I went to New Zealand two years ago for a week-long vacation. And when you have a job like mine, a vacation to a far-away land usually means you’re going to end up working in some capacity. But that’s okay, because “working” in New Zealand meant I got to go on a quad ride in the countryside (along with some other fun stuff).

I landed in Auckland, New Zealand, which is a pretty big city…it’s a great place, and I had a lot of fun there for a day or two, but coming from Southern California, I wanted to see something I don’t see very often at home: greenery, low population density, and natural wonders. My friend Mike and I traveled to Waitomo, where we were sure we’d find lots of outdoor fun.

The first order of business was to go on a quad tour. I contacted the people at Waitomo Big Red quad bike adventures, and they were kind enough to let us take the tour and take some photos of our day in the field. We climbed aboard Honda Big Reds and drove through farm land and over hills and through tunnels. It wasn’t the most daring adventure, but I think we laughed the entire time we were riding. The views were spectacular, the people were kind and friendly, and we even got to ride alongside some sheep (the sheep weren’t riding…they refuse to wear helmets, so they have to walk.) I know it’s a long shot, but if you ever find yourself in New Zealand, you owe it to yourself to go to Waitomo and take the quad tour. It’s a whole lot of international fun. Check them out right here

And if you’re really adventurous, you can take the quad bike tour and also go black water rafting. What’s that? Well, Waitomo is known for its caves. There’s an adventure company that will take you (along with an inner tube) into the caves so you can jump off little cliffs and float down the river inside the caves. For a girl who isn’t big into water (that’s me), I have to say this was more fun than I would’ve ever imagined.

I created a gallery of photos from my trip, so check it out!