I saw the magic

Although Sydney completely impressed me, the next destination took me even more. I’m talking about a country that is similar to our little Slovenia. Forests, singing birds, rustling foliage, the sound of a cold stream, the waves of the sea and much more. Countries that are similar one to each other, but more than 18.000 km apart. Do you know what country I’m talking about? I’m talking about one of the least populated countries in the world – New Zealand. About 4 million inhabitants live on the surface of approximately 270,000 km² (for the show – the surface of Slovenia is around 20,000 km² with a population of about 2 million people).

The flight from Sydney to the largest city on the southern island of New Zealand – Christchurch takes around three hours. It is a seaside town with the traditional Maori name – Otautahi. The economy is based on agriculture: they produce mostly wheat, barley and meat. But we cannot forget famous Australian wool. In addition, wine is becoming a growing industry in this region. Christchurch may not be New Zealand’s most famous city, but it is a starting point for many tourists. There are many ski resorts and national parks where visitors can spend their time.

After landing at Christchurch International Airport, we took a bus to our Chateau on the Park Hotel, Double Tree by Hilton. Amazing boutique resort with its exceptional location in a quiet part of town. The 5-acre large area boasts a vineyard, a beautiful garden of roses and even a defensive ditch filled with water. The perfect location for families, couples and of course solo travelers who want to spend their holidays in a peaceful and relaxed environment. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We arrived at the hotel around three o’clock in the afternoon. We have been quite exhausted by the intense exploration of Sydney, but we still decided it would be a pity to stay in a hotel and not take the opportunity to explore the pristine nature of this part of New Zealand. After one hour we met in the hotel lobby. Seven of us rented a car. Stefano sat in the driver’s seat, I sat next to him, the rest of them at the back of the car and the adventure began. Five minutes later. First stop – supermarket. 30 minutes of groceries shopping for the rest of the “sunny” day. And finally we were ready to take the road to the first, ups second stop of our journey.

1. The path to the so-called Castle Hill led us through the magical nature of Christchurch, surrounding settlements and smaller villages (Sheffield, Springfield). One hour and a half passed in the blink of an eye. Why? Nature is New Zealand’s greatest attraction. This is the part of the world that people discovered at the latest. Even today it is still considered an almost intact part of Earth’s surface. New Zealand is not only interesting for its geographical diversity, but also for its unusual plant and animal species. Observing and photographing nature through the windows of the car, singing English songs and engaging conversations, lead us to our next stop.

2. Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti). 700 m. n. v. Named after a series of limestone boulders reminiscent of an old, ruined castle made of stone. And why do most travellers come here? The area was used to shoot scenes from famous movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I must add something funny here. It is interesting that some scenes from the Narnia were shot in Slovenia as well. Do you remember the battle near crystal clear blue water. This is the most famous Slovenian river – the Soča River. We parked the car in the nearest sandy parking lot and started climbing towards the area where the rocks rise from the hills, like old castles. Although the route in only 10 minutes long (by the sign), it took us about half an hour. The cause was not in slow walking, but in taking photos of every corner of Castle Hill. At the top of the hill, we continued our “photo shoot”. We stayed on the hill for about an hour, as we also enjoyed a half-hour rest under the warm rays of the sun. Even though the time was pretty much pushing us, we were in no hurry. The sun’s rays, the singing of the birds and the cold breeze helped us stay on the hill for 5 minutes more. Although we could spend the whole afternoon there (which would be the best idea), we moved on.

3. Last stop that late afternoon – Arthur’s Pass National Park. Landscape divided into two halves. On one side is deciduous beech forest, on the other a dense “rain forest”. The closer we got to the highest point of the park, the more we drove into the misty and rainy areas. Although full of optimism that the sun would show up and we would go for a short hike to the waterfalls, we were visibly disappointed. Weather was completely “stuck” above us and there was nothing to do but head back to the hotel. What can I say? Next time, I’m definitely visiting this pearl of New Zealand.

We returned to the hotel in the late evening. So late that I fell asleep in the first second as I lay down in my bed. I slept for a good six hours. I went for a luxurious breakfast in the morning and got myself ready for a new day; a new day of exploring the nature. At seven o’clock we gathered in the hotel lobby; this time in a smaller group. Four of us – Stefano, Florence, Anamaria and myself. And our hour and a half long drive to the finish line began.

4. Akaroa – the heart of an ancient volcano where wilderness meets the edges of a historical French town. The trail led us from Christchurch towards the city of Akaroa among the hills. Those “mountains” are holding down the rainfall important for life in the valley. The excellent location gave us one of the most beautiful views of the nearby meadows, nature and most importantly – the small village of Akaroa. Of course, we couldn’t help ourselves and we stopped at one of the viewpoints. A beautiful day and the scorching sun opened the view far beyond. It was not only a glimpse into nature, but also a glimpse into life. It was that day – for the first time I really appreciated my life and I couldn’t be more grateful for everything I had. From the top of the hill we drove towards the playful peninsula, which rewarded us with an abundance of unexpected delicacies. The ocean air and seaside cafes are just a spot in a lively place like Akaroa. A French town trying to preserve tradition today. You can practically try wine, cheese and other dairy products from France at every corner. And if that’s not enough for you, you can take a stroll through the city’s Akaroa museum. We decided to visit the famous lighthouse run by a voluntary association, whose entrance fee is symbolic. There are many other options in the city: boat trips, swimming with dolphins, hiking, golf, farm visits. Everyone can find something for themselves. As Cabin Crew, we are always time-bound, so we were too late for all these activities. We decided to take a stroll along Childrens and French Bay and get some fresh air. And … from salty delicacies to sweet delicacies, everyone finds something for the tooth. L’Escargot Rouge Deli Café. Great location, exceptional food and relaxed atmosphere. Closing out your day in a clean and positive way. Full stomachs, long winding roads, and great company made my day. We stopped a few more times along the way and stared at this beauty. A picture deep in mind, which I can call a second home. A landscape that the locals protect and create harmony. Simply magical.

After about two hours of driving, we returned to the hotel. I had two hours before our Wake-up Call. I quickly took a shower and fell asleep for a good hour. Although exhausted, I woke up with a smile on my face and got ready for my last stop (again) in Sydney. Do you think I rested there? Of course not. I tell you more about this in an updated article on Sydney. I can not wait.

»Dream. Hope. Trust. And don’t give up. What is meant for you is in the shadow of you. » – М.