Adrienne Vita, the 2011 New Zealand Sustainability student blogger, writes:

On our second to last day in New Zealand we did the Dolphin Encounter. Now, I refuse to pick a favorite activity that we did because I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s impossible to do so.  But the dolphin day is definitely one of the top activities that I loved doing.

Dusky dolphins at Kaikoura

We weren’t just swimming with a number of twenty something, even fifty something dolphins, but literally hundreds and hundreds of completely wild dusky dolphins that hail to the Kaikoura Peninsula for the abundant food supply.

We made five stops around the Peninsula and at each location, no matter where I looked, I was surrounded by an unimaginable amount of dolphins. And at one stop we even saw a seal swimming around!

As I get ready to leave New Zealand, I can’t help regretting my decision to not do a whole semester abroad here. Between the people and diverse geography, this country has so much to offer. I feel like I’ve barely touched the tip of the iceberg. However, at the same time, going for three weeks to get a feeling for the place creates an even deeper, burning desire to come back for a much longer time.

If you want to visit and learn about the main highlights of the South Island, then the New Zealand program is the way to do it. I can’t even imagine trying to go from the southern tip to the northern tip of the South Island on my own. Now that I know what I love to see, my return trip will be more personalized to my interests.

Needless to say, I’m going to miss New Zealand and the people I met here more than I could’ve ever imagined. The fact that you can hike a glacier then drive a few short hours to swim with dolphins still leaves me in awe. This country is truly unlike any other, and for the sake of every traveler, I hope it stays that way.