Discovering the secret places and the hidden gems that nature has on show; only to those that go looking for them.
Getting to explore some of the South Island was special, but the waterfalls are what really captured my attention.
In the middle of nowhere, surrounded by native bush, it should be quiet, the only sounds being the wildlife. However, you can hear this faint roaring sound. Following the sound, it gets louder with each turn you take, until you see the sunlight bouncing off the water droplets cascading over the rocky hill. This water appears to be just pouring out the side of the hill as if as out of nowhere. Following the track to get a closer look at this waterfall that has emerged as if from nothing. Standing at the bottom of the falls, hearing the roar and power of the water thundering down the cliff. The sound overwhelms all of your senses and you find yourself in awe of massive amounts of water droplets continuously falling, continuously pounding at the pool of water at the bottom. The pool of water that looks so calm compared to this almost angry charge of water.
Water is never too far away, especially in New Zealand. Whether you are inland, surrounded by bush there will be a river or waterfall not too far away. Or whether you are by the shore, with the waves pounding the beach. Water in all of its different forms is something that is hard to escape. Water and nature are intertwined, water will always find its own way or create a way if it needs to, no matter what man-made structures are in the way. In the same way that nature will eventually take over structures if left alone for long enough, water will always create its own path.
