It’s always nice to see family. But it’s even nicer to see family when they come and meet you in New Zealand. A couple weeks ago I met up with my sister Jamie and her friends Marta and Liz at my uncle’s house in Wanaka. It was so surreal to walk outside and greet their car as it pulled into the driveway, knowing that someone I’ve shared an address with for almost my whole life was now meeting me at another address on the other side of the world. I think we plugged the phrase “I can’t believe you’re here!” into just about every other sentence. It was Friday night (homemade pizza night) at Uncle Pete’s. To set the scene, this entails outrageously yummy pizzas that my aunt and uncle make with homemade dough and fresh, delicious toppings. There is often wine and lots of laughter. It’s basically the best way to end the week: in the presence of friends, family, and food.
We spent the weekend catching up and enjoying all the beauty Wanaka has to offer. Did some walking down by the lake, relaxed at the vineyard, and introduced the girls to meat pies, obviously. That Sunday we parted ways and I drove my new whip back to Dunedin while the girls continued on their tour of the South Island. The separation anxiety didn’t last too long though; they came to my flat in Dunedin on Tuesday and stayed until Friday. The days were filled with a mixture of activities including St. Clair beach for some sun between classes, a trip to Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the world), and a tour of the Speight’s Brewery, our ‘pride of the south’ beer. Overall, amazing time had by all. It was so great to see family (Marta and Liz included! xo). One of the reoccurring thoughts that I always have here is how much I wish that I could share everything I’m doing and seeing with all of the people I care about the most. Having the girls here helped make my wish come true. My mama has always taught me to share with my siblings, but this was sharing of a whole new kind- the most special kind.
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| Lake Wanaka |
The following weekend was pretty jam-packed with schoolwork but I managed to escape for the day on Saturday and road trip down to Slope Point in the Catlins region. Slope Point is the southernmost tip of the South Island, marking my official span from the tippy top of the North Island all the way down the country. From Slope Point you can look out across the vast ocean to Stewart Island (Rakiura- the more commonly used Maori name), where I ventured last weekend. It’s the third largest island of the country that lies about 30 kilometers off the coast of the South Island. Being there made me feel like I was about to fall off the edge of the earth, so far removed from civilization to my standards. Its permanent population is only about 400 people so the main town of Oban is just a wee little place. Although the town itself is small, the island is 85% national park. The island is home to Rakiura National Park, the country’s newest one, where you can find the Rakiura Track. I guess it wasn’t deemed one of the ‘Great Walks’ for nothing- the track is simply stunning. Even though the only place further south from there is Antarctica, the climate is surprisingly tropical. The walk leads you through lush, green rainforest and gorgeous uninhabited beaches. Another fond New Zealand memory gained.
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| Slope Point |
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| Rakiura Track |
This weekend I went to Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in the country, with the intention of hiking up to Mueller Hut. From the hut you’re supposed to be able to see amazing panoramic views of Mt. Cook and some of the other tall peaks, but the weather unfortunately had other plans so the hike is currently on hold. I did get to see the Tasman Glacier though (biggest glacier in the country) and that was a pretty fair consolation prize if you ask me. While driving out of town yesterday past Lake Tekapo, suddenly it was so clear to me how quickly the season has changed to fall here. All the colors of the leaves reflected so beautifully in the lake. My kind of April.
I thought six months in another country would help calm my urge to travel, at least for a little bit. However, the more I see, the more I want to see. Having a car here has helped me conquer this country bit by bit, which has been unreal, but I still can’t keep from scoping out which country I want to conquer next. And although I’m only at the halfway mark of my trip, it’s so sad to think I’m already at the halfway mark! It’s amazing how you can feel so content in one place but also be so eager to go places in the future at the same time. Either way, at the end of the day, it all just goes.
Just like the days and the wheels of my kiwi car, I just want to go and go.
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