New Zealand: Southern Island (Part 1)

February 21, 2025 

Greetings Friends, Family, and Fellow Travelers,

 We are in New Zealand!! Before we get started, it is imperative that I tell you that my sister, Amy, and I jumped out of a plane over Abel Tasman National Park at 16,500ft! This is so high up that it required we have supplemental oxygen on the plane ride. We like to work this piece of information into conversation with our family at least twice a day (more, if you count telling random strangers we meet) and at least twice a day, our family members tell us to be quiet. But they use much different words. More on our skydiving experience further down…

REWIND (rewind, rewind) 

Given the amount of time we are spending in New Zealand (38 nights) we will be breaking down our newsletters into three parts: South Island Part 1, South Island Part 2, and North Island. For those who are curious, here is our full itinerary here:

 South Island Itinerary:

Christchurch [1 night] —> Blenheim [2 nights] —> Abel Tasman/Kaiteritiri [2 nights] —> Hokitika [2 nights] —> Franz Josef [2 nights] —> Wanaka [3 nights] —> Queenstown [6 nights] —> Lake Tekapo [3 nights] —> Christchurch [3 nights]

North Island Itinerary:

Rotarua [5 nights] —> Tongariro [3 nights] —> Auckland [6 nights]

While we are in New Zealand, we are 21 hours ahead of Washington State. This is very strange to us, like we can see the future or something.

February 6^th: Christchurch

We started our epic 39-day New Zealand road trip in Christchurch, where we arrived at 1:30pm after taking a redeye from Hong Kong. After making our way through baggage claim and customs and then baggage claim again because we forgot a bag, we met my Mom and Amy at the car rental. It was so incredible and surreal to see them in New Zealand, particularly as my mother is not a huge fan of traveling; it took many months of hard campaigning to convince her to come meet us, and we are so glad they did! This newsletter will also feature our very first guest blog by Aunt Amy below.

We drove about 20 minutes to Silverstream Alpaca Farm, where we stayed for a night. We settled in and took a brief tour of the farm. The kids and Amy fed the alpacas, and we were even able to see a newborn alpaca the next morning before driving to our next destination.

 February 7^th: Christchurch —> Blenheim

At some point very early in our NZ planning process, we considered renting a campervan. This is apparently how all the cool kids do it here, but when we started really diving into the logistics (minimal space for luggage; minimal space, period; one, very tiny bathroom with a door that does not always close) we realized that we are not the cool kids and that it’s okay to make practical decisions. Instead, we have rented a minivan like the real suburban parents do and planned an epic road trip with stops at local motels and holiday houses. Other than for Instagram cred, one of the reasons people frequently rent campervans here is there is just so much to see, and the driving distances are quite long. With that in mind, we planned for several stops on our driving days in order to break up the long drives and see more of this beautiful country.

After leaving Christchurch, we stopped in Kaikoura to see the fur seals. This involved a short walk, followed by stepping out onto a huge rocky area by the water. Justin got a close up of the seals, and he promises a video for the next blog. Simon and I stayed further back, and while we were waiting, I recognized a family that I’d previously met while scuba diving in Koh Lanta! This made me think about how many other people I may have unknowingly encountered across time, across countries, across continents. We kept driving, stopping for ice cream, and arriving in Blenheim in the late afternoon. I had planned our entire route through New Zealand around being able to attend the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival, just outside of Blenheim. The Sauvignon Blanc out of the Marlborough region has been my favorite wine variety for years, and the prospect of attending a festival dedicated to just the wines of NZ felt like a dream. Just as exciting was that when I mentioned it to my DBT colleague friend, Shelly, who lives in Auckland, she quickly agreed to fly down to meet me, roping in another colleague friend, Tessa, in the process. The night before the festival, I headed over to their motel to hang out, where I promise we talked about things other than DBT and wine.

February 8^th: Blenheim

The next morning, Justin, Amy, and I headed out to arrive at the festival right when the doors opened. We splurged on VIP tickets, which was 100% the right call since it gave us access to covered seating, delicious food and wine throughout the day, and – most worthy of the higher ticket price – nicer porta-loos. Shelly and Tessa met us, and the whole event was so lovely and low key. The weather was gorgeous, and while I’d thrown together a pretty “world’s colliding” group of people, everyone had a great time. We sampled so many amazing wines, both in the VIP tent and from the individual vineyards’ booths. We left around 5:30pm and were joined on the shuttle bus by a bunch of New Zealanders singing at the top of their lungs. It was delightful, and we were so grateful to my mother for agreeing to watch our children for the entire day. Later that evening, we stopped by the supermarket across the street where I discovered not four shelves of NZ Sauvignon Blanc like back at home but four entire shelving units. I happily bought several bottles to have on hand for the duration of our South Island adventures. All in all, the entire experience was well worth structuring my trip around.  

February 9^th: Blenheim —> Abel Tasman

We hadn’t quite sorted out what to do on our drive to Abel Tasman, though had briefly talked about stopping in Nelson. However, we realized we needed to pivot when – after following the weather for a few days – it became pretty clear that our scheduled skydiving trip on the 11^th was likely going to be rained out. Thus, I called the skydive center, and rescheduled our reservation for the very same day, approximately five hours from the time of the phone call. It was a beautiful, sunny day, about 80 degrees; perfect skydiving weather. While I’d hoped for a bit more time to mentally prepare for the whole jumping out of a plane thing – not something I’d planned to do the day after attending a wine festival for 8 hours! – it seemed prudent to practice a random act of exposure. That is, to take advantage of a naturally occurring opportunity to approach a feared situation.

Thus, we scrapped plans to stop in Nelson, instead stopping briefly at the local farmer’s market for pastries, and then heading straight to Kaiteriteri. We checked into our hotel, dropped our stuff, got changed, and immediately drove 20 minutes back in the direction we came to Skydive Abel Tasman. Skydiving has never been on my bucket list, but Amy expressed interest in doing it, and since she was flying allllll the way to NZ to see us, I figured I could go for it. (Note: She will tell you it was my idea. It was not.)

After doing some research (of course), I booked us for the 16,500ft drop because I read that when you skydive, you want to jump from as high as possible so that you can enjoy a longer freefall. While Skydive Abel Tasman offers an 18,000ft jump, it was much costlier, and – for comparison – the other 4 people jumping at the same time were all jumping from 10,000ft. When it was our turn, we were each paired up with a tandem guide, who helped us put on our gear while our nervous family members sat outside in the viewing area playing a giant game of Jenga. I’d sprung for a full media package, which included a second jumper to film, as well as our tandem guide filming us from their wrists. We wrote on our hands so we could show them to the videographer. I wrote, “EXPOSURE LIFESTYLE, <3 J, S, C.” “Adopting an exposure lifestyle” is part of one of my favorite DBT skills called the “FREE skill.” Essentially, adopting an exposure lifestyle includes being willing to do things that make you uncomfortable, saying yes to things that are likely to increase joy and create new possibilities in life. While this entire trip has been an exercise in living an exposure lifestyle, I have tried to mindfully throw myself into new activities, particularly ones that aren’t objectively dangerous, just perhaps a little scary. It’s how I want to live my life, and it’s how I want my children to live theirs.

So…. after hugging our family farewell, we were interviewed by our respective videographers, boarded our plane, and went up, up, up into the sky. My guide, Robert, was very strict, ensuring that he explained all the rules multiple times before allowing me to ask any questions, but this made me feel reassured. Once we hit 10,000ft, the other young woman on our plane jumped, and Amy and I were given our supplemental oxygen. To help keep my breathing regulated, I sung, and shortly thereafter, it was time for my jump. I felt shockingly calm. I thought I’d feel much more nervous, but I just…didn’t. As I’ve written about in a prior entry, I freeze up when I try to jump from high altitudes, but the beauty of skydiving is that you are attached to another human who pushes you. No jumping required! At 16,500ft, the door of the plane was open, and Robert and I sat on the ledge while I dangled by legs down. He counted down, and suddenly I was soaring through the air. My videographer, Ryan, circled around me, and I tried to wave my hands.

The freefall was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I felt the cold air on my face, and my head cap threatened to fly away. My mouth was frozen open even though I wasn’t screaming; it felt like one of those anti-gravity spinners at amusement parks. After what felt like ages, but was probably just about 90 seconds (and at around 5,000ft), Robert deployed the parachute and I felt myself floating. Robert told me about the scenery, which was stunning. We could see the entire national park as well as the water that divides the North and South Islands. I also hadn’t realized how much “driving” of the parachute Robert would do. He had to really maneuver it to ensure we were landing in the right spot. Unfortunately, after he spun the parachute around briefly, I became overcome with nausea, which I fought the entire way down, though it made it harder to enjoy the views. One of my favorite parts, however, was that as we descended towards the field, I could see our family waving up at us. I have a very clear memory of tiny Simon, dressed in blue, standing in the corner and waving right at my parachute. The other thing that was really neat was that I could see Amy’s parachute. I waved at her several times, though she claims she didn’t see me. Once back on the ground – a bit dizzy and disoriented – Amy and I walked back and hugged our relieved family members.

All in all, I am so glad I took the change to try skydiving, though admittedly I had to lie down for a little while afterwords so that my stomach recovered. My family was quite nervous, especially Jonah, though I felt incredibly safe the whole time. New Zealand’s safety standards for adventure sports are among the highest in the world, which may be why I’m more willing to try activities here that I may have been more hesitant about elsewhere. The whole thing felt like a dream, like no proprioceptive experience I’ve ever had. I’m not sure I’d do it again, though. Once my stomach was recovered, we went out to a BBQ restaurant and marveled at our accomplishment. We are still marveling.

February 10^th: Abel Tasman

I’d booked us a family kayak trip through Tasman Bay. Amy wasn’t up for it, so the six of us paired up. As the person most able to steer a kayak solo, Justin paired up with Calla, I paired up with Simon, and Jonah paired up with Mema. This went about as well as it could have, which means it was borderline disastrous. As my mother had never gone kayaking before, Jonah sat in the back and steered. This was our first time using a kayak with a rudder, which took some time to get used to. So, any time Jonah got stressed out, he was very vocal about it. I honestly can’t believe we made it to our intended destination (beach by Split Apple Rock). We hung out, drank some hot chocolate, and paddled back. This went marginally better than the trip out to the rock until it didn’t.

Moving on, we grabbed lunch and then decided to go for a short hike on the Abel Tasman Trail. Exhausted post-kayaking, Mema stayed behind at the café drinking what she will describe as the best coffee of the trip, and set out along the trail. After about an hour, we decided that the kids and I would hang out on the beach while Justin went back to get my mother and the car. Forty-five minutes later, he called us with the information that the car park we could have sworn existed nearby was a figment of our imaginations, and that the kids and I would have to hike back. So…. our quick little jaunt turned into a 2.5-hour sojourn, but no matter. The beaches were beautiful, and the boys spent the entire time talking with each other about Minecraft. They climbed on the rocks, which were dotted with tiny mussel shells, and Calla drew in the sand.

We also saw a giant rock and debated which president it looked like: Washington, Jefferson, or Trump. We are curious to hear your thoughts.

After trekking back to the café, we headed home for a low-key night. The kids swam while I packed and chatted with a good friend from back home.  

February 11^th: Kaiteritiri —> Hokitika

We checked out of our resort and drove south for about three hours until we came to the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowhole Walk. The Pancake Rocks are a group of large rock formations made of limestone that have been eroded over time. They also look like giant stacks of pancakes, hence the name. (When we were planning our route, we shared this with our kids. Hours later, Calla asked when we were going to see the “waffle rocks.”) The walk allowed us to stretch our legs after a very long drive, and was our first close up look at the stunning West Coast scenery.

We arrived at our next accommodation, and Amy and I decided to go for a sisters’ dinner out while the others ordered take out. It was nice to have the opportunity to connect with her 1:1, outside of the larger family dynamics, which can definitely becoming draining day in and day out.  

February 12^th: Hokitika

For our full day in Hokitika, we first explored the Hokitika Gorge, which was a beautiful, scenic walk. Then we headed into the small town of Hokitika for sandwiches. The boys went back to the hotel to rest, while the female contingent wandered around, looking at crafts stores and glass studios. (The area is famous for its jade products.) We met up with the rest of the family at the National Kiwi Center just in time to help feed the 100-year-old eels bits of ox hearts. We also got to see the kiwi feeding, though it was dark and somewhat hard to see them. Still, I was surprised by the size of the birds, which I’d imagined to be much smaller than they were in actuality, probably because of the myriad tiny kiwi plush toys that you can find everywhere around here. The boys enjoyed fishing for catch and release crayfish, while the rest of us explored the museum and then walked down to the beach to see the large “Hokitika” sign. Back at our motel, the boys and I went for another walk on the beach while they skipped rocks. We ordered take out, and enjoyed another quiet evening.

February 13^th: Hokitika —> Franz Josef

We left Hokitika and drove 20 minutes south to the West Coast Tree Tops, where we did a tree top walk and then went on the lone zipline. Amy had never been ziplining before, and since Calla and Simon were too small, my Mom stayed behind since you couldn’t pay her to put on a harness and fly through the air. Again, I’m impressed with the safety standards here. There were gates up by the tandem zipline, both of which needed to be let down by the assistant, and multiple checks for understanding even though we didn’t even need to manually brake.

After lunch at the café, we continued our drive to Franz Josef, checked into our holiday house, and then walked to Franz Josef Wilderness Tours, where we were scheduled for a buggy tour. We booked two vehicles: one for 5 people and one for 2 people, plus the drivers, who were excellent and very enthusiastic. We suited up in rain jackets, pants, boots, sunglasses, and helmets. The drivers took us out over rocks and water, and through the Jurassic rainforest, with incredible views of the Franz Josef Glacier. The tour also produced some of my favorite photos of the trip to date. After the buggy tour, we freshened up and had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. 

February 14^th: Franz Josef

This morning, we were picked up by our guide, Tyler, with Franz Josef Eco Tours. While the only way to really hike on the glacier is to do a heli-hike (i.e., you take a helicopter and are deposited on the top of the mountain) our eco walk allowed us to explore the surrounding landscape while providing us with breathtaking glacier views. Tyler indulged Simon’s innate “Simonness,” picking fuchsia berries for him to eat and playing Skibbidy Toilet in the car. Early in our tour, Simon was insistent that his friends, Bob and Fred, come along with us, but quickly decided to boot Fred off and just take Bob. Please note neither of these people are real, but Fred is 12 and Bob is 7 (in case you were wondering). Also, Simon wanted to make sure that I wrote about them. Moving on…. We explored the Franz Josef Glacier Valley and the Waiau river. Across rocky terrain, and the boys collected rocks while Calla covered herself in dust. Jonah pilfered so many “gold” rocks that his shorts started to sag, threatening to fall down.

We picked up lunch on our way home and then headed to our scheduled hot tub soak. Honestly, I have no idea why I booked this. Franz Josef Eco Tours offers them as park of their package, but only Simon and Calla (and sometimes Justin) actually enjoy them. Some people made it 15 minutes. Some made it 30. One person knocked over my glass of wine. Alas, not everything can be a raging success here on our year-long travel adventure, but at least we can say we tried.

During our buggy tour, one of the guides told Amy and me about a place we could see glow worms. I thought we could squeeze this in today since she described a pretty low-key activity. While I was originally going to do the Tatare Tunnels Walk with Amy, Simon, and Calla, after a long day, no one else either wanted to go or appeared to have the stamina to go. I ended up venturing out on my own and thank goodness I did. I clearly didn’t do my research, because I was under the impression that this was just a little cave in which to see glow worms. Instead, it was a 30-minute steep hike, after which I took off my sneakers and got out a flashlight while I walked in a cold, dark tunnel with puddles of freezing cold water over small rocks for 15 minutes – wishing the entire time I’d worn my Keen’s - until we got to the area where we could see glow worms. After standing for several minutes watching the small handful of glow worms that appeared on the ceiling, I reversed course, getting back to the holiday house in time for dinner and a showing of the latest Mario Brothers movie.

February 15^th: Franz Josef —> Wanaka

After checking out, we drove 30 minutes south to Lake Mathieson, where we hiked for about 90 minutes. One thing I’m loving about New Zealand is that so many of these beautiful nature activities are attached to a café. (And a gift shop, in this case.) While it may seem like a minor thing, as many of these long drives are through non-commercially developed areas, it makes our travels so much easier when we can combine lunch with our mid-drive stops.

We then continued the 4+ hour drive to Wanaka. Our motel here has a cute little playground with a trampoline, resulting in endless fun for the kids during downtime. It can be hard to keep them occupied when we’re staying in locations without a ton of outdoor space, so this was a welcome treat both here and at our motel in Hokitika, where Simon and Calla spent an entire evening playing with other kids. After we settled in, we walked into town for dinner, and then explored the town, where we found a playground with a big dinosaur slide. Our night ended with ice cream as most good nights do, though now that I have several discerning ice cream connoisseurs on my hands, most of us found the quality disappointing.

February 16^th & 17^th: Wanaka

The 16^th was my mother and sister’s last full day with us in Wanaka. After several days of active adventures, we decided to explore a couple of indoor activities. We started with Puzzling World, which included a giant maze and several illusion rooms. To complete the maze, you had to find four different towers (yellow, red, blue, green) and then exit through the center. We quickly realized we needed to abandon the order in which we were supposed to find the towers or we’d be stuck at Puzzling World all day! Eventually, one of us made it out by adhering to the rules, some of us made it out by taking secret exit doors, and some of us quit. The person who followed the rules said [paraphrased], “I feel proud of myself knowing that I accomplished something hard.” The people who did not follow the rules rolled their eyes from the comfort of their little tables, where they’d been working on puzzles for quite some time. After a quick lunch in town, we visited the National Transport & Toy Museum, which contains a large private collection of vehicles, airplanes, toys, and miscellany (e.g., figurines, erasers). This place was unreal. The boys enjoyed the endless displays of Star Wars memorabilia and LEGO creations, and Calla loved the dizzying array of Barbie dolls. I tried to engage everyone in a “creepy doll” contest, whereby we all selected our choice for the creepiest looking baby or little girl from the rows and rows of dolls behind glass windows. Honestly, the whole thing was a bit creepy. If you told me that the whole display comes to life at night, I’d 100% believe you. This may also be part of the plot of Toy Story 4.

 In the late afternoon, Justin took Jonah to a restaurant called Hook, which is a really cool concept whereby you can rent fishing poles to catch salmon and then have the chef cook it for you. I took the younger kids to meet them while I went out to dinner with Mom and Amy, and Jonah finally wrangled a fish, which the chef at the restaurant promptly turned into sashimi, which was then devoured by the children. Concurrently, Mom, Amy, and I had a lovely dinner at Kika, where we talked my mother into eating raw oysters but failed, yet again, at our quest to have her try even one small sip of alcohol.

The next morning, we said our goodbyes, and Mom and Amy headed for the Queenstown airport. The rest of us ventured to Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountains for a hike. Wanaka has so many stunning hikes, and while I’d really wanted to try the most famous one – Roy’s Peak – the entire 10-mile trail is exposed, and thus it’s really too hot to hike it unless you can start early in the morning (i.e., before sunrise). Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain was an excellent alternative. The hike was still challenging, but at about half the length and with more tree coverage, we were able to start closer to mid-morning and still get back to the trailhead before it really began to heat up. The views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding area were exceptional, and as always, we were proud of the kids for completing a hike with such a steep incline. Famished, we drove to lunch, and then headed back to our motel to rest, do some school, and start packing. We’d promised the kids ice cream, so went back into town before coming back for more trampoline time. Tomorrow, we’ll check out and continue onwards towards Queenstown….

Final Thoughts

One thing that surprised me upon arriving in New Zealand is how hard it was to adjust to the fact that everyone speaks English. We became so used to walking into coffee shops or ordering at restaurants and saying, “Hello, do you speak English?” that I had to actively stop myself from doing this on several occasions during our first few days here. I’ve also noticed that when in the grocery store, it took me several minutes to remember that I could actually read the ingredient lists on products. I suppose after 7+ months of traveling in non-English speaking countries, this was understandable; just unexpected. I think this may also be due to the fact that New Zealanders have such fantastic accents. An accent immediately sends the message to my brains that “you are not in the United States,” which may be why I am continuously surprised that people can understand us.

And speaking of the Kiwis, everyone has been so warm and friendly. Our guides have delivered high energy and high fun. Additionally, Māori influence is everywhere; this is particularly evident in the names of the various lakes, rivers, and geological formations. We are looking forward to learning more about Māori history and culture when we travel north in a couple of weeks.

Finally, I am so incredibly amazed that my family came out here to meet us. For a while, I didn’t think we’d see my mother for an entire year, because this trip was so out of her comfort zone. Not only did she travel 18+ hours to reach us, she tried so many new activities. I’m proud of her for embracing her version of an exposure lifestyle.

 Next up, we head to Queenstown. Stay tuned for Part II of our South Island newsletter!

Jonah’s Musings

We are currently in the South Island of New Zealand! One of the first things we did here was go to an alpaca farm. Alpacas are related to llamas and camels and are native to South America. But we stayed in an alpaca farm here in New Zealand. We got to feed the alpacas. Aunt Amy tried to pet one of them and it startled the rest, so I told her she couldn’t do that, and she was disappointed. Mema, my Mom, and Calla did not want to go into the alpaca pen, so they fed them from outside the pen.

I’ve loved the scenery all across NZ. It’s lots of large hills and mountains, and it makes me feel really relaxed, and I just love the views! I think that NZ has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and I’ve loved everything from the food to the scenery to the animals, such as the kiwi. The kiwi is a flightless bird with a large beak that it uses to eat insects and types of plants. It’s the national bird here. But, my favorite animal here has been the tuatara. Although it looks like a lizard, it’s from an extinct sub-species of reptiles and is only survivor. It also has a third eye in its forehead, which is only visible when it is young. If the moa was still alive on the island of NZ, it would have been my favorite animal here. When ostriches, moa birds, and another sub-species of flightless bird called the “elephant bird” were around, the moa bird was the second biggest of all of them, with the elephant bird being the biggest. But now with both the elephant bird and the moa bird being extinct, the ostrich is now the biggest.  

While we’ve been traveling, my Aunt Amy and my mother went skydiving, and I was absolutely terrified for them! They went 16,500ft in the air. I was so happy when they finally landed. On this island, we’ve also gone hiking and I went ziplining. It was really nice for Mema and Aunt Amy to come, and I really enjoyed their company. I’m excited for more adventures on the South Island!

Simon’s Reflection 

 We left Asia and now we are in New Zealand. What is really interesting is that they say there are seven continents, but it feels like there are eight – this one is called Oceania. 

When Mema and Amy came to New Zealand to meet us, I loved going in their car all the time. Aunt Amy let me listen to music. The drives were usually long, but I was okay with it. Being with Mema and Amy was very nice because it was nice they came all this way out just to be with us. And guess what?! MY MOM AND AUNT WENT SKYDIVING!! I thought they were going to die! When I saw them land, I was like, “Mom, Mom, are you okay?” My favorite activity I’ve done here so far was the buggy tour. We went off with some people and they drove us on a buggy. They splash everywhere and they were going at like 100 miles! [Ed note: This was in kilometers, not miles] I got very wet because there was no front windshield! We got to pick up rocks and throw them in the water. The water was freezing cold so I was freezing. I was in warm gear, but it wasn’t enough. I liked it being crazy!

Saying goodbye to Mema and Amy was really hard since we haven’t seen them in a long time. But I’ve had a very good time in New Zealand so far and I hope tomorrow I do, too!

And now…. a guest blog from Aunt Amy!

My mother and I went to New Zealand. I still can't believe it but we did. We arrived via Business Class to Auckland on the 3rd. Business class is amazing and I am forever spoiled by being able to lie down on planes. I will only travel horizontally from now on. Auckland was great and it reminded me of Vancouver a little bit. I rarely travel out of the country and Vancouver is one of the three places I've been so that might be my only reference. Our first stop in Auckland, besides our hotel was a clothing store called Trelise Cooper in Posonby. Thanks to a helpful Facebook group called New Zealand Travel Tips, I was able to get the name of some exclusive New Zealand designers. I found lots of cute things and passed out at the hotel around 7PM New Zealand time. The next day, I had a tattoo appointment at Otautahi tattoo on Karangahape Road. One of the things on my bucket list for New Zealand was to get a traditional Māori tattoo by a Māori artist. Ta Moko is the traditional Māori tattooing practice that involves permanent markings on the body and face. It's considered a sacred art form and an expression of identity. Kirituhi is a contemporary tattoo style that is based on the traditional Māori art form of Tā Moko. The word "kirituhi" translates to "marking the skin" in Māori. This is the term used for tattooing non-Māori people. The Māori people are the indigenous people of New Zealand and while they only make up around 18% percent of the population, their influence is everywhere. From the names of the towns, to translations of every day signs, the Māori people really make up the heart of New Zealand. My tattoo symbolizes the different generations of the trip, strength and womanhood, with the spirit of my father looking over us.

Also, for all of you concerned, my precious pup, JoJo Bear is currently at Eva's Dog Camp in the Poconos where he is playing with all his little friends. 

After the tattoo, Mom and I went to a wonderful restaurant called Ahi near Queens Road. Recommended by Sara, we had duck and a Banoffee tart. Unlike my sister, I'm not as enamored with food so she can cover the rest of what we ate for the trip. On our last day in Auckland, mom and I went to the Auckland Museum. We learned all about Māori people and the original Islands they came from and the different cultures. It was interesting to read about the differences in places as Samoa, Cook Islands and such. We then went to the Westfield Mall, found a cute store named Gorman where I bought two dresses and headed back to our hotel. The next day, we flew from Auckland to Christchurch and met up with the Schmidt family. Being with a family of 5 is very different from being with a mom and dog so adjustment took time. In Christchurch, we rented a car and mom's fear of driving on the left side of the road seemed less necessary in reality. Things to mention about driving on the left side of the road: 1. The turn signals are on the right. Mom turned on the windshield wipers far more times than I can count. 2. The perception of space is off. Veering off to the left was a common occurrence. However, by the end of the trip, she was a pro and successfully got us around the South Island. Despite having an international license, I did not attempt to drive nor was I allowed to by my mother. We arrived at our first stop, Silverstream Alpaca Farm with a little bit of car sickness and a lot of excitement. At the Alpaca Farm, we got a tour and learned how they made a living sheering and showing their Alpacas. I fed the Alpacas and met a day-old baby Alpaca. It was all very cute. 

The next day, we headed to Blenheim and went to the Marlborough Wine Festival on the 8th. I'll leave that for Sara to cover. On the 9th, we headed to Kimi Ora Eco Resort, a beautiful hotel with my bed overlooking a stream. The 9th was notable because that was the day my sister and I jumped out of plane. The other thing on my bucket list for New Zealand was skydiving. Sara will say this was my idea but that's not how I remember it. Has she mentioned it? It's not something we make known daily. We decided to skydive in Abel Tasman a few days earlier than expected. Sara, judging the weather to be more ideal, switched our skydiving day from the 11th to the 9th which allowed us to not be nervous for 2 more days. We jumped from 16,500 feet, a much higher jump than the usual 10,000 feet. It was incredible, and jumping with my sister was an added bonus. I am glad I did it and have no desire to do it again. 

Here is a picture of JoJo Bear being shown a photo of me skydiving.

Exploring New Zealand was really wonderful but the real treat was being with my family. I  have never spent 10 days with my sister and niblings and it was an experience I'll never forget. Bittersweetly, my father's death brought my sister and me closer together and we were able to enjoy each other as adults and sisters. For the whole trip, Mom and I drove with Simon who insisted on listening to the same song on my Spotify for 2 hours. He was a delight. It was really lovely to see my nephews and niece as full-fledged human beings, and not just children on video chats and blogs. Sara will probably cover the rest of the trip but to summarize, family was great, food was good and the nature was incredible. Again, having little reference, New Zealand reminded me a of Abiqiu, New Mexico on steroids. The roads were super curvy and the mountains and water were incredible. 

Also, I made a friend! While not living, Pee Wee the Lonely Kiwi is a book about a friendless native Kiwi looking for a friend. After seeing the book in many of our stops, and learning that it came with a free stuffed Kiwi, my 37 year old self fell in love. After begging my sister, I finally got to take my little kiwi home, substituting for my JoJo Bear upon his return.

While I was told I was at risk of developing the travel bug, I miss my dog too much to go away for too long. But this is definitely a trip I will never forget and cherish forever. I still can't believe we got Mom to New Zealand.

Thank you all for following along! Justin’s Soapbox and Calla’s Corner will return next time with more hot takes and amusing non-sequiturs.

xo,

Sara, Justin, Jonah, Simon, and Calla