Week 4: Saying Goodbye to New Zealand

I'm writing this post from the Auckland airport, and it's hard to believe that our time in New Zealand has come to an end! Our four weeks in New Zealand have been magical, and we definitely feel bittersweet to be leaving the land of waterfalls.

Reflecting on our time in New Zealand, we've traversed over 150 miles on hiking trails tallying over 32,000 feet of vertical elevation and we've driven 1,540 miles almost circumnavigating the South Island and driving a good distance across the North Island too.

But more importantly, we've seen nature at its most powerful and humbling, experienced the joy of making time and space to live our dreams, moved around a ton and learned the constants that still provide a sense of home, and pushed our bodies to their physical limits.

Through all of our hikes, nature has been a constant and gentle teacher, imparting so much valuable wisdom. As Jason recently shared, “The mountains have a way of putting things in perspective. Perseverance isn’t about speed—it’s about showing up and continuing to climb.” We had rainy days, wind gusts, steep ascents and slippery terrain that tested my endurance and will power. But in the end of all of it, the challenges we face on the mountain mirror those in life-- there's a commitment to keep moving forward, to find the joy, even when the path is steep.

Now to recap week 4!!

We started week 4 with our journey to the North Island. The Cook Straight is known to be one of the rougher ocean crossings with ferries sometimes taking up to 8-hours, but we were blessed with a sunny and calm day! Very grateful for our smooth and uneventful 4-hour trip.

Being on a boat of this size brought me right back to my Semester at Sea days. Crazy to think that I lived on a boat for 3.5 months that circumnavigated the globe as a 20 year old. Even after that experience, I am definitely still a land animal and was happy to feel solid ground beneath my feet when we docked in Wellington.

Exploring the waterfront on day 1 in Wellington

Wellington was our first proper city in a while, and it felt very good to have urban conveniences again. We stayed in a really cool loft inside a converted shoe factory. It was also the first place we stayed for more than two nights since the start of our trip—and after seven straight nights of changing locations, it felt so good to settle in a bit. Our Airbnb host welcomed us with fresh salted caramel cookies, flowers, and a handwritten note. It was a small gesture that made such a meaningful impact on our day. I’ve learned that on the road, it’s often the little things that make me feel most at home :)

While in Wellington, we were 1-15 minutes walk from what felt like everywhere: the waterfront, cafes, yoga studios, and grocery stores. Big change from the long drives we've been making! Besides catching up on rest, we walked the harbor, visited the botanic gardens, checked out some art galleries, and went to a yoga studio that blended Māori tradition with yoga. I truly love that yoga is a constant anywhere in the world-- it's like coming home again no matter where I practice.

We loved what a funky, artsy town Wellington was and thoroughly enjoyed our time here.

After three days of city life, we headed four hours north and back into the mountains for our final hike in New Zealand! We stayed at the coziest little mountain cabin-- all wood inside, heated by a stove, with views of Mt. Tongariro right out the window. It reminded me of summers in Michigan growing up, although the sheep and cows in the neighboring paddocks were definitely different.

Our shepard's cabin at Mount Tongariro - if you listen closely you'll hear the cows mooing

We chose this location so we could do one of New Zealand's most beloved day hikes, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The crossing is a 12-mile alpine hike through really gorgeous and dramatic volcanic terrain. I'd seen photos but what I didn't expect was the steaming craters and smell of sulphur throughout-- we were definitely on a volcano!

We got super lucky with a blue sky and no precipitation day. The Tongariro Crossing is notorious for being highly weather dependent and the trail can be closed due to fast-changing weather conditions.

Overlooking Blue Lake, also known as Te Wai-whakaata-o-te-Rangihiroa which translates to "Rangihiroa's mirror."

Mount Tongariro is sacred to Māori culture and their connection to the land. The mountain is held as a living ancestor and spiritual guardian.

Overlooking the Red Crater, the highest point on the Crossing. This deep rust-colored volcanic vent was formed by past eruptions, the color coming from oxidized iron. It's still an active volcanic zone today.

This was definitely one of our favorite ascents. After a grueling uphill with some aggressive winds, we were rewarded with this truly other-worldly volcanic landscape. A bit further along were the most beautiful turquoise alpine lakes we've seen. Words and photos really cannot do justice.

We were definitely grateful for our poles on the descent and saw many tumbles from other hikers (thankfully no injuries) who chose to go without.

Nothing quite as sweet as that post-hike feeling, especially when the "appy hour" overlooks the mountain you just crossed!

We wrapped up our 4 weeks in New Zealand with a day in Auckland, exploring the city by foot, visiting the art museum, and soaking in the last few days of late summer / early fall here. We had a celebratory final night dinner recapping our time here and going over what went well, what we can work on for next time, and learnings from this chapter-- a little ritual Jason and I decided to include after each stop on our sabbatical itinerary. We also enjoyed what we expect will be our last "western meal" for ~ 6 weeks as we head to Asia!

We're leaving New Zealand feeling energized, accomplished, and deeply grateful.

Next stop: Asia with a focus on all things Eastern philosophy, yoga, and meditation... More to come!