Great Start to the Catlins - full time family adventures.

[@katewood9220]

We explored the Catlins, Southland, Fiordland and Central Otago from near the start of February for 4 weeks. One evening of rain in the whole time. Until a few days ago they were in drought with burnt off grass in places you would not expect it - eg Te Anau and Invercargill. Catilins has so many great, empty beaches.

[@leopardsgowild]

We had such nice weather, glad we pushed down from Christchurch quickly to experience it.

[@jezthomas4402]

You did well to get such good weather in the Catlins; was wild when I went - in a good way. Well, my legs are like wood today; had a crack at Mount Fyffe yesterday! All I can say is Respect to the Jademeister! That was a heck of an incline, plus my plan to jog down was made so hard by all the rocks on the path. Well worth it for the views though, so thanks again for the top tip. My last day of my first experiment at laptop nomading and it’s been a really successful 16 day trip, and I’m now chilling in Whites Bay because my ferry back to Welly is delayed for a couple of hours. So yet another Leopard spot scratched off - and amazingly there’s full 4G here so I can work from here 😁

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea we really felt like we lucked out for sure... Suffering a bit in the weather currently... Well done on going up Mt Fyffe... Did you make it all the way up? Me and Jade had such sore legs the next day, that downhill is relentless on the quads. It's nice when you get to a DOC camp site and they have full internet aye, makes life a bit more connected...

[@jezthomas4402]

@@leopardsgowild Yep, I got to the top; 4 days later and my quads are still recovering! Time to get the foam roller out.

[@gettingoutwiththekids]

*another amazing place to visit, New Zealand just keeps getting more and more beautiful*

[@leopardsgowild]

This is a great area for sure... I always love these quiet peaceful spots... hope ya'll are getting some nice spring weather

[@TheLollygirl69]

We come from south island living in Taranaki, fond memories seeing ur video. My dad lives in Matura between Queenstown and Invercargill. Fyi ur gonna be struggling over winter, cause it's way colder in south island.

[@leopardsgowild]

We travelled down SOuth in july 3 years ago, Hoar frosts, frozen ponds, we loved it. It's partly why we had a plan to do a trip this big. For sure there will be some struggles, wet, cold, cabin fever are all parts of winter, we've got some plans for those days though.

[@garth2876]

Absolutely stunning area, what perfect timing for the Aurora display. I reckon you guys made the right call heading down there for the end of Summer. You're right about those cooler evenings, I'm out at the Wairau diversion for the night and it's a beautiful sunny day but cold easterly and won't be long before I'm inside the caravan

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea pretty happy we pushed through to here... I guess the inland road with the mountains is stunning and probably still pretty warm, but we've done that area a couple of times in the last 10 years... We'll get in there during winter and maybe in the earlier parts of next summer... I'm still in shorts and t shirt, tomorrow is looking good, monday looks cold... High of 12...

[@TomRigginsAandO]

Some more of Gods' creations--AWESOME ! Keep it going ...

[@leopardsgowild]

It's pretty magical aye Tom. Nature is such an incredible thing to witness. Hope ya'll are doing well. You must be getting some Spring days coming your way now...

[@TomRigginsAandO]

@@leopardsgowild We have 64 this AM--some pretty cool nights--flowers blooming--we are well and comfortable ! Truly blessed...

[@maryanne9993]

oh how cool the southern lights, I'll put this place on my list of must dos when i come south.. thanks guys

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea I think it's pretty rare to see, and this was one of the better displays... We felt pretty happy to see it.

[@Lisamitchell-jm4kc]

Another spot added to our list You guys are legends

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea it's lovely out there. Definitely one to add to the list

[@gallichantrucklifenz]

Wow, awesome video. Hi to Soph’s parents 🙂 The Catlins look amazing. Iv camped there once one new years in a terrible storm and everyone’s tents blew over. We need to get down those ways sometime as we’ve never really explored the Catlins. We’ve both lived in Invercargill and love it down there (apart from the cold). Hope Soph is doing ok with the cold. Our heater has had a good work out this last week (snow below the hut on Mt Fyffe).

[@leopardsgowild]

I think we've all been feeling the cold, that snow storm was Icy, I was up the top of Mt Luxmore in that snow storm, shesh it was bad... Catlins are well worth spending a couple of weeks exploring... Would be awesome in the truck as well cause you can hold so much water.

[@helendrysdale6339]

OMG This episode is bringing back memories for me. I went to Nugget Point in September 2022 and absolutely loved it. I’m heading over again in March next year (2025) and hoping to catch the Aurora this time.

[@leopardsgowild]

oh this is a great spot for sure, to capture the Southern Lights even better. Good luck with your timings, this would be an epic spot to see it. We did actually capture it here also but about 5km further North, you can see the light house in our time lapse which is on our channel.

[@helendrysdale6339]

@@leopardsgowild yes I did see the lighthouse it was pretty special

[@RadRoadAdventures]

Your video makes me want to get back down there! Glad it's going well down there, a highlight so far for you all

[@leopardsgowild]

it was pretty magical, no where near as remote as I was expecting... I reckon the top half of the coromandel is more remote and isolated. But loved all the wild life, and the fact your so far down the country.

[@wendyjames7236]

Beautiful! I’m excited for our roadie down there coming up the end of the month! Oops amazing and Thankyou for sharing ! 😊

[@leopardsgowild]

So many good places to see... The next 2 videos will give you some great ideas as well.

[@SeiOh-w2q]

You show me all of new zealand. My dream come true

[@leopardsgowild]

We live in a beautiful and diverse Country

[@CHillAdventures]

NOT SOCKS!!!!!! BRO WHEN I AM FORCED TO PUT SOCKS AND SHOES ON IN THE FALL IM SO SAD!!!!! PAD THAI NACHOS?!?!?!? toby is epic lol, great video brother! family look great! very happy for u all, so great to see a family together and happy , u guys r an inspiration. & the fact u dont own many pants makes u a legend in my book hahaha. have a great day team!!

[@leopardsgowild]

Lol... cheers bro... 🍻 bring on the snow now.... nope that was a joke we already think it's getting cold... our activities are changing from swimming to running and biking, a sign of the times.... Toby is definitely a legend

[@CHillAdventures]

@@leopardsgowild we got more snow last night... It'll go from low 40s to 70s in less than a month usually sometime in April lol... Joys of 4 season climates 😐😂🥶🥵

[@charlescarroll8159]

😊 another cool blog bro why don't you use your drone to fish 🐠 good to see the whanau on the paddle boards ❤❤

[@leopardsgowild]

Cheers bro, thanks for the Love. Soph loves getting out on her paddle board. Won't be long till we are heading inland to some nice lakes to paddle on. Hope ya'll are doing well and getting some sunshine in before Autumn gets to close.

[@Scottygirlnz]

We are headed down that way in a week so I'm loving seeing all that you are up to!

[@leopardsgowild]

Exciting it's such a cool place... lots to see 👀... not as remote as I expected, but plenty to see and do. Be interesting to see how it changes with the weather. Pretty blustery in Southland today

[@Scottygirlnz]

@@leopardsgowild We flew home to Auckland for a week so will be bringing back more winter clothes! We've done some of the Catlins but not the area you are in. I have a DOC pass so hoping to get some more value out of it!

[@leopardsgowild]

@@Scottygirlnz Yea Papatowai is a great campsite... Parakaunui is beautiful spot to relax, but not a lot to do there... Its definitley getting cooler down here, stock up on the winter gears.

[@Scottygirlnz]

@@leopardsgowild Papatowai is where we are headed (along with many other places). I wonder if we'll see you out there somewhere :)

[@brianna56ism]

Pleased to see you had awesome weather there. It’s an area I would explore more but with others for security. Brian and Anna from Kawerau

[@leopardsgowild]

The Doc camps were pretty safe... I felt most people mostly stuck to themselves. .. I think having kids definitely adds an element of Safety... you don't want to mess with a family... we've only had positive experiences so far.... where are you guys currently???

[@brianna56ism]

@@leopardsgowild we are in the north Canterbury area visiting Brian’s family. Will spend a while here. Getting cold here. Have put thermals on soon lol. Take care drive safely still love your videos

[@owenpotter2459]

What, no seals at Hamner? Lol. Nice capture of the Southern Lights. The Gopro picked them up nicely.

[@leopardsgowild]

I know right Owen, terrible those seals need to get more inland... I'm starting to miss them, I haven't seen a seal for over a week now... So stoked to see the Southern lights. Awesome experience.

[@owenpotter2459]

@@leopardsgowild you were going to have to rename your channel "Travelling With Seals"!

[@leopardsgowild]

@@owenpotter2459 or Leopards 🐆 eat.....

[@owenpotter2459]

@@leopardsgowild true!

[@gopronz515]

@@leopardsgowild Hey, what settings did you use for Southern Lights time-lapse?

[@kayzkara5943]

Beautiful senery

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea we really loved it in here, such a wonderful part of the country ❤️

[@kayzkara5943]

@@leopardsgowild the walks yous do together are great to

[@jjpraises4Him2]

Great videos,thank for sharing,what time go pro you using?

[@leopardsgowild]

Thank you. I am using the Go Pro hero 10.

[@S4MU3L-]

If your thumbnail was more enticing you could definitely double your view count. If your just doing it for the love then that's great ❤

[@leopardsgowild]

What do you think I could change the thumbnail too? Totally open to ideas, I thought this was an enticing thumbnail...

[@S4MU3L-]

@Leopardsgowild it's not the image but I'd say maybe the text colour. Image is enticing but text colour kinda stands out doesn't merge well. My advice would be to look at another popular blog explorer who just has really clean thumbnails with lots of views, your content is great don't get me wrong.

[@S4MU3L-]

@Leopardsgowild so enticing thumbnails for your kind of content generally contain the person making the videos in amongst a location. I'd suggest finding an amazing spot get a photo of it, and have you looking out at it or something and then have white text behind you with black outline reasonably thick text and then look excited or look out onto the landscape. Hope this gives you some ideas, just search on youtube travel and explore and look for thumbnails like that. Hope this helps cause you have great content and should be seen by more. Tourists would like to see this when they come to New Zealand too. Hope you get some inspiration and can't wait to see the new thumbnails 😎

[@leopardsgowild]

I made a change to the thumbnail. Not going to go to crazy, but i think it looks a bit more serious/ professional, what about you?

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea I often find photos like that have either to much going on? or you don't quite get the perspective of being there.... Thumbnails is something I have been trying to work on though... Maybe time to changeup the font and colour...

[@astondriver]

Good sites

[@leopardsgowild]

Yea a few good spots along this stretch of coast for sure... Just finished editing the next one... I wonder how much I should put into a video they are preey jam packed with spots and things to see.

[@astondriver]

@@leopardsgowild Catlins is amazing over summer. No people, great beaches. Just that southerly at 2-3pm. Its a barber