EASTER!!

Okay so I thought nothing could get better than last weekend andddddddd...it did. Easter break weekend consisted of a five day adventure to the Catlins and Stewart Island...Stewart Island is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. I feel like I say that about everywhere in New Zealand, but seriously, this place is GORGEOUS and everyone reading this needs to go there.
Our first night of our trip we went camping in the Catlins. We being myself, Lauren, Jill, Dan, and Ethan....a few great people I have met. All Americans. The Catlins are about two and a half hours south of Dunedin and reminded me a lot of Ireland. Beautiful tall cliffs next to ocean ocean ocean! We camped on the beach and the sound of the ocean lulled us to sleep. Before bed we met this AMAZING couple from Arizona who were in their mid 40's and they were telling us all about their adventures biking around the world...yes, the world. They rode their bikes all around South America, Southeast Asia, and now they are in New Zealand. Listening to their stories I said to myself "These people are my future - how do they make money?!" So, naturally, I asked them: what do you two do for money? And they responded... "We are travel writers."
For those of you who know me, which most of you do, if not all of you...THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE. So they told me all about it, and I sat there drooling and loving everything they were telling me about.
The next day we woke up bright and early and took a road trip down to Invercargill, explored the town a bit, and then went down to Bluff to catch the ferry to Stewart Island.
Stewart Island was the highlight of my trip. We got off the ferry, gathered our packs and started tramping! It was hardcore tramping. We had our backpacks on full of clothing, food, everything, our lives, and we were tramping through lush thick rainforests. Up muddy hills, down muddy hills, across beautiful beaches, and repeat. We did eight hours our first day, and just about when all five of us were ready to collapse and die, we reached our destination. We threw our packs down in the sand and were greeted by a rising full moon over the ocean....it was amazing. It was beautiful. The beach was entirely ours. We set up camp and ate some delicious rice, and fell asleep once again to the sound of the waves.
The next day we took it easy. I wrote a lot in my journal - I was so inspired, yet somewhat sad. Actually I was very sad. It was my Easter and all I could think about was my friends and family back at home. So I decided to write letters to everyone back at home because I was so homesick. A family showed up on the beach and I played with their two little boys around the ages of four and six and they told me all about their Easter egg hunt in the rocks and how the Easter bunny lived in a cave and I felt very happy to be part of the family for a short while. They reminded me of my boys back at home.... I feel like the Universe blessed me with their presence to give me a taste of home.
That night we had an amazing sunset over the water and all huddled together and read The Little Prince aloud as the stars came out.
The next day was another long day of tramping/backpacking...after waking up to the sunrise. We all huddled close together eating our oatmeal, brown sugar, and raisins and watched a bright orange and pink sun rise over the water. That is what I love about New Zealanders! One person says "The sun is rising! Come see!" and there are no moans and groans of people not wanting to get out of bed...everyone flew out of their sleeping bags and ran to ocean to watch the sunrise.....But anyway, this time we tramped to a hut, which was great because we were able to meet a lot of Kiwis and international friends. We played card games and exchanged stories all night and once again, read The Little Prince to all who wanted to listen. I think that is a new goal of mine... to travel and read that book and have discussions afterward about what the book may be about.
Then today we woke up with the sunrise again, packed up our bags after breakfast, and did another four hour tramp back to the bay. Arriving back to civilization, we soothed our aching bones with a delicious lunch at an adorable cafe called Just Cafe. We hoped on the ferry at four, and had a great roadtrip of craziness from lack of sleep, and back massages for hours.....
I feel like there is so much more to say. I cannot express how amazing this weekend was. I was fulfilled mentally, physically, and spiritually. Constantly. The beach was the most beautiful beach, and we had it all to ourselves, away from any town, and sort of civilization...it was amazing. IT WAS AMAZING. You cannot understand. I just wish you all were with me.... that is all I kept thinking about. Monday morning when we were tramping at 9 in the morning I was thinking about all of you on your Sunday at 3 in the afternoon gathered and celebrating Easter. I tried to picture it. I hope there was spring weather! I hope the Bunny Cake was yummy! I hope you all were smiling and loving being together as family. We have such a sacred family....
I need to go now. I need to wake up at 6 in the morning to learn how to roll! I will get this down. I want to roll!
Cheers everyone!!!!! Love love love love soooo much love I miss you all!!

a travel blog by Kiwi-Travels

Easter Break!!

Dunedin, New Zealand