This place.

Think I’ve fallen in love with NZ again. I fell in love with it once but because it was such a long time since I’ve been back, I forgot what I loved about it. I love how big and beautiful nature is here. I love the air. I love the clearness of the water. But it’s not all rosy - I don’t love the prices in Queenstown. An average meal is like 50pp which is rather ridiculous, even with the conversion back to AUD. I genuinely have questions as to how people survive here on a 50k salary. What do you eat?? Groceries aren’t cheap either. I went into New World and Countdown just cause - and the grocery prices shocked me. Sydney prices are nothing compared to Queenstown! I must have wondered a few times whether I should move here or not during this trip. Do they need health consulting down here? LOL. I doubt it.

It’s my last night here and this trip has been one to remember. My brother is like a little kid sometimes but it’s this exact character that made this trip fun. I never intended to do a helicopter ride, nor the Earnslaw cruise, but because my brother was super eager like the kid he is, we did it. It was costly but it was so worth it. The helicopter ride was just simply memorable. We were so blessed with incredible weather and got to land on the snow caps. It was so worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. The Earnslaw cruise was nice - had a bbq buffet which was delicious. I have to say - a few of our meals here were a bit mediocre to say the very least. But this bbq buffet was exactly the hearty food I expected in NZ. Just delicious and soul warming. We drove to Wanaka and Arrowtown too - I showed him all the sights. We walked around Queenstown a lot and went on the gondola, the luge and pretty much went around town. I think Queenstown has been pedestrianised because it looks different to my recollection … I also didn’t realise how much of Queenstown I didn’t explore last time. But I guess there is a reason for that…. Because there were other more interesting things to do that time hahhaha.

I loved this trip. I understand why people keep coming back because I’m already planning my next visit. I think perhaps a spring or autumn trip would be nice. But summer here is just gorgeous. I loved the sun setting at 10pm and rising at 6am. It felt like I just had so much time at my disposal. I’ll be back NZ. I still want to do a road trip all around the South Island. I would love to hike and see the views. I just can’t get enough of nature here. I guess I’m a nature girl lol.

I’m flying home on Monday. Back to the Sydney big smoke I go. This trip has made me reevaluate what matters to me - and what matters is experiences in life. It is the “I’ll try anything once” mentality that I have now that is really bringing me a lot of joy and happiness. It’s the let’s just do it because what do we have to lose? Nothing. Even if I get rejected by anything, at least I still gave it a shot. I feel like I’m finally having some more wisdom at the grand old age of 30. Finally.

I’m exhausted tho. Travelling is incredibly tiring. I’m going to bed now. Bye world.