New Zealand ~ Lessons Learned

Welp today was quite interesting.  I got my first taste of traveling alone and let’s just say it didn’t go quite as planned.  Train to the airport at Sydney went well, but got there and tried to check in.  Apparently you have to show proof of leaving the country, so I had to real quick buy a ticket to Bali showing I was leaving New Zealand within the 30 day tourist time limit.  (The ticket I bought was over 30 hours of traveling for a trip that should have taken about 10 hours…miserable!)  Between getting to New Zealand and finding a place to park my camper van, I learned more “not to do’s” than I could have imagined.  Here is a list of the lessons I learned in chronological order.

Lesson #1 ~ Look up all info on visas for entering a country before getting to the airport.  I know that seems obvious, but it’s easy to miss the little details.

Lesson #2  ~ Take screenshots of all emails for transportation so you know where to go and who to call when you land.

I had to ask way too many people for help.  Luckily New Zealanders speak English.  I made it to the camper van rental shop, asked the workers for places to go and directions, grabbed a metric crap ton of maps and pamphlets, and hit the road.  This leads me to lessons 3 and 4.

Lesson #3 ~ Know your first destination before getting to a country.

In my defense, I asked a lot of people the best places to go, but I didn’t really pick one.  I could have used a plan of attack and looked up my route.

Lesson #4 ~ Get the GPS from the rental shop or sim card from the airport so you can get directions while driving.  It is the 21st century after all.  We have the technology, use it.

So I started my journey towards Waitomo glow worm caves which I heard are a must see!  My plan was to find somewhere along the way to park the van and sleep.  It is about a 3 hour drive to the caves and the sun was setting so I figured the sooner the better.  After a few wrong turns and having to pull over for directions/suggestions on where to stay I knew I was on the right path but I did learn another lesson.

Lesson #5 ~ Free maps and guides from places aren’t always the most detailed and only really show places that cost money…I guess that is why they are free.

So definitely buy a detailed map and again, have internet to look up hidden gems.  The camp grounds they have on the maps, guides, and signs usually cost money.  Why would I get a camper van if I have to pay for a place to park it.  The prices to park at the campgrounds are very similar to the price of a hostel/backpackers.  I guess I am used to Colorado where I always have a place to camp.  I should have realized locals in New Zealand don’t give away their secret spots either.  Especially to someone with a camper van that has Jucy written all over it and is painted an obnoxious green and purple.  The first town I got to had a nice parking lot by a lake and I should have just stayed there but I thought it would be easy to find a better one the next town over.  More lessons.

Lesson #6 ~ If something does the trick and it’s not the best time to look for better options, take it.

Lesson #7 ~ Make friends with more locals.  Get a couple drinks with them, bat some eyelashes, and I bet they’ll tell you secret camping spots if they know of any.

Got to the next town called Hamilton.  It is the largest inner island city on the North Island.  I wasn’t sure which direction to go after the town, so I tried all of them to magically come across a camping spot…yeah right!

Lesson #8 ~ There are no camping spots in the cities.  No matter what the pamphlet guides tell you.

I found my way back on track towards the caves.  I accidentally turned before the median so I was on the wrong (right) side of the road for a couple of seconds, which I would say one mistake is pretty good for my first time driving on the left side of the road and steering on the right side of the car.

Lesson #9 ~ Driving on the opposite side of the road than what you are used to, takes a lot of concentration, making sure you’re staying close to the correct lane line, and makes for really clean windows from turning on the wipers instead of the blinkers.

As I made my way to the next town it started to get a bit foggy.  It was hard to see especially because one of my headlights was out.  I managed to see a sign to a lake as I was passing by the turn.  I flipped a u-ey.  Following my intuition and a couple more signs, I made it to my first camping spot in New Zealand.  I am excited to see what the sun brings for a view in the morning and I guess the rooster that must be confused and is cock-a-doodle-dooing at midnight can’t wait either.  For now, I’ll take in the quiet (besides the rooster) and glorious amount of stars that are out tonight.

Lesson #10 ~ Always embrace and be thankful for your surroundings.