Tiritiri Matangi island, July 2012, by Scott Fowler

Hi, my name is Scott and I’m a teacher here at LI.  I’m from Canada and I love to spend time outdoors. I guess that’s why I love living here in New Zealand; there are so many opportunities to take advantage of what New Zealand’s most famous for.

Whatipu by Scott FowlerAlthough Auckland is a pretty big place, there are still heaps of opportunities to enjoy nature just outside the city limits. The Waitakere Ranges Regional Park is a short 45-minute drive and includes lots of hiking trails in the west coast rain forest and awesome walks along the beaches.

If you’re into rare wildlife and conservation issues, you can check out Tiritiri Matangi island. It’s an open reserve inside the Hauraki gulf which is full of very rare bird species all but extinct on the New Zealand mainland. The views are amazing and the birds are everywhere! It’s like a zoo without cages! Pretty cool!

Scott Fowler

Article and photos by Scott Fowler.  Scott’s a teacher at Languages International. Originally from Canada, Scott has also taught in Japan and Australia and has over ten years teaching experience.

Scott loves spending time outdoors, trekking and exploring new places.  He does conservation volunteer work involving pest monitoring and control, trail upkeep, and bird monitoring and banding.

What are your favourite places to enjoy nature in NZ? Tell us in the comments.