NEW ZEALAND
- noelle-francois
- Mar 28
- 5 min read
Passengers, fasten your seatbelts! Today we will fly to a corner of the world where nature has decided to play designer. Our destination? Aotearoa! Or, as the Maori say: the Land of the Long White Cloud. Don't understand anything? Let's make it simple: welcome to New Zealand.
To get there, you have to face endless hours of flying. There's time to binge-watch every season of a series, take epic naps, question your own existence and even become an expert on the airplane's entertainment catalog. It seems like it'll never get there... but don't worry, the wait is worth every second!
When we disembarked, our tiredness evaporated. The fresh air filled our lungs and the landscapes looked like they had come out of a movie – literally.
The mission began with a challenge worthy of a hero: staying awake. The 16-hour time difference can mess with any brain. For the first few days, we wandered around Auckland looking like extras from The Walking Dead , but soon the charm awakened us, and we began our odyssey through this fascinating land.
Exploring New Zealand from north to south is like driving through an open-air art gallery. The road to Milford Sound, for example, takes us through monumental fjords and impressive waterfalls. Every turn reveals a new cinematic scene. Not an exaggeration, right? After all, that's where The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were filmed!
Cook Strait
For nature lovers like me, the country is a true haven. Majestic mountains, lush valleys and wild beaches coexist as if they had been positioned by a genius architect. And the lakes? Pukaki and Tasman shine in shades of turquoise blue, contrasting absurdly with the surrounding landscape. It looks like Photoshop, but it's real!
Just when I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, I came across the Franz Josef Glacier. They say it's one of the most spectacular in the world, and now I understand why. The ice and the forest form such an unusual contrast that it seems like something from another planet. Of course, I went exploring on foot, right?
If there’s one thing New Zealanders take seriously, it’s adrenaline. The country breathes adventure, and rugby is practically a religion. Bungee jumping and skydiving are also mandatory – and to answer the question you’re probably asking yourself: no, I didn’t have the courage – but the list of sports doesn’t stop there: there’s surfing, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding... a real playground for sports enthusiasts.
With so much natural beauty, I decided I needed to see it from a different perspective. I boarded a seaplane and flew over the region near Lake Taupo. If everything is stunning on dry land, it's no different from up there, it looks even better.
The days go by and we are always on the road. In addition to all the natural wonders I told you about, there is another detail: wherever we went, a huge number of cows and sheep watched us. I have never seen so many together! I discovered that the country has more sheep than humans. Believe me when I say: there are about 25 million sheep compared to just 5 million humans.
One thing intrigued me: this photo I took of a bunch of shoes hanging on this fence. What does it mean? Some mysterious ritual? A secret message for travelers? Unfortunately, I couldn't find a single living soul to solve this enigma for me. If anyone knows, let me know! In the meantime... let's continue our journey!
The craziness never stops. Imagine a city whose name has 85 letters, just thinking about pronouncing it takes your breath away: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
Named by the Maori people, it means: The top of the hill where Tamatea, the man with big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as the explorer of the earth, played his flute for his beloved.
Think about it: imagine a child who has just started learning to read and write and lives in this city. I doubt anyone would complain about our Anhangabaú, Pindamonhangaba or Caraguatatura.
I may be repeating my adjectives and it's no wonder that this trip is so beautiful that there are no words to describe it. Walking through the Waitomo Cave is a jaw-dropping experience: a dark, damp and silent place... until, suddenly, the ceiling and walls light up with thousands of tiny blue lights. It's out of this world! A unique atmosphere thanks to the rare phenomenon that happens there.
Well, it's time to go back to our biology lessons at school. Some insects are bioluminescent, that is, they glow like our fireflies, and this cave is home to GLOWWORMS, a species that only exists in New Zealand. They love damp, cold and dark places. Their tails emit a bright blue light, and the result is magical, they take over the huge walls and ceiling, illuminating them. I would say it's more fascinating than if we could see a constellation up close.
The adventures continue through the geological playground of active, dormant and even extinct (!) volcanoes, stretching out to where the earth literally breathes, Rotorua. Bubbling natural cauldrons with their steaming hot springs, explosive geysers and therapeutic mud. So much to see in one trip!
To end the stay on a high note, a tribute to the illustrious host and symbol of this land: the kiwi! A peculiar bird par excellence, extremely shy, with nocturnal habits and a look that looks more like an unsuspecting stuffed animal. During its evolution, it lost its wings and decided that flying was not for it. Today it is content to wander on the ground, hidden among the vegetation. Its feathers, very different from those of other birds, look more like fur. And the oddities don't stop there! Its long beak has nostrils at the tip – an extremely rare case in the world of birds – and an enviable sharp sense of smell, perfect for sniffing out insects and worms underground.
Unfortunately, the kiwi is threatened with extinction. With no great defenses against predators such as cats and dogs, it relies on human goodwill to survive. New Zealanders are sparing no effort to protect it, with sanctuary projects and conservation programs created.
And so it was that, on our last stop before heading home, we paid a visit to the OTOROHANGA KIWI HOUSE. At first, there was only silence and shadows. Hidden in their hiding places, a quick appearance to my delight.
We know that there are more mysteries between heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our vain philosophy. So the enigma remains: where did the photos I took of him go? I couldn't find any! I owe you that one.
The time has come! We leave the Land of the Long White Cloud . Amidst fjords, illuminated caves and furtive encounters with the enigmatic kiwi, we say goodbye. I am certain that some journeys never end, they just continue to shine in our memories. Some places never leave us, even after we have left.
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