Our Kiwi Experience

During our journey across New Zealand we were welcomed by many caring and genuine people who stole our hearts. New Zealand’s landscape from north to south is magical! This is the first time we have seen so many breathtaking views and diversity from one country alone. We can’t wait till we return.

Mike and I brainstormed a list of things we found fun, unusual and unique about New Zealand. In general, we feel it sums up our experiences of the country and general living in these remarkable two islands.

Grocery
Green kiwi fruit
Golden kiwi fruit with smooth skin
Strange cuts of meat
Green Mussels
Oysters
Meat pies
Fish & chips
Lack of malt vinegar
Lack of hot sauce
Only brown eggs
No refrigeration of eggs
$5/bunch parsley
$18 top shelf box of muesli

Beverages
$115 bottle of Hendricks Gin
Any vodka $60+
Decent wine
Pinot Gris
Decent micro breweries
Long black coffee
Soy flat white coffee
Lemon lime bitters soda

Animals
Strange birds such as kiwi, tui, fan tail, NZ pigeon, kokako, ruru, robin
Kiwi, the bird, have no wings
Penguins
Seals
Dolphins
Whales
Annoying sandflies

Landscape
Kiwi fruit grows similar to wine grapes
Two story hedges to protect kiwi fruit
Bright green rolling hills
Volcanos
Glaciers
Bluest blue waters
Waterfalls
Snow tipped mountains
Caves
Huge rocks of various shape and color
Green Mossy forests
Ancient trees such as rimu, kauri, totara
Funky ferns
Flax plants
Roadside flowers, an invasive species

Driving
One lane bridges
Stay left
Unsealed roads
Windy roads
Hair pin turns
Black and yellow direction signs
30km construction zones
South Island full of camper van
Logging trucks
100km roadway speed limit
50km city speed limit
Tunnels
Car Ferries
Roadside lunches

Common Road Kill
Huge rabbits
Possums
Hedge hogs

Farm Friends
Lamb
Sheep
Cows
Deer
Alpacas
Chickens
Ducks
Horses

Random
Barefoot shoppers
No ozone layer (supposedly)
Expensive sunscreen
Unpronounceable Maori names
“Wh” is an “F” sound in Maori
Saying “good on you”
Greenstone jewelry / Pounamu (Maori name) / nephrite jade
Bone jewelry
Maori flax weaving
Tons of expats