New Zealand Superlatives!

We know "superlative" means the very best, but it was just so darn hard to pick one in most cases!

Most succulent meal(s):

• Sam's 5-star picnic in Wellington - lamb-rack, mashed butternut squash, and rocket.
• The Cow pizza and soup for its cozy atmosphere!
• Farideh's everything!
• Campervan couscous (chicken, carrots, broccoli, onions, and more!)

Most spectacular view(s):

• Driving over Takaka Hill into Golden Bay
• Driving over Haast Pass through the mountains with views of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea
• Queenstown camping spot with a view of the lake and Remarkables mountains.

Best Place(s) to live:

• Golden Bay
• Wanaka

Best Weather:

• Golden Bay - sunny blue skies every day and true summer!

Best Crag:

• Pohara, on the shores of the Golden Bay; nice rock, beautiful views, secluded, and private!

Best Climb:

• D - 5.9 (18) scary route up Temples of Stone in Payne's Ford, Golden Bay
• N - 5.11c up steep, overhanging jugs with a dyno finish in Wanaka!

Best City:

• Taupo!  Probably because we got to pretend we were Farideh and Andrew's flatmates for a week!

Most raucous night out:

• Reunion with Yali and Gary in Auckland where we sampled 6 bottles of NZ wine over the course of the night. 
• Dancing away the night in Wellington - especially rebellious given our usual early bedtimes.

Most refreshing, tasty beer:

• Manuka beer from the Mussel Inn, Golden Bay
• Ginger lager from Sprig and Fern (I think) at the Roots bar in Takaka

Yummiest snack food:

• Salami
• Tim Tams - the most delicious chocolate biscuit you've ever had (in fact, I think their tagline is something similar!)

Campsites:

• Secluded: Queenstown lakeside
• Campground: Hangdog climber's campground
• Campervan site: Wanaka Aspiring Campervan Park

Friend we've met along the way:

• Joy - our Brooklynite climbing buddy!

Best new experience:

• Wine-tasting
• Seeing a glacier
• Driving on the left-hand side of the road (although not sure it was a pleasurable new experience)

Scariest moment:

• Getting stuck on the 4WD road to Whanganui Bay!

Cleanest, nicest bathroom:

• Every bathroom in NZ is nice, but Gary's nice hotel bathrooms take the cake!

Nicest Kiwi stranger:

• The doorman at the Hilton who brought us french-pressed coffee in the am.

Funniest Moment:

• Gary trying to cross a river with strong rapids, expensive camera in one hand, two bags of food in the other.  He made it half way to the other side when he realized the rapids were too strong.  Nolan rushed out to save his camera and within seconds Gary had been swept down the river fully clothed, food bags dunked under, and flip flops/sunglasses floating away.  

Best Kiwi Music to check out!

• Fat Freddy's Drop (anything!)
• Tiki Taane - "Always on My Mind"