My Kiwi Road Trip

Wow. Let me just start out by saying that New Zealand is hands down the most beautiful country I've ever been to. I knew that if I was gonna make it this far I was going to do everything I could do make it to New Zealand. I knew a little bit about what New Zealand had to offer and the intense natural landscapes and beauty that exists there. Also, it was a snowboarding destination that was definitely on my to do list. When I made it as far as Australia there was no doubt in my mind that NZ would be the next stop. And so it was, but after a bit of a delay...

I didn't really have any trouble getting into any countries before this on my trip, but it just so happens that NZ would be a bit more difficult than expected. I showed up to the Melbourne airport excited and ready to go, and when I went to the check in desk to get my boarding pass the woman at the desk asked me if I had an outbound flight out of NZ after my traveling there. I told her I didn't because I didn't know how long I was staying there or where I would go next, and that was the wrong answer.

She told me that I had to have an outbound flight in order to be let into NZ immigration and they weren't gonna let me on the plane. I did not accept this answer and I ran out of the terminal, hopped the fence, got on the tarmac, and jumped onto the plane.

My first glimpse of New Zealand when I finally got on that plane :)

...at least that's what I envisioned doing shortly after I got the bad news... but since that plan would've probably failed, I was forced to pay a slight change fee to get my flight to NZ changed for 2 days later. I booked a fully refundable return flight from NZ back to Melbourne, which I canceled shortly after arriving in NZ 2 days later, successfully. So yea, bit of a delay and $100 gone in fees but not a huge deal, all part of the experience...

When I finally got to Queenstown, I had some amazing contacts made through my great neighbors back home pick me up, and they let me make myself at home and use their place as a home base during my travels through New Zealand. The Bramwell family was my New Zealand family. They took great care of me and helped me with everything I needed, including figuring out where the heck I should go.

I had a rough idea of how I wanted to get around this country. I knew that hitchhiking was very common and very doable in New Zealand, but I wanted the ultimate flexibility of my own vehicle while I was there. When I heard about the options of pretty cheap camper vans to rent I had a good idea that that would be the way to go. So I did some research, booked a van, and after an EPIC powder day on my first day of snowboarding I hit the road.

Me and my good old Jucy van. We got close over the 2 weeks we had together..

I focused just on the south island for this trip since I was told that there was much more to see and do there. So, I hired the van for 2 weeks and tried to hit as many highlights as I could all around the south island. It's impossible to describe with words the things that I saw and the experiences I had on this road trip. My first recommendation would be to take a look at some of the photos I put up on Facebook, but some of the highlights include:

• Driving along the insanely stunning Milford Road all the way to Milford Sound.

• Seeing an avalanche on the other side of the majestically beautiful Lake Marian.

• Hiking up to the beyond scenic summit of Treble Cone ski field on a crystal clear day with 360 degree views of the southern alps and Lake Wanaka.

• Meeting and staying with the extremely nice and hospitable Harrington family outside Wanaka at their amazing property.

• Skydiving at Fox Glacier: Known as one of the best places to skydive in the world.

• Viewing the very bizarre and interesting pancake rocks of Punakaiki.

• Watching the sky light up a million different colors during sunset on the beach at Abel Tasman Nat'l Park.

• Getting partially attacked by an eel at a holiday park.

• Watching seal pups play in a swimming hole with the backdrop of snow covered mountains dropping down into the sea at Kaikoura.

• Meeting and staying with the amazingly kind and generous Thow family in Rangiora, just outside Christchurch.

• Seeing the brightest moon I've ever seen (and it was only a quarter moon) in the international dark sky reserve at Lake Tekapo.

An amazing shot of Lake Marian

It was great to actually have quite a bit of alone time on this road trip as well. I didn't meet many people during my trip and I was able to focus and reflect a lot on my own experiences and continue to get to know myself more. Also, I realized that I hadn't driven a car in about a year, and driving on the other side of the road was interesting, scary, and really fun at the same time.

New Zealand has been an incredible ride, and I was really surprised with how much I got through in just a couple weeks. Usually I prefer to travel at a much slower pace than how I did here, but I think it went extremely well for what it was, and New Zealand has proven to be a really magical and special place for me. 

In heaven at the top of Treble Cone Ski Field on a perfect day

There's so much more to do and see, and I'll be back here much sooner than later. New Zealand has been an overall highlight of the trip for me and I can't think of a better way to bring this trip to an end. Buuut I think one last stop to Asia is in order before I finally head home :)