New Zealand- Lake Tekapo

You can't spend this long down under and not make a trip over to New Zealand. Before we ever made it to Sydney, I was already planning our trip to NZ. Tyler wasn't so sure the kiddos were up for driving around for a week straight exploring. Because they are still little. Thankfully he had a patient from New Zealand who all but planned our trip for us, even offering up his house in Christchurch and Tekapo. A huge thank you to the Worthingtons for not only their amazing hospitality but for all the advice and tips in planning our trip. On my birthday we sat down and booked our flights!! Happy birthday to me!! So we packed our bags, boarded the plane, rented our car and drove our way around the south island. Backpacking our way with three kiddos in tow! Three- six hours every day in the car, 6 towns and 16,610 KM  over the next 6 days. It was a whirlwind and I think Tyler would agree, the way more than we could've ever imagined!!

After arriving into Christchurch around midnight Monday night, we were so blessed to have Dr. Worthington pick us up from the airport late and open their house to us for the night. On the flight over, I was thinking about how blessed we are and how the kids will never really appreciate how amazing this opportunity really is. They will never, not know what its like to travel the world. They started so young and, God willing, won't ever stop. 

Tuesday morning, Tyler went to get the van and we headed out to Tekapo. We stopped for lunch in Dunnings had the first of many really yummy Kiwi meals!! Not even sure its big enough to call a town (which is pretty much every place we went) and just a little Store Cafe we stumbled upon. We had corn fritters, meat pies, and minced meat grilled cheeses and were oohing and ahhing with each bite. 

First stop, Lake Tekapo. As with every other drive for the rest of the week, we were soaking in the scenery as we were driving. But when we first got sight of Lake Tekapo, we could not believe the color of the water! Blue, turquoise, truly indescribable. We would soon find out just about every lake we would encounter on our travels had these insanely beautiful  color! Its warmed up in Sydney but we knew to pack our warmer clothes. Thankfully we did because it was windy and chilly so the kids didn't last too long exploring the rocks and lake.

 The Church of the Good Shepard. Even smaller than it looks in these pictures. But the cutest little church perched up on the hill enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Some cute alpacas across the street from the house we were staying at. Caleb couldn't come or go without running across to say hi to his friends!

Next up was swimming in the hot pools. Pretty much just swimming pools but heated warm like a bath!! Then off to meal #2 for New Zealand and it was another good choice! Meats cooked at our table on the stonefire grill. Poor Carter was so tired from the late night traveling the night before and a full day of exploring and swimming that he slept through the whole meal and dessert!! 

 Cinnamon roll with vanilla ice cream!! Yes it was as good as it looks!!

 Kids were down and Tyler and I relaxed to watch Lord of the Rings. Surprisingly we've both never seen any of them and since we were going to be traveling all around where they were filmed, we had to watch them when we saw they had all three at the house. Wine, movie, and this beautiful view!