New Zealand was surreal, inimitable, and resplendent. Back in June of this year, I spent a good month i.e. 30 wholesome and fulfilling days in the southern hemisphere. By now, the country is slowly, but steadily, getting noticed and sliding its way into many travelers' itineraries. For me, it was partly about reuniting with friends about an immersive experience into Auckland's geographical history, splendid panoramas, and deliciously-cold weather. The biting wind has never fazed me before and the moment I stepped out of Auckland Airport (after a grueling 25-hour journey and an embarrassing bio-security experience) I had a huge grin on my face stretching from ear to ear.
Thus, began my memorable journey through New Zealand's winding streets, rolling green meadows, seasonal surprises, and more than one cheesecake at the best cafes and restaurants in town to keep us going.
For the first few weeks of my trip, we stuck to Northern New Zealand; Auckland, Rotorua, and Taupo. There's so much to see as the modern cityscape meets the splendor of nature at every corner. The city is essentially built on a volcanic field thus activating muscles in our legs that we weren't even aware of. We walked endlessly taking random turns here and there to cover the city in its entirety. From a taste of the best ice-cream in town (shoutout to Kapiti!) to a NY-style pizza at Sal's, we left no stone unturned.
We did everything from the 192-metre high Sky Walk to driving around 250 km to Rotorua and Taupo. Each part of the country is distinct and holds its own charm. The people are relentlessly warm and helpful, excited to no end, and definitely not too busy to take a moment and enjoy sunny days in Auckland's Albert Park. Unlike many metropolitan cities, Auckland is calm and easygoing where you will hardly see anyone rushing to and from work. Slow and steady is the way to go in Auckland city where no one is in a hurry to get to their destination; you know you'll always reach on time and even if you don't, it's okay.
I feel like I need to dedicate an entire post to Waiheke Island, maybe in the future (Future is here, read about Waiheke) but for now, just know that our day trip to Waiheke was easily one of the best days of my life. From the perfect weather to a ferry ride that proved to be more scenic than can be expected, Waiheke Island was ravishingly beautiful. A delicious lunch along the seaside with chirping sparrows to keep us company, chancing upon a stranded beach with no one in sight for miles on end, and a wine tasting at the most spectacular vineyard were some of the highlights of our day trip.
We hiked more than we ever did and didn't even mind the resulting burn. We jumped over restricted fencing with a slight fear of getting electrocuted (thankfully, we survived). We witnessed four seasons on a two-hour long drive; from bright and sunny, to dangerously windy, to clouds that threatened to pour down upon us giving way to icy sheets of rain that made the roads slippery. Debris and grit or the swerving steering wheel did nothing to kill our excitement and fervor for more adventure, superstar car karaoke, and views of Angus cattle, alpacas, or sheep grazing without a care in the world or an inkling of doubt about their survival post-feast.
We were almost chomped to death by an unidentified wild animal at One Tree Hill's Cornwall Park; maybe a meerkat that escaped from the zoo and turned to the wild side or a fat squirrel, we'll never know.
And yet, each day in and around Auckland was better than the last and the memories age like fine wine. At every step, your expectations of what's to come will be thwarted but will give way to something even more extraordinary. For now, soak it all in until the next time when I take you on a journey through natural and manmade hot springs, Hobbiton, festive Queenstown, and travel withdrawal.
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