New Zealand - A Loving Experience

New Zealand was lovely and warmer than Melbourne. I only spent a week there, which felt way too short. I spent about three days in Auckland and the rest at the beautiful Bay of Islands. Honestly, I regret not staying longer. I had trouble at customs because I had only booked a one-way ticket. They granted me a month to stay, which wasn’t enough to see all of New Zealand. Plus, I arrived right in the middle of seasons—summer and ski season—and really, you need to be there for one or the other. Ah well, it ain’t going anywhere, I guess!

A Late Arrival in Auckland

I arrived on day one at about 3 AM, so I went straight to bed. The next day, I explored the city and went up the Sky Tower. I considered jumping off it but didn't because the cost was outrageous. Moreover, it wasn’t even a proper bungee jump—you only fall at 75 miles per hour. So, I decided to spend my money elsewhere and headed to the casino instead!

That evening, I watched Dirty Dancing at the theater. It was really good! I’m not sure if they tour in the UK, but if they do, you should definitely catch it. The actress from Neighbours was in it—Libby, I think. She was great, and at the end, everyone was up dancing. The atmosphere was electric.

Making Friends at The Hostel

The following day, I made some random pals at the hostel. We went out drinking in the evening, which turned into a good night. Although, I can’t say much about it since I don’t remember anything!

The next day, I headed up to the Bay of Islands to take in some of the breathtaking New Zealand scenery. It was beautiful! The fields were so lush, like an impossible shade of green. When I got to the Bay of Islands, I went on a dolphin spotting trip, hoping to swim with them. We saw two families, but we couldn’t swim because both had infants. What a shame! It was also a bit rough out there, and I felt seasick.

Adventures at 90 Mile Beach

That night, I repeated the usual—had a few drinks with some new friends. I only knew them for two nights, so it wasn’t bad. The next day, I visited 90 Mile Beach at the top of New Zealand. We drove along it in a 4x4, which was tons of fun. We stopped to take in the scenery, and some people from our group were digging up mussels right out of the sand and eating them fresh! I felt queasy just watching them.

While we were exploring, we stumbled across a car buried in the sand. It turns out it belonged to someone who had gotten the tide times wrong and ended up stranded, trying to drive up a river. He survived the experience, but had to walk 30km for help. And the only place in New Zealand without insurance is that beach. Yikes! That’s 15 grand down the drain—buried under the sand.

Thrilling Experiences and Challenges

After this incident, we headed toward the sand dunes. To reach them, we had to drive through a shallow river, which was a bit nerve-wracking. Driving in quicksand is no joke! After a thrilling drive, we finally arrived at the dunes and went sandboarding. It was quite the experience, though I only did it twice. Climbing back up the hill was exhausting. I definitely need to hit the gym!

Our next stop was the most easterly point of New Zealand. There was a sign pointing to London, which indicated that it was over 9,000 miles away. I felt a wave of homesickness wash over me. It was hard being so far from home. That evening, we grabbed some traditional fush and chups (that’s what they call it out there) on the beach before heading back to the hostel.

That night, I had drinks with the same people again, and we decided to venture to another bar. I think I participated in karaoke, but honestly, I can’t be sure!

Exploring Auckland and Reflecting

I headed back to Auckland the next day and joined a city tour. It was fascinating to learn about the history of the city. Seriously, it’s not sarcasm; it’s sometimes nice to learn the boring stuff. Auckland’s landscape is shaped by many volcanic eruptions—you just can’t beat that! I did some shopping afterward and then called it a night since I had an early morning flight.

The Flight Back and What’s Next?

The flight was frightening. I kept telling myself I was not scared—it was all in my head—and it surprisingly worked. Until the plane stopped just before takeoff. The pilot announced they needed to add more fuel due to a weather change in Melbourne. What kind of peace of mind does that give you? “What if we had taken off without enough gas?” My heart sank at the thought.

Now I’m back in Melbourne for a week or two. However, I’ve decided to spend my last few months in Perth. Yes, my last few months. I plan to return home in August. I’m getting a bit tired of traveling and just want to be back in good old London. There’s truly no place like home!

Anyway, I’m reunited with Zoe, my cousin, and Melissa again, and tonight, we’re gonna have it large!

Bye for now! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx