Postcard from the Future: Land of the Long White Cloud
It was like receiving a welcoming, warm hug.
That was the first thing that was a huge adjustment for me stepping off that plane in January 2020, was how warm it was here in Aotearoa, New Zealand!
Especially in comparison to having experienced the full winter season in Oregon. New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning the seasons are "opposite" of the seasons we experience in the Northern Hemisphere.
Aotearoa is New Zealand’s name in Maori, meaning the land of the long white cloud.
I came to New Zealand to do what we call a Discipleship Training, through a Christain organization called YWAM (Youth With a Mission). I went to New Zealand for about three months to do volunteer work, and listen to different speakers talk about the Bible, God, and faith.
During the fourth month I was in New Zealand, I stayed back with a few of my friends to travel around New Zealand on our own, after we had finished being with the YWAM program.
The Kiwi (what New Zealanders call themselves) accent floated around me effortlessly. Making me feel like my English was all big and bumbly.
Not to mention how not only was the weather and scenery welcoming but the people were oh-so-friendly, helpful, and always willing to just chat.
As Thalia Alves in a “Culture Trips” article said, “Hospitality is New Zealand’s middle name. In the smaller cities, it’s not uncommon for people to smile at passing strangers and say hello.”
My first view of New Zealand (aside from fawning over photos on the internet and magazines) was on a van ride to a tiny rural town called Paparoa, about two hours north of the city of Auckland.
Through the window, passing by were colors of stunning, bright green rolling hills, decorated with sheep and cows. The fern trees everywhere gave a luscious texture to the land.
In a GloboTreks article, Norbert Figueroa said, “There are nine sheep per each person in New Zealand, making it the highest ratio in the world...One of the most interesting facts about New Zealand is that of all the population in the country, only 5% is human. The rest are animals, making it the highest animal to humans ratio in the world.”
Oh! I cannot ever forget the turquoise shades of green to blue, the light, sandy beaches. Warm water! I'd never gone swimming in water where I didn’t have to take a few seconds to slow down my breathing because it was so cold, or get goosebumps all up my arms.
Encountering the wildlife in New Zealand ranged from snorkeling with the beautiful fish and corals, surfing the waves, to having the rare encounter of getting to swim amongst a pod of wild dolphins cruising up and down the coastline.
Not to mention the amazing little coffee shops, fish ’n’ chips, and classically well-known New Zealand meat pies!
The last month I was in New Zealand (now winter time), me and three other friends planned a van venture around the South Island -- purchasing the cheapest flights possible to go from Auckland to Christchurch and renting THE cheapest van possible.
We got on our flight saying goodbye to the other friends we had made, and off we went. Walking with all of our luggage to pick up this Toyota Sienna camper/rental van.
We didn’t really have a solid plan. We just wanted to see different parts of the Southland and go hiking.
In New Zealand they have huts that you can hike to, depending on what level of a hut they are, you can sometimes sleep in it for free, while other times it could range from $5-$25 NZD (New Zealand Dollars) per night.
In the four and a half weeks we were bumbling around, we managed to explore the entire bottom half of the Southland.
The one expensive bite of food we allowed ourselves to buy was at Fergburger in Queensland. I highly recommend it, especially if you had spent the last several days eating instant noodles and granola bars…
As the date of our round-trip flight back to the Northland approached, it was time to go our separate ways. Still feeling as if we were not even close to being finished here.
Like any adventure we go on or experience, these were merely a few of the places and things. There was still so much to explore and see.
Grudgingly, and while seriously considering canceling my flight, I got on my plane back to Oregon.
The land of the long white cloud awaits my return.
AT A GLANCE:
Where: Aotearoa, New Zealand
What: My experience traveling around New Zealand
Status: Closed for now due to COVID lockdown
Official website: www.newzealand.com/us
Best way to get there: Air New Zealand
Where to eat and stay:
Fergburger (a burger place) in Queensland
Try a meat pie! (or fish n’ chips)
The Cove (Waipu, Northland), a very cozy little cafe
Stay in a hut: Highly recommend for those who like hiking or want a bit more of a challenge to get to where you’re staying for the night, to sleep a night or two at a hut. There are a lot of them, you’ll find them in the Northland and Southland. For more information: www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/
Stay in hostels: A cheaper way to stay the night. As long as you don’t mind sharing the kitchen to cook in. But there’s showers, and a warm, dry place to sleep.