That’s my New Zealand trip over - sad to be leaving. It’s been a great two months of walking and exploring, with a lovely family Christmas at the end.

Heading back to Edinburgh via a two day layover in Melbourne to get a last wee bit of sun. ☀

Looking forward to coming back to NZ next year! 👋🇳🇿

Night view out over the bay - nice starry night here in Wellington. Playing with the long exposure on my camera. 📸 ✨🇳🇿 #newzealand #longexposure #stars

Figured I should learn about the place while I’m here. 🇳🇿📙

Last sun of the day in Wanaka. 🇳🇿 #newzealand

Got some nice views of some bird colonies around Oban yesterday evening from the boat. Penguins, shags and some albatross circling. 🇳🇿 #newzealand #travel

Went out on a boat last night - managed to see a group of Little Blue Penguins swimming around at dusk. Very excited! 😁🐧

This was 99% of my view last night - spent about an hour wandering in the bush by the hut, standing very still, and searching with a red light - then I saw a kiwi!

It was like a small sack of potatoes or comedy peanut with wee legs. Dashed out of the bush then pecked around for a while before running off again. Sadly too fast for a photo, but hopefully will get some tomorrow night. Lovely.

Ran into this wee guy on the evening walk. 👋 🌊

Doesn’t seem like much, but this Takahe is one of only 347 left. Watched it being fed with its partner and newly born chick this morning - just under 1% of the total population in front of me.

Doing the tourist thing for a few days with my parents between walks - Took a wee cruise up Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park. The sun managed to break through after a rainy start, casting a great light over the mountain side. Lovely to experience the isolation.

Tomorrow we’re driving to the south of South Island, then heading over to Stewart Island where I’ll walk the Rakiura Track. Then heading up to Wanaka to rendezvous with my brother for a few days before Wellington for Christmas. #newzealand #fiordland