As a way to share some of the other things I’ve done during the last few months in New Zealand, I decided to post some of my favorite day hikes. I tend to favor tougher, longer hikes, as they are usually a little quieter and a little more rewarding, but, as you shall see, all of these were photo-worthy.

New Zealand, being such a remote place, only has two species of land mammal, both being kinds of bats. This led to incredible biodiversity and proliferation of birds in the country, up to the point of human settlement in the 13th century. New Zealanders (or kiwis, as they are often called) nowadays show a great love and fascination for their avian compatriots.

The best stories can inspire one’s real life decisions, often for the better.

There are some people who know exactly where they belong. For better or worse, I am not one of those people.