This isn’t typically a travel blog, but my wife and I recently got back from spending several weeks traveling through New Zealand. This was our second time there and we were both surprised by how much it felt like going home. We started in the south island, in Queenstown and drove north to Auckland. The country, landscape and people are absolutely incredible and affected me in ways I’m still processing. I made a point to wake up early every morning to write. Just being in such a beautiful place put my imagination into hyper drive.

This was our view from the air B&B in Queenstown. I sent the photo to one of our friends who said he could basically hear the Lord of the Rings theme just by looking at it.

We did the Routeburn Track (one of New Zealand’s great walks), which took us 3 days. This was our view waking up on the second day. We saw some Keas this morning (very smart, very mischievous green parrots who are incredibly cute).

Setting off on our second day on the Routeburn Track.

Driving on the left side of the road was like watching a David Lynch film. It was off putting, often scary but kind of enjoyable.

Out of all the hikes we did in New Zealand the one through Mount Cook National Park was the most user friendly. Even if you’re not into hiking I’d suggest checking it out. The paths are paved and the views are incredible.

Also we climbed a fricken waterfall!

Photo #2 of us climbing the fricken waterfall.

The people we were with respected the weight limit signs on bridges. Some other tourists, not so much.

And finally: a photo of Milford Sound, literally the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I know it’s cliche to say “photos don’t do it justice.” But in all seriousness, this doesn’t do it justice.

I could go on, but it would take up at least twenty posts to pack in all the things we did. I will say this, the travel definitely affected my writing. Like I said, I made a point to get up early every morning to work on a project I’d had stewing around in my head for a while. The story has nothing to do with New Zealand or international traveling or even road trips, but the images in my mind were clearer, my imagination was on steroids and I went in directions I normally wouldn’t have. I’m not saying you have to go to the other side of the planet to achieve this (we are very lucky we were able to go a second time). My imagination can be let loose just by traveling locally or doing anything that puts you outside your comfort zone, whether it be re-learning how to drive on the left side of the road or climbing a fricken waterfall.