Curious about the best places to hike and camp in Idaho? Want to plan a tour of New Zealand’s West Coast? Interested in the best places to run in Venice? The Mod Fam has you covered! We’ve traveled to more than 40 countries, lived in Mexico, New Zealand, and several U.S. states. Now, we’re sharing our experiences and travel tips so you don’t have to plan from scratch. Pick your favorite destination and follow our lead for some adventures of a lifetime!
For this part of the trip, we recommend taking a full day to drive the stretch from Makarora to Fox Glacier, with plenty of time to stop at the blue pools and the beaches North of Haast. If you have a little more time, break this up into two sections, camping near Bruce Bay or Haast.
The Vancouver, British Columbia Airport (YVR), contains an impressive collection of regional First Nations art. Divided into pieces that represent land, sea, and sky, the YVR art collection reflects not only the ancient Haida and other first nation traditions throughout British Columbia, but also the prominence of indigenous culture and experience here and elsewhere in Canada. From Bill Reid’s Spirit of the Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe (1994) to Joe David’s Welcome Figures carved in the Clayoquot tradition of the Nuu-chah-nulth people, First Nations Art transforms the otherwise typical contemporary airport facility into a remarkable collection of national importance.
The Moeraki Boulders are a must-see stop on the coastal route between Dunedin and Christchurch or a drive from Dunedin to Queenstown. If you’re staying close by, it’s worth visiting the Moeraki Boulders and the town of Moeraki as a destination all its own, and there’s plenty to do along this stretch of the South Island’s East Coast.
The mountain villages of Fox Glacier and Franz Josef provide access to the two most accessible glaciers on the West Coast. You can easily spend a full day exploring the glacier nature walks and the villages that thrive on the summertime tourist economy. At Fox Glacier, the hike to view the receding glacier has more than doubled since we first started visiting in 2003, due to the stunning retreat of the glacier.
