This page showcases all the posts I wrote while interning and travelling through New Zealand in the summer of 2014.
As I sat in the U.S. waiting to travel, here are some of my expectations and understandings before I knew really what to expect or understand.
After just landing in Wellington I was blown away. I think many of these impressions stayed accurate the whole 7 weeks.
Lord of the Rings Tour through the Valley
The blockbuster trilogy The Lord of the Rings was filmed all over New Zealand including some sites near the Wellington region.
Just moved in to my home stay with the Curtis family in Upper Hutt. It was looking like a good time waiting to happen and that proved true.
I’ve been with the Upper Hutt City Council for a few days and already they had me working hard. It certainly beat browsing Facebook all day.
Took a trip to Taupo and one of the locals blatantly asked “Are you a tourist?” I guess she was right as I dominated some karaoke while unwinding from a 12 mile trek on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
After my first week in Upper Hutt I try to balance my American self and fitting in with my coworkers and host family.
3 Activities Worth Doing in Rotorua
Took a busy weekend trip to Rotorua in the Central North Island region. Here are 3 things that stood out from the weekend.
Starting to get the feel for things at work and hopefully contributing some good content to the office.
Over Hills, Under Hills, and on the Sides of Hills
Took a weekend trip to Hamilton for an All Blacks rugby game and a tour of the Hobbiton movie set!
A Comparison of Wellington, New Zealand, and Memphis, TN, USA
Wellington and Memphis are surprisingly similar, here is why.
A “Typical” Weekend in Upper Hutt
Sports games, zip lines, and wine tastings abound as I ventured out for day trips from home.
Heading South Bound to the Next Town
I finally crossed over the Cook Straight to visit the South Island for some hiking and kayaking.
The Curtis family and the Upper Hutt City Council made my experience unforgettable. Thank you for all you did for me.
As I reflect back on my 7 weeks, here are the 5 best highlights of my time.
Reflections of an Urbanist 