When I left for New Zealand, I had no idea what to expect. I wanted to fly over from Australia because it was cheaper than flying home first and then coming back, and it was a new country to visit. I saw all the Lord of the Rings movies and heard stories about how they rarely used CGI and instead filmed in live locations around the country. I could not believe it and wanted to see for myself if the rumors were true. Because in all honesty, which country could be this stunning? Oh, little old me, if only you knew.
Like all my travels, this one was off to a chaotic start. I normally don't plan much when I travel, and this time had an extra challenge attached. I was pretty much broke. Not the first time, but I only had enough money left for a week at a hostel. When I checked in, the first order of business for me was printing out some resumes to hand out to local stores and shops. I did not have much success and started looking online for career possibilities. I applied to opportunities all around the south island when I finally heard back from the manager of the YHA in Franz Josef. After a successful online interview, I was able to book the bus up north in a week's time. Perfect timing as this job came with live in accommodation, meaning I not only work for pay but also to stay on site. Before heading out, I had a chance to explore the town of Queenstown and surroundings.
Franz Josef will forever hold a very special place in my heart. I lived and worked there for almost a year and the community was everything I had wished and hoped for, for such a small place. But not only the community was important to me. Being able to call this place home felt like I was living in my own Hobbit movie. The Franz Josef Glacier - Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, is a 12km long temperate maritime glacier in Westland Tai Poutini National park on the west coast of New Zealand. The area surrounding the glacier is part of Te Whāipounamu a World Heritage Site park. With the Waiho River being there to welcome us on our daily morning walk to the glacier and back, this was a backyard of my dreams.
I could write books about the people I met and the experiences I had in this town. From watching the sunrise overlooking the glacier, exploring beaches, skydiving,
bonfires on the river front, road closures, celebrations, deep friendships, laughter, love and excitement. But all good things must eventually come to an end, and so I embarked on a trip to
explore all the other wonders this country had to offer. I travelled and hiked a lot of the south island. Especially impressive was my trip to Mount Cook. Not only for the beautiful hike up to
Mueller hut and the magnificent views from up there but also because of its story. Mt Cook - Aoraki - is the highest mountain of the country and home to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center, a
memorial to a New Zealand mountaineer who, with Tenzing Norgay, was the first team to summit Mount Everest. After a few days exploring the area and Lake Tekapo, I took the next bus into town. By
the way, if you love star gazing, Lake Tekapo is the place to be. You can also take a look at New Zealand's only professional research
observatory. It is the southernmost facility of its kind on the planet
Exploring Christchurch was more emotional than I thought it was going to be. And the reason wasn't the fact that I shaved all my hair off. On the 22nd February 2011 a 6.3 earthquake shook the
town, causing the death of hundreds of people and destroying the city. Not only did I learn about the devastating impact such a natural disaster can have on s many lives and communities but also
was shocked to see that even years after the effects could still be seen, touched and felt. I walked by a store where the inside was exactly the day it happened. Newspapers and coffee cups still
on the floor and chairs tipped over. It was a weird feeling. I also admired the resilience of the people who used all their creativity and possibilities to rebuild this beautiful town, with still
remembering and paying tribute to what was lost.
After exploring Christchurch, I managed a quick side trip to Arthurs
Pass to hike a bit more and explore this incredible landscape that is New Zealand. Arthus Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alp and was historically known to the Maori, who used it
to bring pounamu (jade) across. It was definitely a bit of a climb, but the views are absolutely stunning and worth the effort. As always, do check the weather, as it can be quite unpredictable.
My last stop before taking the ferry over to the north island was Nelson. The gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Hiking the park is nothing short but a week-long beach vacation. Turtles, seals and dolphins,
you get it all. The only thing you have to be really careful off is the tide. There are a lot of areas you can only cross at low tide. Check out this tide calendar.
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