New Zealand 2026
Here are my memories from our recent six-week trip. If you would like a copy of any of the photos, I can send you the full-resolution images, at about 4MB each. Similarly I can supply the full 1-hour HD video at 9GB if you're really interested.
The photos are best viewed on a device with a decent size screen, but you should be able to view them on a smartphone if that's all you have available.
Cheers,Nige.
Holiday video (SD, 5 minute highlights edition, 255MB)
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Holiday photos
For those with only a passing interest: best 20 photos .
For gluttons for punishment: my favourite 300+ photos . This is out of a total of nearly 800 that I kept for myself!
Abiding memories
These observations and themes cropped up repeatedly on our trip.
Roadworks with 30km/h limits, mostly unmanned.
Bulges of tarmac on the outside of bends.
More cows were seen than sheep!
South island had many English waitresses, North island had many Indian waiters.
Swamp Harrier bird of prey was seen everywhere, particularly around road kill.
Birds pecking at the roads for no obvious reason.
Suicidal birds and insects flying in front of our car.
Restaurants closing at 8pm except in the cities.
Two make-up cloths provided in hotel rooms, but only one hand towel.
The right-of-way rule at "one lane" bridges is generally disregarded.
Sports fields rarely seen in use.
Paintwork on older cars was blistered by the sun.
Everyone’s so nice!
Insufficient toilets on main roads.
Almost all dwellings are single-storey.
Towns that were way larger than their population suggests, e.g. Invercargill.
A Four Square supermarket in every town.
Satnav shortcuts that take you along gravel tracks.
Signs increasing the speed limit to 100km/h, immediately followed by a tight bend.
Daytime radio ads for strip clubs.
Pronunciation of a single e like a double ee, e.g. "leegs" instead of "legs".
Brian FM, broadcasting from a crappy building in beautiful downtown Nelson, playing whatever they feel like.
© Nigel Hymas 2026