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Sid | Content Creator | Photographer

@sidwithlens

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Sid | NZ travel, food & activities 🇳🇿
Engineer. Photographer. Mum.
Hidden gems & family adventures 🌿
Client work → @muntahaphotos
Open to collabs

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This giant sequoia ring at the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua started growing around 4 BC, and its rings run up to 1939. 🌲 That’s nearly 2,000 years of history in one slice of wood, 3.5 metres wide. Every ring is one year, and the markers show what was happening in the world while it kept growing.

The redwoods around it were planted in 1901. Next to this ancient giant, they’re still young.

Follow @sidwithlens for more hidden gems around New Zealand 🌿

📍 Redwoods Treewalk, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand

Redwoods Treewalk | Rotorua | Rotorua New Zealand | Whakarewarewa Forest | Redwoods Forest Rotorua | giant redwood ring | giant sequoia | ancient tree | oldest tree | 2000 year old tree | tree rings | tree history | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua attractions | New Zealand travel | North Island NZ | Rotorua treewalk | redwood tree walk | Rotorua nature | NZ hidden gems

#redwoodstreewalk #rotoruanz #giantsequoia #treerings newzealand by @sidwithlens

A family dinner we’re still talking about 🇱🇧🤍

An evening at @kohkoz with the family, and we loved all of it. Warm, welcoming staff, a cosy vibe, and food that was on point 🍽️✨

What we tried:
🧆 Shanklish
🧆 Falafel with tarator
🍟 Fries
🔥 Mixed grill with pita bread, hummus and toum
🥗 Fattoush
🫓 Half and half manouche
🍋 Lemon, lime & bitter
✨ Sparkling Amardine

My number 1? The mixed grill and the fattoush 😍 The kids loved their food just as much as we did 🥰

What would you order first? Comment below 👇

Follow @muntahaphotos_creative and @sidwithlens for more restaurant content 🍽️

Kohkoz | Lebanese restaurant | Lebanese food NZ | real Lebanese cuisine | Middle Eastern food | shanklish | falafel with tarator | mixed grill | hummus and toum | fattoush | manouche | family friendly restaurant | kid friendly restaurant | family dinner ideas | Auckland restaurants | Auckland food | NZ foodie | food content creator NZ

#kohkoz #lebanesefood #aucklandfood #aucklandrestaurants #nzfoodie

[invited] by @sidwithlens

This forest in Rotorua began as an experiment in the early 1900s, when 170 different kinds of trees were planted to see what would grow. Only a handful survived, and the redwoods are still standing, tall enough that I kept tilting my head back as I walked.🚶‍♀️

Which slide is your favourite? Comment the number 👇

Follow @sidwithlens for more NZ nature, travel and hidden gems 🌿

📍 Redwoods Treewalk, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand

Redwoods Treewalk | Redwoods Rotorua | Redwoods Forest Rotorua | Whakarewarewa Forest | Rotorua | Rotorua New Zealand | redwood forest | coastal redwoods | giant redwoods | tree ferns | canopy walk | suspension bridges | painted stones | forest photography | nature photography | tree walk NZ | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua attractions | NZ travel | NZ nature | North Island NZ

#redwoodstreewalk #rotoruanz #whakarewarewaforest #redwoodforest #newzealand by @sidwithlens

when the world falls, we bloom 🌸

While the other side of the world is heading into winter, New Zealand is getting ready for summer. Longer days, blossoms and everything turning green again.

Spent a quiet afternoon at Centennial Park in Rotorua, a place most visitors never find. Soft light, tall trees, and a peacefulness that made me forget what else was going on 🤍

Which slide is your favourite? Comment the number 👇

Follow @sidwithlens for more NZ nature, travel and hidden gems 🌿

📍 Centennial Park (the Tree Trust), Rotorua, New Zealand

Centennial Park Rotorua | Rotorua Tree Trust | the Tree Trust Rotorua | Tihi-o-tonga | Rotorua parks | Rotorua gardens | summer in New Zealand | NZ summer | NZ seasons | opposite seasons | southern hemisphere | cherry blossoms Rotorua | blossoms New Zealand | maple grove | Peace Memorial Rotorua | hidden gems Rotorua | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua walks | Rotorua photography | NZ nature photography | NZ travel | North Island NZ | peaceful places NZ

#centennialparkrotorua #rotorua #newzealand #nzsummer #blossoms by @sidwithlens

A full day at Agrodome and we didn’t want it to end 🐑💛 We enjoyed every single bit, and it’s one of those days where the kids and the grown-ups are equally amazed.

We started with the farm tour, hopping on board to hand-feed alpacas, deer and llamas (the kids were obsessed 🥹). Then came a spoonful of real manuka honey 🍯, which was a hit with the whole family.

The Farm Show was the highlight. We met sheep breeds from all over, watched a live shearing, and then the kids got to hop on stage and feed baby lambs 🍼. Then we finished with the farm dogs herding sheep (and ducks!), and I still can’t get over how smart they are 🐕

We wrapped up in the gift shop picking out a few little souvenirs to take home.

If you’re planning a family day out in Rotorua, this one is a must. Bring your camera, you’ll need it 📸

📍 Agrodome, Rotorua
Gifted @agrodome

Agrodome Rotorua | Agrodome farm show | Agrodome farm tour | Rotorua things to do | things to do in Rotorua with kids | family day out Rotorua | Rotorua farm show | sheep shearing show | sheepdog show NZ | feed baby lambs | hand-feed alpacas | manuka honey tasting | Rotorua attractions | NZ family activities | New Zealand farm experience | North Island family trip | Rotorua travel | NZ with kids

#agrodome #rotorua #nzmustdo #familydayout #nzwithkids by @sidwithlens

Had the chance to experience the amazing Tandoor and Grill Night buffet at Kings Park, and I loved everything on the table 🔥 It’s $29 in the middle of Auckland CBD, with a variety you rarely find at a local Indian buffet.
@kingspark.newzealand

I started with the dahi bhalla chaat, the salads and the achar. All so good.🤤

Then the grill, my favourites being the BBQ achari fish tikka 🐟 and the chicken kebabs. From the mains, the malai kofta, shahi paneer and butter chicken. And the butter naans, baked fresh right there in their live kitchen 🫓

Then dessert 😍 The gajar ka halwa and gulab jamun, I honestly couldn’t take my hands off them.

The ambience is a must visit too. I enjoyed the whole vibe as a package, and it’s a lovely family spot for a relaxed dinner together ✨

📍 35 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD
🕡 Wednesday and Thursday, 6:30pm to 10pm

Which one would you go for first? 👇

Kings Park Auckland | Tandoor and Grill Night | tandoori buffet Auckland | Indian buffet Auckland | family restaurant Auckland CBD | family dinner Auckland | dahi bhalla chaat Auckland | chicken kebab Auckland | achari fish tikka Auckland | shahi paneer Auckland | butter chicken Auckland | gajar ka halwa Auckland | gulab jamun Auckland | Auckland CBD restaurants | cheap eats Auckland | Indian food Auckland

#aucklandfood #indianfoodauckland #aucklandcbd #tandoori #aucklandeats

Ad/Invited by @sidwithlens

I kept stopping every few steps in this forest, camera up. These are just some of the many shots I took, there was too much to capture. It’s heaven for a nature photographer.
These redwoods were planted back in 1901 and standing under them makes you feel very small.
Which frame would you pick?
Follow along for more of my New Zealand days 🌿
📍 Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand
@treewalknz
Redwoods Rotorua | Whakarewarewa Forest | Redwoods Treewalk | California redwoods in New Zealand | Rotorua New Zealand | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua nature | nature photographer | forest photography | photography tips NZ | what I see vs what I got | New Zealand travel | North Island NZ

#redwoodsrotorua #rotoruanz #forestphotography #newzealand by @sidwithlens

Guess how many houses are hiding in this one tree 🏠🌲

Planted in 1901, standing 72 metres tall, and still growing. This is the tallest tree on the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua. Watch to the end for the answer 👀

Comment your guess 👇

Follow @sidwithlens for more NZ nature, travel and hidden gems 🌿

📍 Redwoods Treewalk, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand

Redwoods Treewalk | Rotorua | Rotorua New Zealand | Whakarewarewa Forest | Redwoods Forest Rotorua | tallest tree | tallest redwood | coastal redwood | giant redwood | 72 metre tree | tree facts | timber | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua attractions | NZ travel | NZ nature | North Island NZ

#redwoodstreewalk #rotoruanz #tallesttree #newzealand #treefacts by @sidwithlens

You don’t need to go to California to walk through redwoods 🌲

The redwoods here were planted in Rotorua in 1901 as a timber experiment, to see if California Coast Redwoods could grow commercially in New Zealand.

Today you can walk through them on the Redwoods Treewalk. It is 700 metres long with 28 suspension bridges and 27 platforms, sitting between 9 and 20 metres above the forest floor. The walkway hangs from the trees on slings designed to protect them, and the full walk takes about 40 minutes.

The tallest tree on the Treewalk is 72 metres high and one of the original 1901 plantings. According to the sign, it has enough timber to build around 3½ houses. The lanterns hanging along the bridges were designed by NZ designer David Trubridge, and they light up at night as Redwoods Nightlights.

Planning a trip to New Zealand? Save this for Rotorua and share it with someone who loves forests.

Follow @sidwithlens for more hidden gems around New Zealand 🌿

📍 Redwoods Treewalk, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand

Redwoods Treewalk | Rotorua | Rotorua New Zealand | Whakarewarewa Forest | Redwoods Forest Rotorua | Redwoods Nightlights | suspension bridges | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua with kids | family friendly Rotorua | Rotorua attractions | New Zealand travel | North Island NZ | NZ hidden gems

#redwoodstreewalk #rotoruanz #nztravel #hiddengemsnz #newzealand by @sidwithlens

Rotorua in October is a completely different place, cherry blossoms, tulips, that soft golden light that makes everything look unreal. Spent the day wandering through it and honestly didn’t want to leave. If spring is on your list this year, this is the month to go.🌷

Spring in Rotorua | Rotorua New Zealand | Rotorua cherry blossoms | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua travel | cherry blossom season NZ | spring in New Zealand by @sidwithlens

A few quiet minutes at Rotorua’s lakefront. The water does something to your mind that words can’t really explain. A reminder that doing nothing is still doing something.🛥️

Rotorua lakefront | things to do in Rotorua | Rotorua lake | Rotorua New Zealand | slow living NZ | Rotorua travel | peaceful places NZ

#rotoruanz by @sidwithlens

Blue Spring, Putāruru. About two and a half hours south of Auckland on the way into Rotorua, and honestly one of our favourite stops of the whole trip.🏞️

There’s something about standing in front of water this clear that just makes everyone go quiet for a second, even the kids. This water has been filtering through volcanic rock from the Mamaku Plateau for up to 100 years before it reaches the surface, which is exactly why it looks like this. Visibility here can reach up to 63 metres, some of the clearest freshwater on the planet. It’s also where roughly 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water actually comes from.

📝A few things to know before you go:
No swimming or kayaking, the ecosystem here is protected and fragile
No dogs, the walkway crosses farmland with grazing stock
It’s flat, stroller-friendly on this section, easy for kids 👦🏻

We weren’t planning to stay long, just a quick stop on the drive, but ended up lingering far longer than expected. If you’re driving Auckland to Rotorua, this is such an easy detour off the main route, and genuinely worth the stop.

Follow @sidwithlens for more beautiful NZ places and activities.

#BlueSpring #Putaruru #NZTravel #RotoruaRoadTrip #NewZealand by @sidwithlens