Returning to New Zealand, my primary mission was to complete a Great Walk (check!)… but I also had one piece of unfinished business.

Near the end of my study abroad with EcoQuest, our crew had spent a few days on Rangitoto and Motutapu. We were set loose at the dock in Auckland, and had a free weekend. A group of students rented a car and drove to Hobbiton. Another group of students stayed in Auckland at a hostel with a lukewarm hot tub and “went out.” I was 21 and easily lured by bad whisky sours and promises of dancing. I did not go to Hobbiton.

I didn’t regret this, per se, but Hobbiton remained on my bucket list. Eleven years later, I finally arrived.

A magical moment happened as soon as I got on the bus to the set. “Theresa?” A trail friend from Tongariro just so happened to be on my tour! This was crazy because 1) we were many hours away from Oturere Hut, where we had last seen each other 2) there were tours like every 30 minutes, so it was wild that we were on the same one.

It was great to have a buddy to geek out with and enjoy and ale & second breakfast.

I spent one more night in my camper van at a free rec center campsite. I remain committed to getting a van one day [exhibit A, B].

I also had a moment of silence for my purple hair, which had not survived NZ’s UV rays.

I transitioned from vacation to work mode. I visited two distributors and toured potential local vendors to expand a circularity program I was working on. The owner of the New Zealand distributor had a two seater plane, so I was treated to my first small propeller plane ride.

I even got to fly it!

From there, I spent time in Melbourne and Sydney.

Melbourne

On my last night, the Australian distributor took me to play lawn ball. It’s like bocce but more finicky, played in Elks Lodge-esque environs with plenty of light beer.

We got dinner at a famous Chinese-Australian restaurant, where I had my best bite of 2024: prawn toast. Crunchy, squishy, sweet, savory. I have been chasing this high ever since to no avail.