This isn't about hype. This is about fear. How steep is this thing going to be? Am I going to have to do some rock scrambling (being on all fours)? Will I be walking along edges of cliffs? How easily is it going to be for me to fall? I had heard from hostelmates that they saw 7 year olds do this thing. I had read from others that it was incredibly dangerous and rocks fall and can hit you on the head and then you have to be helicoptered to the hospital (credits to Party K from Tulum). The hike is 19 km. What I encountered was a challenging day where I felt like I was walking along the landscape of Mars, without needing a breathing apparatus. There were moments where I was scared and trembling a bit. Thankfully, it was not really as scary as I had envisioned and it required no actual rock climbing or scrambling...
Read MoreTauranga, Rotorua, Taupo
How lovely was it to meet Marie again in Tauranga after spending such a great time together in the Coromandel. We arrived in Tauranga to fantastic weather. The bus pulled right up to the i-Site. New Zealand really has their tourist game on point. All of the main bus stations, sauf Auckand, are at the tourist information center. These are called i-Sites. The hostel was across from a beautiful bay. I dropped my stuff off with Marie and went up to the second floor to check out the view. There were a bunch of gap year dudes just chilling doing nothing. It made me think that I am definitely in a more chilled out place, which is good, but that I am definitely not a gap year dude. However, if I were a gap year dude, this lake view is exactly where I would want to be. In Tauranga, New Zealand, you find a youth hostel directly across from stunning Waipu Bay.
Read MoreCoromandel
The Coromandel region is probably one of the most spectacular coast lines I have ever seen. Looking back on it, I still feel joy. This experience was new for me in quite a few ways. There were some complexities about choosing where to stay, anxieties about how to get around and some bad weather. During my three days in Whitianga, pronounced "fitiunga", I really let go of the anxiety. I only wish I could have had the confidence to chill and freak out less in the days leading up to this region.
Read MoreBay of Islands
I arrived in Paihia, based on the recommendation of my friend Kirsten who I had met in Tulum at the beginning of my travels. She had been to Paihia two years ago. She lamented not being able to do the famous cruise because of the weather but did recommend a nearby hike. This sounded like a pretty simple two day journey that I could easily handle without any sort of "fear of missing out"...
Read MoreWaiheke Island, Auckland
My first full day in Auckland started with a ferry ride to Waiheke Island. I had heard it was beautiful and easy to access. It sounded like a great way to start my New Zealand experience (and get another boat to compare to the Staten Island Ferry)...
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