Ten Reasons (or there about) that I love New Zealand!

When we were in Australia, the locals confided, under their breath (due to the rivalry in the two Antipodean playgrounds), “You will love New Zealand, it’s gorgeous!”  When we got here, the North Islanders said, “You will love the South Island, it’s even more gorgeous!”  That seemed a tall order given that in the North Island, one is always surrounded by rolling hills, lakes and rivers.

Holy Cow, it’s true!  The South Island IS even more beautiful!  There are still rolling hills and pastures with sheep and dairy cows, but in the South Island, they have a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.  The lakes are glacier, so they are a bright, other-worldly-blue.  And let’s not forget the abundance of waterfalls, native forest, swinging bridges and glaciers.

Also, I have a soft-spot for the Kiwis, both North and South Islanders.  They are like laid-back British folks.  Before coming here, previous travelers told me NZ reminded them of the States 50 years ago.  I can see why they said that.

One reason is the music.  Most of the music on the radio, in the restaurants and bars is from the 60s and 70s.  (Yes, I know Lorde is from here and they are very proud of their Kiwi daughter.  She was on the front page, above the fold, for three days after winning the Grammy.  But she’s an export business, like their lambs.)  What you hear is John Denver, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen…  Everybody, everywhere listens to the Oldies, but without nostalgia.  Teens on the beach are bopping to Jump, like we did 30 years ago.  I like it.

Another reason, you might think of yesteryear is that on the edge of every town is at least one or two kids with back-packs on and thumbs-up, hitching to the next town.  We picked up two great German boys.  It was fun.  I wish I felt safe to do that in the US.

The timing of the day seems more like it did when I was growing up too.  Most people seem to leave work about 5:00.  They eat at 6:00 or 6:30.  Restaurants are closing by 8:30.  And you pay on the way out.

Don’t misunderstand.  I do not mean to imply they are naive or anachronistic.  They get it.  More than once, a Kiwi told me they had won the ‘zip-code lottery.’  One transplant said, “We know there are bad things that go on in the world out there.  We are so happy to be here.”

So, now in no particular order, the 10 reasons that I love New Zealand….

1.  The mailboxes!

2. The mountains!  The Milford Track was a dream come true.  I’ve wanted to walk those magical 33.5 miles for about 15 years!  It lived up to every imagined step.  Even the wet slog over the pass.*  (See below.)

The Milford Track

Lake Matheson

Kaikoura

3.  The Rivers!

The Milford Track

4. The lakes!

Nelson Lake Hike

5.  The Alpacas!  I fell in love with Alpacas while on the South Island and determined I wanted to be an Alpaca farmer.  Tony reminded me that when we were in the Barossa Valley, I wanted to be a lavender farmer.  These all sound good to me.

6.  The swinging bridges!

7.  The trees!  Giant Sequoias, Palm Trees, Fern Trees….

8.  The Waterfalls!

9.  The Glaciers!

Fox Glacier

10.  The Hay!  The Cows!  

Okay….11…The Adventure!

*Previously mentioned wet slog over MacKinnon Pass.  This may not be a favorite day, but one I’ll never forget.

Next Queensland….according to Bill Bryson (thanks Liz and Lynn), people there are as “crazy as a box of cut-snakes!”