5 things that New Zealand does really, really well

Karen Odden - every other Thursday

My husband and I were supposed to visit New Zealand in March 2020 for our 30th anniversary. Needless to say, that didn't happen. 

So for our 35th, we decided to reboot the itinerary and the adventure, and now we are smack in the middle of our trip to New Zealand. (Our Sara isn't here at the moment, alas!! But she did give me some pointers.) 

From Auckland, we went north up to the Bay of Islands, then we went south and east to Coromandel Peninsula, and then we headed south, through Rotorua, Lake Taupo, and Cape Kidnappers (where the blue line ends); eventually we will make it to Wellington and then to the South Island. Every day, from my passenger seat (on the left side of the car), I'm astounded by how beautiful this country is, how there are delights at every turn. OK ... I have to share Jack-Jack the leering goat! And an Atticus Finch sighting!

No one wants to see all my pictures or read some long travelogue of mine ... but I do want to share 5 things that these New Zealanders do very, very well. 

1. Pastries. Omg, I had no idea. The first morning, we had a pastry in the Britomart area of Auckland that was as flaky as any croissant I've ever had in Paris, with a decadent maple almond paste inside like I've never tasted anywhere. It is NOT SHOWN here because I ate it before I remembered to take a picture. 

Another highlight, the next morning, a raspberry pastry (shown, as I managed to take a picture before I gobbled it). A few days later, there was a blackberry and white chocolate muffin at the Hahei Cafe. Truly, if I had to pick only five foods to take to an island to live for eternity, one might be that maple almond pastry. Coffee is excellent as well, and the cafes are ubiquitous.

2. Lotions and body wash and honey and wine! We are moving from place to place, but at every stop there are yet more exquisite natural products. I wish I could bring them all home. I'd need another suitcase. Or two.

3. Rocks. I have never seen so many gorgeous rocks amidst water and in the landscape. This is Cathedral Cove, in Coromandel Peninsula. We hiked down to it along the coast, and the tide was just coming in. Breathtaking, honestly. 

4. Vistas. Inland, there are miles and miles of vistas -- green pastures and farmland and rolling hills and sheep and cows and horses and corn and hay -- and along the coast, there is water. I'm going to tuck in the vistas you see on the ferries from Auckland because they need to be in my list somewhere. We visited the island of Waiheke, walked on the pristine pale sand beach (vista, yes), and then went up to the Mudbrick Winery for a tasting and still MORE vistas. 

5. I've saved the best and most important for last. I'm absolutely wowed by the way that the native Maori culture is celebrated, linguistically present, and part of the fabric of daily life for all New Zealanders and visitors. Many signs show the Maori words first, and the English translation below. Towns have retained their original names. A high point was visiting a living Maori village in Rotorua, where the guide walked us through and explained their alphabet and the history of their spoken and written language, how they used the geothermal land where they live, and the history of how they have kept their culture thriving. (Below, he is explaining the way the body is mapped onto their meeting house.) It was utterly fascinating. I kept thinking to myself, "I am so so glad I didn't miss this."

And now I'll stop. 

If you've been to New Zealand, please feel free to share YOUR favorite things.