A place called home
Home…
This month I was kindly asked to be a joint host in a monthly blog linkup. The topic is oh so appropriate given I’ve just reached my 2 years back in New Zealand last Friday. So sit back, relax and let me tell you a little bit about this place I call home…
A ponga frond, one of the many beauties of nature in New Zealand
Closing my eyes, breathing in fresh coastal air, it’s a bit chilly, but satisfying.
The sun starts beaming down, sparkling on the water and warming my skin.
I can be walking the coastal paths around East Auckland sipping a coffee or frappuccino.
I can be wandering around my favourite spot of Mount Maunganui, contemplating life while a Tui bird sings happily.
Time stands still as the water moves and sloshes away. Leaves rustle in the slight breeze.
This is a place called Home… New Zealand.
Auckland harbour – blue sky days in winter
Kohimarama Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
View of the beach and city from the top of Mt. Maunganui
Trees and rocks along Mt. Maunganui
Pilot Bay, Mt. Maunganui
It is not just one place, but a country that encompasses nature and life. My family live here. They may not live that close to me, but I know I can visit them on weekends when our schedules fit.
It may not always be happy but it’s a place to call home.
I’m astounded when I travel around New Zealand and find a new and stunning destination that I never visited before. Until my return in 2015, I’d never visited the South Island before and now I’ve been down there 3 times visiting multiple areas each time.
New Zealand’s South Island
The South Island is a bit more chilly, but it is home to lovely snow capped mountains, stunning coastline and beautiful lush countryside (and a few sheep). The cities and towns can be vast and cultural or small and quaint. From Christchurch to Akaroa, Nelson to Abel Tasman, Kaikoura to Queenstown, Wanaka to Arrowtown. They all have their own personalities and are filled with welcoming Kiwi people.
Neil Dawson’s Fanfare, Christchurch
View towards Akaroa
View from the Centre of New Zealand, Nelson
Little Kaiteriteri, Abel Tasman, Nelson
Kaikoura, NZ
View over Queenstown
Roadtrip to Glenorchy from Queenstown
Lone Tree, Wanaka
View from the Crown Range
Arrowtown, Gold Rush town of New Zealand
New Zealand’s North Island
The North Island is a bit of a warmer climate with many stunning white-sand beaches. We don’t fear sharks too often and snakes and spiders aren’t a problem. We have plenty of farmland with sheep and cows. The South Island may have many of the ‘Great Walks,’ but there is also plenty of bush and forest walkways, often leading to waterfalls at your feet in the North Island.
Whangarei Falls, New Zealand
Path to Kitekite Falls, New Zealand
Kitekite Waterfalls, New Zealand
Me and my Dad at the top of Mt. Maunganui
We have quite a ‘batch’ and ‘beachy’ lifestyle in New Zealand. Growing up I lived in the countryside in the Bay of Plenty, a stones throw from Waihi Beach and not far from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui either. We had a small lifestyle block of fruit trees, vegetable gardens and plants along with a designated area for an array of free-range chickens that my father prided himself with. Down in the gully was a muddy stream and an area where we could walk and see glow worms at night. I never knew how lucky I was as a child to have all this at my fingertips.
As a teenager and adult weekends spent at beaches and siblings batches were commonplace. As long as a beach isn’t too far away Kiwi’s such as me are generally content.
View of Pauanui
Sunshine in Pauanui on a Winter’s Day
While I have lived most of my adult life abroad in Austria and the United Kingdom and travelled the globe from Africa, Europe, North, Central and South America to Asia and Oceania… New Zealand will always be the place I really call home.
Where do you call home?
This month’s linkup we are thinking to get a little nearer to the places closest to our hearts — home. Whether it is an adopted home, a birth home or somewhere that felt like it was a second skin — we can’t wait to read all about it.
It could be a country, a city, a scent, a view. Or even the special moments that you like to share with visitors.
I’m coming in July ! Can’t wait to discover that place that you call home 😉
Cool! Fingers crossed for good weather
Haha thx ! But I’m staying a year so I hope I’ll have some sun in 1 year 😉
Cool – what city?
Welly !
Oh neat!
Have you lived there ?
Nope just visited. I’m based in Auckland. Wellington is easy to get around walking etc. bit windy but cool city
Yes I’ve heard that it’s named Windy Welly aha
You’ve described New Zealand so beautifully! I’m 6 months in to calling it home and I’m so in love.
That’s so cool, I hope you continue to enjoy it! What part of kiwi land are you in?
stunning country!
Cheers!
I so, so adore this Ngaire!
Thanks hun
So many things already on the bucket list, but this is now on the list.
Yay! It’s a long way to come, but well worth it (especially in our summer)
Here’s to two years in New Zealand! Your photos make it look absolutely gorgeous. Also – I loved this theme for the travel linkup 🙂
Awww thanks!
I would love to visit beautiful New Zealand one day.
I seriously would love to visit New Zealand soon. It looks so picturesque and at the same time, it’s like the postcard city for us to remember how blessed we are for being given a bountiful Earth! x
Awww that’s so nicely put
Having recently met and made friends with Kiwis, hearing them talk about NZ and seeing this, it’s made it to the top of my list of places to visit!
Neat! It’s a bit cold at the moment but summer is lovely here!
Gosh, New Zealand is so beautiful. I really need to make it to that part of the world someday. ❤
New Zealand looks like a wonderful place. I can see why you love it.