My first six months in New Zealand
Six months. That's how long it's been since I stepped off the plane in Auckland with a suitcase. It feels like a week and at the same time like a whole life. In that time I worked in a kiwifruit orchard, bought and converted a car, drove most of the North Island and took thousands of photos. Here's my look back at my first six months in New Zealand.
What I did in six months
- Sorted out papers, a bank account and an IRD number: my first days.
- Bought a car and had it certified as self-contained.
- Worked a season of kiwifruit picking and a winter in a kiwifruit orchard.
- Drove Northland all the way to Cape Reinga.
- Climbed Tongariro and up to the tarns below Mount Taranaki.
- Walked through Hobbiton and the geothermal valleys of Rotorua.
- Cape Reinga – the northernmost point 34.426° S, 172.678° E
- Auckland – the start 36.849° S, 174.763° E
- Te Puke – work, and weekends in Rotorua 37.783° S, 176.317° E
- Tongariro – volcanoes 39.141° S, 175.581° E
- Taranaki – a volcano by the sea 39.297° S, 174.063° E
- Cape Palliser – the North Island's southernmost point 41.612° S, 175.290° E
The best moments
My first aurora in the southern hemisphere. I had no idea the aurora australis could be seen from New Zealand. When I first saw it, I couldn't believe my eyes. More in New Zealand's night sky.
Sunset at the Pouakai Tarns. Three hours of waiting in the wind, and then a perfect reflection of the volcano in the tarn.
The people. Colleagues from the orchard, road-trip companions, Kiwis who helped me when my car broke down. It wouldn't have been the same without them.
The hardest moments
Loneliness. Some evenings in the car were long. Far from family and friends, in a different time zone, when everyone at home is asleep.
Money. Before the first payday my savings disappeared faster than I expected. New Zealand is expensive.
Rainy weeks in the orchard. When it rains, there's no picking and you don't earn. And when you're tired and wet, motivation drops.
What New Zealand has taught me so far
That the world is big, but people are alike everywhere. That you can live with little and be happier. That plans are fine, but the best things come unexpectedly. And that photography isn't just a hobby for me, but a way of seeing the world.
What's next
Ahead of me is the second half of my stay and a big goal: the South Island. Fjords, glaciers, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the starry sky over Lake Tekapo. But that's for next time.
Faq
Is a working holiday in New Zealand worth it?
In my view, definitely. It's an experience that moves you on personally and professionally and gives you memories for life.
Is it hard to be alone in New Zealand?
Sometimes, especially at the start and during long drives. The backpacker community, working in a team and keeping in touch with home all help.
How much money can you save in New Zealand?
It depends on your job and lifestyle. Living in a car with steady work, you can save for more travelling.
