And That’s a Wrap to the Trip of a Lifetime

An unforgettable adventure that started with a few bumps but turned into the greatest trip of my life. It’s honestly hard to imagine ever topping this experience. We have some pretty epic travel plans for the future but I suspect that NZ will remain at the top of our adventures for a long, long time.

We saw jaw-dropping landscapes, encountered amazing wildlife, met incredibly kind people, went on the best hike of our lives, and learned so much along the way. Not to mention, I got to journey to Middle Earth itself and see some amazing Lord of the Rings / Hobbit locations, stand next to Gandalf, Gollum and Bilbo’s Trolls, and truly show off my geekiness.

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Things We Learned About, and While In, New Zealand

• No native mammals—except for a tiny bat species the size of my thumb, everything else was introduced by humans. There are several projects underway (like Zealandia or that island in the Abel Tasman region) to restore parts of NZ to the way it was before human interaction nearly 1000 years ago, this includes ridding the selected areas of ALL mammals (rats, possums, etc.)
• No natural predators—which explains why so many birds evolved to be flightless and more fur than feathers.
• Possums (from Australia) are everywhere (especially roadkill…we saw hundreds if not more of dead possum), so much so that possum fur is now farmed and used in merino/possum wool clothing.
• Kia ora means hello, good will, best wishes, etc.
• Fjords vs. Sounds:
  • Fjords = carved by glaciers (U-shaped).
  • Sounds = carved by rivers (V-shaped).
  • Milford Sound is actually Milford Fjord
• Population: Just 5 million people in the entire country but 4 to 5 times as many sheep!
• Canadians are very well-liked here—and Kiwis are some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met.
• Hand pies are dangerously good—they live up to the hype and are seriously addicting, so much so that I have purchased small pie tins and plan to make them as authentically as I can at home!
• Feijoa (Fee-Jo-Ah) and black currant are hugely popular flavors.
• Takahē and Kiwi are two of the largest flightless birds in NZ (native that is). Their feathers feel like fur because they never needed to evolve defenses against land predators. Ostrich and Emu have been imported to farm but there are no wild ones roaming around.
• Māori culture is beautifully integrated into New Zealand life—there’s a deep respect for heritage, and people seem to get along well. Maori language is often first on most official signage.
• Glowworms are mesmerizing—their bioluminescence makes them look like a glowing, starry sky underground.
• Xander fell in love with the Milky Way—he was so excited to see it for the first time in its full glory.
• Mā te wā means goodbye, see you later or time will tell.
• The giant Moa went extinct less than roughly 600 years ago, hunted to extinction—imagine a 12-foot-tall, 500-pound bird roaming around!
• Want to be a Hobbit extra? You had to be between 5’5″ and 5’8″. Sorry Sarah, you are too short to be a hobbit 🤣

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Why People Fall in Love with New Zealand

After experiencing it firsthand, I completely understand why people come here and never want to leave.

• Not a single place disappointed—every stop, even the quiet countryside and farmlands, had its own beauty.
• New Zealanders take immense pride in their land—it’s shockingly clean. Almost no litter anywhere.
• The landscapes are just unreal—mountains, beaches, lakes, fjords, rolling green hills… it’s a paradise. it is very similar to a lot of Canada to be honest with just the extra “oomf” factor.

New Zealand stole a piece of my heart, and I know this trip will be one we talk about for years to come. The laughter we shared, the incredible moments we witnessed, the memories we made and life in the “Jucy Avocado” —all of it made for an experience that will be nearly impossible to top.

New Zealand, mā te wā—until we meet again.

As always, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Embrace the adventure, cherish the memories, and never stop exploring.

#NewZealandAdventure #LordOfTheRings #DreamTrip #Travel #40thBirthday #MiddleEarth #BucketList #AdventureAwaits

Thank you for taking the time to read through our adventure.

Much love,
Rob ❤️