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Anyone else daydreaming of where to travel to first?
While we all obey the stay at home orders, I find myself thinking back to trips I have already been on, or thinking of where I will visit first once we are given the "all clear." I've obviously been thinking a lot of our friends and favorite spots in Italy, and between bouts of "let's move there when we can" to "let's spend the holidays there," I've also been thinking of my trip to New Zealand.
In the summer of 2016 I was given a chance to take a trip of a lifetime - a business trip to Auckland, New Zealand. Let's just say, this was peak excitement. I was going with a delegation of business leaders from Arizona and California to celebrate an inaugural direct flight from Los Angeles to Auckland and it was nothing short of magical.
The moment we landed - mind you, it was quite the event as the plane was welcomed with water cannons! - there was an instant calm. While my time was spent entirely in the northern part of New Zealand, I cannot say enough about my love for this country and its people.
From the green, rolling hills to the black sand beaches to the vineyards that take up entire islands, this is a country I fell in love with instantly. And while I could rave about the beauty of the country, this is definitely the case of being able to judge a book by its cover. In the seven days I was able to spend getting to know the country, whether it was in meetings, or hopping into a pub, the sincerity and genuineness of the people is what blew me away.
During the trip, we made a visit to Rotarua, a smaller town about two and a half hours south of Auckland, and the drive there (including driving past the famed Hobbit villages) was breathtaking. Our visit included a stop at the Maori Welcome Center, and I loved reading about the history of the island and its native people.
But one of my favorite days was spent on Waiheke Island, a short 40 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. There are several ways to get around Waiheke, but the bus system is very easy (err, if you know what you're doing!). My travel companion on the trip with me and I were so enamored with the scenic drive on the bus that we actually missed our stop to the first winery!
Let me tell you, you cannot go wrong with a day (or more!) spent on Waiheke. The wines are next to perfection and after multiple bottle purchases at each vineyard we stopped at, I also became the owner of a new suitcase to transport it all home! My favorites were Mudbrick and Te Motu.
Once back in Auckland, we were lucky to check out Cafe Hanoi for dinner one night, and it was one of the best meals of my life. Of course, I had one of the specials otherwise I would fill you in on that tasty culinary journey. The ambiance was lively, and open concept, with front row seating to view the kitchen.
On one of my last days I was solo and decided to go on quite the adventure - I rented a car! Luckily the hotel (we stayed at Sofitel, which was amazing!) was able to arrange this and it was easy... even if I was a little trepidation about driving on the other side (of the car and road!). I set off with only a few recommendations and stopped at the oldest pub in New Zealand, where I had the whole place to myself (thank you low season!) and the bar keep gave me great recommendations on a stunning beach to check out - he was not wrong!
Favorite things:
Go to a pub and catch an All Blacks rugby game! Literally, any pub will do. We went to O'Hagan's the first night and watched a game and were treated to good pints and epic music (think the perfect 80s playlist!)
Rent a car and go for a drive! I ended up at Piha Beach and the black sand beaches and alcoves were stunning to check out.
Take the ferry to Waiheke Island. It is a short 40 minute ferry ride and we were able to visit four wineries during a day trip - including taking a recommendation to walk (ahem, hike) to the next winery. It made for a great story we still tell.
If you find yourself looking to plan a trip to New Zealand, you are on your way to a trip of a lifetime!
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