Traveling to Middle Earth
- brandonjbk
- Nov 5, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2023
I had moved from the east coast to the Rockies, specifically Denver CO in pursuit of advancing my career. I was lucky enough to connect with a terrific group of guys. It seems to get more and more difficult as an adult to make close friends, I guess it's part of life?? But my blessing was a crew of men that were outstanding as human beings. One in particular, one of my closest friends, was Joel. Joel is just one of those people that has a big vision and big heart for service. He's also incredibly bright and adventurous. After we had lost our good friend AP, we decided we needed to put together an adventure to somewhere challenging, somewhere where we can reconnect as friends, reflect on how lucky we are, and somewhere that few people have been before...middle earth!
A trip to New Zealand from the U.S. is not for the faint of heart. The flight alone is one of the longest. However, this trip included the crew from the Hobbit, believe it or not. Joel and I found ourselves on a flight for the grand opening of the Hobbit. We had no idea that this was a planned event with die-hard fans dressed in all sorts of costumes from the film. I quickly found myself emersed in an all-flight trivia competition that included free champaign for the entire crew, LOL. Needless to say, the flight literally flew bye.
We landed in the north island of Auckland, where we discovered a bustling city center. We had the chance to connect with the sail crew of New Zealand that recently won the Americas Cup. The city is a great collection point for drawing up South Island adventures and checking out some local rugby, the All Blacks!
However, if you were to ask me between the north and south islands, I would have to say that the South Island is where it's at. It will simply take your breath away. A little bit of an odd statistic, there are actually more sheep on the islands than humans. A little glimpse into the experience, we truly felt at one with nature and couldn't be happier. From incredible mountain views, hikes, to natural wonders of Milford Sound, this trip was truly a gift for both Joel and I to fill our spirits and reset our spirits.
Two areas that made a significant impact on my life were Milford Sound and Franz Josef Glacier. Both are absolutely stunning examples of how this planet can take your breath away. If you can grab a kayak and picture yourself as a pioneer discoverer to this part of the world, do it! If you can hike to where the glaciers used to be, where they are today, and hopefully where they will be in the future do it!
There are so many experiences one can have in this beautiful part of the world, I would suggest adding the narrow peaks of Milford Sound, be sure to check the weather patters before you go. Queenstown is a great hub to stay and branch out into adventures in and around the south island, from zip lines, hiking, cycling, to jet boating. Abel Tasman contains terrific coastal lines and beaches to add to your trip. Get to the west coast and visit the glaciers, humbling experience for me. And try and catch a rugby match if you can, love the All Blacks! All in all, this is one of my favoriate places I've been to in my travels around the planet. Enjoy, share your stories, and remember how precious we have it:)
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