round TRIP

new Zealand

North Island

"Kia ora!"

That's how they greet you in New Zealand. It is used both for greetings and goodbyes. Literally, Kia ora means something like "May you be healthy" or "May you be well". And in New Zealand, you can only be happy. This is because of the breathtaking nature and its inhabitants. From the honey seller to the lifeguards to the Airbnb host, who of course leaves his house to you – if there's one thing you can always rely on in New Zealand, it's how nice and friendly everyone is. And maybe the weather change.

You are often asked "Did you like the North Island or the South Island better? To find an answer to that is really hard and everybody has to answer for himself in the end. Let's see what highlights we have discovered for ourselves.

Let's start on the North Island. In Auckland. After a 24-hour flight, a 3-hour stay in Singapore and a warm but determined welcome by the New Zealand customs officers and corresponding warning signs telling us what we are allowed to import and what not, we went directly to the biggest city on the North Island. Auckland's pulsating, urban centre is located between two coasts full of contrasts. 

In less than an hour, you can reach the wild beaches of the west coast from Auckland's city centre. Here, the Tasman Sea meets stretches of black sand beaches that merge into dense rainforests nearby. Piha, Karekare and Muriwai Beach, with its impressive cliffs and gannet colonies, are definitely worth a visit. Let your soul dangle and recharge your batteries before we spend the next few weeks discovering a beautiful and unique country on the other side of the world.

Via Coromandel, Hotwaterbeach and Cathedral Cove we land in Rotorua. Due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland where mud pools bubble, steam clouds are in the air and countless natural hot springs invite you to bathe and relax. 

We leave the home of fascinating Maori culture behind us and make our way to Tongariro National Park, one of the highlights on the North Island. The weather plays along and we experience one of the most beautiful sunsets before we set off the next morning on the "Tongariro Alpine Crossing". "Tongariro Alpine Crossing is often described as New Zealand's best day hike and is a challenging tour through a fascinating volcanic landscape.

After a short stop in Wanganui we reach Wellington, our last stop on the North Island. We would like to have more time in the "coolest little capital of the world". but the ferry to the South Island is booked and more exciting places and experiences lie ahead.

New Zealand, January 2016. | All words and photos by The Sturgheons.