Reunited with a friend, we traveled around the North Island of New Zealand, discovering the beauty of Aotearoa in the middle of winter. We had originally planned to visit the southern island, which is apparently beautiful, but the cold weather slowed us down and forced us to make some adjustments.
Starting from Wellington, we slowly made our way up North, on a 1 month road trip. Having a car is a must to see all these little treasures spread out!
I would describe New Zealand as a land of contrast and diversity. There are a lot of active volcanoes, geothermal activity, sandy beaches and vast green open spaces. It is pure, untouched, clean & peaceful.
Volcano Hike
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing was by far the highlight of this trip ! This 19 km volcano hike through various landscapes is mind blowing. You feel like stepping into a different enchanted world ; volcanic lunar landscape, turquoise lakes, native forest, gloomy pure streams and on going steaming geothermal activity. A must do !
PRO TIP : Avoid unnecessary back-and-forth and enjoy various sceneries without retracing your steps. Leave your car at the Mangatepopo Carpark, take a shuttle (see schedule) or hitchhike to the other end, Ketetahi Carpark.
Cultural Experience
I stayed with a Kiwi family for a few days. This 18 year old girl went to school all in Maori, the native language. She was the perfect person to learn about the culture. She taught me a bunch of Maori words and some poi, which is a traditional performance dance, where you use hand movements and twirling accessories. That first night, on the pitch black, the family asked me with the enthusiasm of having a guest, if I wanted to go and feed the eels. They mentioned it as if it was a common thing to do. It picked my brain ; I had to dig into it.
I learned that it used to be a common thing to do. Traditionally, Maori had sacred eel ponds, where the eels were fed daily. Eels became an important source of food for Maori, but it was a relationship that went beyond food to respect, and even reverence. Over time, they were even seen as protectors or guardians.
Hot Water Beach
Sun, surf, sand and spa. What could be better than surfing and finishing it off with a warm natural spa! After catching a few waves, we dug a few holes in the sand to find hot water springs heated by the volcanic rock beneath us. After a few attempts, we finally found a warm spring to enjoy!
There is of course so much more I could add to this trip, things to see or do in New Zealand. My goal in sharing this is to inspire you to travel and create your own magic ! Every trip is different and that is what makes it so unique and beautiful.
