Bucket List x 2

Everyone has a bucket list. Personally I detest the term bucket list. I'm not sure what would actually be a better turn of phrase, sufficed to say I'm not that into the bucket. Despite this we decided that we needed to ensure that we left New Zealand with no regrets. This is actually my second time with a leaving the country/continent bucket list. In 2006 I started on my European bucket list following a Summer in the USA courteousy of CCUSA. Working in the USA and spending some time backpacking made me realise that I had a lot to see in my own locale. For me this involved tackling a couple of mountains and taking that train around most of Europe during the Christmas season.

My husband and I spent a little over 3 months backpacking in New Zealand and living in our Toyota Hiace Campervan. Many people may ask how you know that you have found "the one". I strongly suggest spending a few months in an exceptionally small campervan and maybe spend 2 months prior to that trekking across Borneo, oh and a couple of months before that selling a property and living on no income. 5 years on and we are still talking to one another. I feel this is a very good sign.

So, there wasn't much that we wanted to do that we hadn't already in NZ and some things were recaps of things we enjoy. The list actually turned out to be very short.

Snow Planet is something my husband has wanted to do and I have avoided like the plague. I learnt to snowboard in an indoor space like Snow Planet and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I am still avoiding Snow Planet and seeing how long I can get away with it!

There is a very old tea rooms in Puhoi. They serve Devonshire Cream Teas that are a meal in themselves. The Tea rooms is right on the river and we have been meaning to kayak there from Wenderholm Regional Park for some time now and finally this we have done. We even managed a stop at the Puhoi pub on the way back. As I had paddled so well my husband bought me a double Gin and Tonic. We took some lovely photos however someone may have pressed the wrong button and deleted them! We do have a slightly older scone photo that we just had to share. There may be new owners at the tea rooms but the scones are just as good.

We are heading down to Queenstown for a few days soon. That is probably the largest priority before leaving as it is one region we didn't get to whilst backpacking. We've also booked a weekend in Sydney before our actual departure date. Knowing that you have a time limit certainly makes you live in the moment. Despite having had a departure date before we became complacent in NZ. Hopefully we will be traveling a lot more now that we are working internationally and so we will live each day in the moment. Life is for living and I for one intend to do so.

I have met many amazing people, seen many amazing sights and I know there is more yet to come.