Thank you, New Zealand!

On our last full day in NZ, we took it easy and went bike riding.  I had to start my day off with the long run though.  Steve is running again but he’s easing into the weekly mileage so I did the long run by myself. Again, the long runs in NZ have not been painful because the cooler temps and the change of scenery kept me going.   After I was done with my run, Steve and I grabbed brunch and then hit the bike trails around Lake Wakatipu.  Our bike ride showcased NZ’s beauty just as all our activities have been throughout our entire trip.   Our bike ride was a great way to say goodbye to NZ before we took off for Bora Bora the next day.

We were both so sad to say goodbye to NZ.   NZ definitely exceeded our expectations.  It is a beautiful country that offers something for everyone.  Here is what I concluded about our NZ trip…

1.    You don’t have to be an outdoor enthusiast to fall in love with NZ.   It is a gorgeous country that offers something for everyone. My parents would love the scenery and enjoy the beautiful landscape.   Our friends who love beaches would love the multi color shades of blue from the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean.   Then our friends who just love to chill and party would love the energy and nightlife of Queenstown.

2.    The Kiwis are so friendly and warm.  They are extremely helpful and genuine.  I love their enthusiasm for life and their passion for the outdoors.   You know when you go into REI,  you can tell everyone there loves working at REI and they love sharing their outdoor passions with  you.  That’s how all the Kiwis are. 

3.    I was very impressed how well all the outdoor activities are operated in NZ.   Prior to arriving in NZ, the skeptic in me was thinking,  “how can they have so many activities and operate them all at a top level?  I’m sure some of this stuff is really corny. ”  I was totally wrong.  Everything is top notch.  Their ski resorts hold world championships, their mountain biking trails have held many X Games, their mountains are training trails for climbers who want to attempt even higher mountains like Mt. Everest.  And for surfers, NZ beaches are paradise.

We are so happy that we kicked off our honeymoon in NZ.  It was an incredible experience. We definitely plan to come back in the future!  We arrived in Bora Bora today.  We are looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the last week of our honeymoon.  Bora Bora details coming soon!!