I have just recently returned from a trip to New Zealand and can say I was pretty blown away. New Zealand has been on my bucket list for years, and I finally decided to bite the bullet and see why everyone raves about it.
Luckily, I have family who live in Auckland, so that was my initial stop to catch up with them and experience Auckland the way the locals live. They live in a small town called Gulf Harbour, which is on the Whangaparaoa peninsula, about 40 minutes north of Auckland city centre.
The first thing that struck me on our drive to their house from the airport was how beautiful and clean everything was, plus the fantastic scenery, which was evident 10 minutes after leaving the airport.
Sheep Everywhere
I know many of you will be wanting to know if New Zealand really is full of sheep, and my answer to that is Yes! Everywhere I looked, there were sheep dotted around the landscape and in paddocks in the rural areas that we drove past.
Once we got onto the Whangaparaoa peninsula, the scenery was even more stunning as I could see the sea on either side of the main road, along with small beaches all over the place. If you are looking for a place to retire in a little sleepy hollow town, I would highly recommend Gulf Harbour.
Entertainment in Auckland
My family took me into Auckland City for a night of entertainment, and our first stop was the revolving restaurant on the top of the Sky Tower. The views were phenomenal, and I could have spent hours up there taking in the views.
The real excitement came at the SkyCity casino situated at the base of the tower which was our second stop. I thoroughly enjoyed playing the slots and roulette. On that note, if you ever go to New Zealand and are curious about how casinos operate locally, I came across casino.com in New Zealand. This is primarily a casino comparison site, but it also gives a lot of information about New Zealand casinos. It’s a very helpful site and well worth a read if you want to check out the New Zealand casino scene.
Getting Close to the Landscapes
After saying bye to the family, I continued the rest of my New Zealand trip on my own. I explored the North Island first and moved between coastal areas and forests. Rotorua was one of my favourite places as it was very grounding for me to watch the steam rising from the ground while learning about local Māori traditions and more local Kiwi culture.
The South Island was more mountainous and less populated than the North Island. Driving through mountainous regions and past lakes, I often found myself pulling over just to take it all in. The funny thing is that I had a list of things to do, but I found myself on short walking tracks I hadn’t planned in advance. Places like Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and the road to Milford Sound were very enjoyable experiences.
Different Cultures
I have always been interested in different cultures, and I learned a lot about Māori customs from some very friendly Māori who invited me into their home for a Hangi, which was a meal of lamb slow-cooked in a hole in the ground using heated rocks. It was probably one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The meat was very tender and succulent.
I was also taught a few Māori words, such as Kia Ora, which is a popular greeting, Haere mai, which means Welcome, and Haere ra, which means goodbye.
Why the Experience Stayed with Me
Looking back, what made New Zealand memorable wasn’t one single highlight. It was a mixture of everything. From the clean, soft beaches to the stunning scenery, forest walks and friendly people. Plus, the cultural experiences and the feeling of safety, no matter what part of New Zealand I was in.
To quote an old cliché, travelling to New Zealand made me take a step back to smell the roses and made me realise that there can be so much beauty in a country if you only take the time to really look at it and embrace all that it offers.
One thing is for sure, I will be back, and it will be for a much longer time, as I didn’t get the chance to see all the sights the locals told me about.
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