What can I say in words that these pictures don’t more eloquently express about the beauty of New Zealand, its skies, and its beaches? This set is from the small seaside town of Hokitika, a pitstop on our southerly journey to Franz Josef glacier all the way from Auckland in North Island. Here you finally see the campervan that was our home (and sometimes our burden) in the 9-day road trip.

Don’t let the glowing sun fool you; it was bitter cold, but weather is no obstacle to art, so I wrapped myself up like a mummy and watched every minute of the golden orb slide towards the horizon, camera poised. I hadn’t sped hundreds of miles to Sunset Point, arriving just in time, to miss it for lack of willpower. The hubs cued up the beach chairs and wine for me upon return. It was kind of a perfect moment in time.

The next morning we found a coffee shop that served gluten-free breakfast and then walked to a black sand beach. Have I mentioned how delicious the coffee in New Zealand is?

Photography by Jessica Peterson