Days 1 & 2: Traveling to New Zealand

Ready for the long 17-hour flight from Dallas to Sydney.

  

Our massive AirBus.  Two levels!

Welcome to Middle Earth!

We made it to New Zealand!

After 30 hours of travel (between flights and layovers), we made it to Auckland, New Zealand for the first part of our trip. It is GORGEOUS.  Even though it is winter, everything is so incredibly green.

Our first view of New Zealand's North Island.

The beautiful countryside on our way to Rotorua.

A 3-hour bus ride brought us to Rotorua, or “second lake” in the Māori language.  It is the cultural center of New Zealand.  The earth’s crust is thin in this area, making it a geothermal hotspot as well.  Lots of mineral pools and natural springs, some of which we will be seeing tomorrow!  Many of the homes and buildings are heated by geothermal steam.  So many houses had massive clouds of steam in the yard!  All of this activity so close to the earth's surface gives the city a strong smell of sulfur.  

Scarlett passed out and accidentally blended in with the bus.

The pool at our hotel - the Copthorne Hotel.