Hello from Dunedin!

Well, I guess I better start off by introducing myself and the idea behind this blog. My name is Alison, and I am a Canadian student studying landscape architecture. In our program we our given the opportunity to go on an exchange in another country for a school semester. Yes, I am writing this blog to help keep friends and family updated on my adventures, but mostly I am writing it for myself, to reflect on the different experiences. Over the years I have taken up the hobby of photography, and look at this as an opportunity to expand my skills. I am excited to begin my travels with two friends, Heather and Emily, and with my camera alongside.


We have been pretty busy so far, and I am just getting a chance to sit back and write something now. Our flights were long but good, with no problems once we got in the air. We met a few others traveling to New Zealand, both on the plane and in the airport in Los Angeles. As soon as we arrived in Auckland, we picked up our bags and dug around for our shorts. Having another 5 hour layover, we decided to go out and enjoy the fresh New Zealand air.

Emily enjoying the summer air outside of Auckland airport

Once we arrived in Christchurch, we hopped on a shuttle to our booked accommodation at the Dorset House. Hungry, Heather and I set out to find some dinner, and settled on a  take away pizza, before coming across a delicious chinese restaurant that I had enjoyed three years ago, just down the street!

On the morning of our first full day, we walked to a fruit market down the road and picked up some pastries and fresh nectarines. We stopped and enjoyed the street scape (budding landscape architects here), before meeting Karen back at the hostel. I met Karen 3 years ago while I was traveling with my parents in New Zealand, and was happy to see her and her husband John again! Something about familiar faces just makes this big adventure seem a lot more fun and less stressful to plan out! On the trip from Christchurch to Ashburton, we drove home by making a quick stop at the University of Lincoln, so Heather could see where she’d be staying once Emily and I headed off to Adelaide. We enjoyed our first meat pies outside under some shade for lunch at Ali and Grahams, and then finished our journey by saying hi to John in the fields, who was out busy harvesting.

Hanging out by the letter box men

Standing infront of the big fish in Rakaia, Salmon capital of New Zealand

Sharplin Falls

After doing some planning, we decided that first we would head south to Dunedin today to see the penguins and albatross colony (only sadly to find that to do this we would need a car). So not letting this dampen our spirits, we booked our next few days up to Te Anau, Milford Sound and Queenstown while in an internet cafe. We wandered around Dunedin today and and saw some breathtaking architecture and caught the tail end of the Chinese New Years parade. Tomorrow we are going to walk to the Botanical Gardens, which are the first in New Zealand and then catch a bus to Te Anau. That’s all for now! Sending lots of love back home!

If you forget to stop, remember to Give Way!