After 18 flights, (roughly) 60 trips with boats and other watercraft, 37 days in a rental car, and more than 250 trips in other means of ground transport (e.g. train, bus, taxi, subway, or bicycle), and travelling almost 44,000 km by air, about 800 km by water, and surely over 10,000 km by land, I have finally returned to Austria. Now, it is time to look back at the high- and lowlights of my trip. Continue reading I am back home!
Tag Archives: Wildlife
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/P2060655-1038x576.jpg "Elephant herd walking through the river")
Elephants by the river
I have spent my last day in Northern Thailand with a visit to an Elephant sanctuary and observing these gentle giants there. Continue reading Elephants by the river
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20231218_095210-1038x576.jpg "Milford Sound")
For once a “real” tourist!
New Zealand has many scenic routes to offer – even if not every one of them has the word “scenic” in its name. One of those is the Milford Road. Since I currently have a rental car, I did what many tourists do: I jumped in my car, and enjoyed the many viewpoints and short walks along the road – and of course the highlight at the end, a cruise on Milford Sound. Continue reading For once a “real” tourist!
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20231214_161508-1038x576.jpg "Mason Bay")
Coast to Coast
I spent the last four days on Stewart Island, New Zealand’s “third island” (even further south than the South Island). There, my main focus was on the natural treasures of this beautiful island. Continue reading Coast to Coast
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20231207_144348-1038x576.jpg "Hooker Valley")
Hiking along gurgling streams
A (hiking) holiday in New Zealand is not complete without a visit to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Therefore, this is just what I did in the past three days. Continue reading Hiking along gurgling streams
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20231203_092154-1038x576.jpg "Akaroa Harbour from Trig GG")
(Cloud) Banks Peninsula
I have spent the last four days on the Banks Peninsula (after an “organization day” in Christchurch). The main focus was on the Banks Track, but I also visited the main town Akaroa (again). Continue reading (Cloud) Banks Peninsula
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231128_150638-1038x576.jpg "Lake Rotoiti")
Down at the glacier relics
Actually, the motivation for my route today was getting to know a region of New Zealand that I have not visited before. In the end, I spent most of the time in an area already known to me, but I still had a nice day. Continue reading Down at the glacier relics
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231126_123531-1038x576.jpg "Pelorus Sound at Havelock")
Also a great sound!
After Queen Charlotte Sound, I visited Pelorus Sound – there is no shortage of sounds here! Continue reading Also a great sound!
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231118_105152-1038x576.jpg "Castlepoint Lighthouse and Castle Rock")
Lighthouses and stone towers
All good cornerstones come in threes: After the East Cape and Te Urewera, it was now time for the Wairarapa region. The weather was changeable at best, but I was basically still able to fit in all my desired destinations. Continue reading Lighthouses and stone towers
![[Picture]](https://bernies-journeys.at/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231104_084700-1038x576.jpg "Whangamata Beach")
Water in Whangamata
I really hope this is not the start of a “Water” series. Unfortunately, also in Whangamata, the water was not only the attraction, but also sometimes also a bit of a killjoy (in the form of rain, of course). Continue reading Water in Whangamata