting together this 2016 Recap! It was awesome to look back on all the cool things that Mac & I did both in New Zealand as well here at home.

Here’s to more adventures in 2017!