10 Things I Miss Most About New Zealand

1. The nature

The Hooker Valley track, a 3 hours trail that led me to the heart of Mt Cook.

Seriously, the nature in New Zealand is ridiculously beautiful and very well intact. Driving around (or in my case, sitting in a bus) is an attraction in itself. I was unable to sleep on the bus because of the fear that I might miss seeing beautiful mountains and colorful lakes, and I'm glad I stayed up because I would miss a whole lot of it.

One piece of advice for you, if you are coming from Franz Josef to Wanaka, make sure you sit on the left-hand side of the bus. The scenery from here on out is one of the best, with Lake Hawea and countless mountainous hills passing you by. Trust me, you don't want to be a drooling, sad panda like me, sitting on the right.

2. Mingling with the Locals

This was right after the most random encounter with the 2 kiwis in a car.

The kiwis (the people, that is, not the animal) are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They will go out of their way to help you out. Strangers be damned, they will just greet you like they know you whenever they walk past you. Hell, my friend's car broke down, and we were helped by the kiwis, who casually gave us their jumper cable for free!

Another random encounter was when I was in Motueka. I was walking alone at night, trying to snap a few photos of the stars, when I stumbled upon a parked car. I didn't pay much attention to it, but all of a sudden, two girls inside just shouted "Hello" at me for no reason. I greeted them back without paying much attention, but after a while, I decided to talk to them. Curiously, I asked them why they were so friendly to strangers. They said they thought I was one of the people living in Motueka, and since it is a small town, they knew everyone and they thought they knew me. I guess that explains a lot about why the Kiwis are such nice people. The whole country has a population of only 4 million people. We have 6.5 million in Bangkok alone!

3. Meeting people from around the world

This was me, Megan fron England and Viola from Germany laughing our way through New Zealand

New Zealand is a backpacker's heaven, especially Queenstown, where everyone I met was from everywhere but New Zealand. From a barista at a local cafe to people working in hostels, they all came from different corners of the world, and that is what makes it unique.

I have made friends from over 9 different countries, and all of them are so unique in their own ways that it makes traveling with them so much fun. Plus, New Zealand is a small country, and you will eventually run into these people over and over again as you travel through the country.

4. Adventure

Plungling 15,000 feet (4500m) from the sky

From skydiving to swimming with dolphins or whatever sports that a human body could endure, they have it in New Zealand. Especially in Queenstown, where you can start hiking a 1700m mountain right from the street of the city. The liveliness of Queenstown is through the roof. Even when the weather is crappy (which is usually the case in New Zealand), you will still see people going kayaking, mountain biking, or hiking. If you are not the adventurous type, I bet you will have the urge to become one by being under that unique, energetic atmosphere that is Queenstown.

I ended up climbing 2 summits, doing 2 great walks, several small walks, skydiving, and hiking a glacier all in that 5-week window.

5. Hitchhiking

Tulu, Yvonne and me trying to hitchhike back to Dunedin

New Zealand is the safest country to hitchhike. I've met a German girl who hitchhiked all the way from Auckland to Te Anau and will continue to do so throughout her trip. I also did my fair share of hitchhiking in Franz Josef and Dunedin and even though it can be frustrating at times, the whole experience of finally getting a lift was exhilarating. Plus, most of the people that picked you up are usually the locals, and you can learn a lot about the culture from them.

6. Nature Walks

The Queens Charlotte Sound stretched as far as the eye could see.

One of the things I miss most about New Zealand is the walking culture they have created and mastered. Every single town, you will be able to find a nice walk that will immerse you in nature. I was in Picton for only one night, and I wasn't planning to do anything, but I ended up doing the Snout track, which rewarded me with a view of the Queen Charlotte Sound as far as the eye can see. Not to mention, walking is one of the few things you can do for free in New Zealand.

7. Wild Animals

The dolphins were arms away from us when we were heading to the Torrent Bay to start our Abel Tasman walk.

In New Zealand, people really live in harmony with nature. Seagulls fly around every port city, dolphins casually swim with speedboats, and penguins walk on the beach minding their own business. Not to mention all the crazy birds out there. I mean, there are tons of different species here in New Zealand, from the Albatross (the largest bird in the world) to Kaka and Kea, parrots that are commonly seen in the South Island. You will become a bird nerd in no time if you stay in New Zealand for too long.

8. The rolling green hills

The rolling green hills at Cape Foulwind, Westport.

There is no country that is known for its rolling green hills more than New Zealand, and for good reason. If you show people a picture of a random rolling green hill, their first guess would be New Zealand. From all the places I've been to, New Zealand has some of the most beautiful, perfectly trimmed, vividly green hills that stretch for several acres of land. Every time I see one, the child inside me wants to just roll down the hill for no reason.

9. Flat White

Sipped a cup of flat white while watching the locals mingled with each other.

I have to admit, I'm a coffee addict, and most of my morning ritual in New Zealand involves this little locally brewed coffee called Flat White, a laptop, and a nice cafe. The smell of the freshly brewed coffee beans, a slowly stirred milk in a spinning foam, a carefully drawn fern art on top, and a small cardboard cup make a perfect day even better. What more could you ask for?

10. The Emptiness

Only me and nature in this vast space of emptiness a few minutes walk away from the city center.

And best of all, the emptiness. Coming back from New Zealand to Bangkok, where the population almost doubled, I had a sudden realization of how much I hate the crowds. I miss being alone with my own thoughts, listening to birds chirping away, walking around the lake, and going for a walk alone in nature without having to drive hours away from home. All in all, I miss the vast space of emptiness I experienced in New Zealand.

Extra. Sheep

The number of sheep I saw in New Zealand is unbelievable. Staring in the face of hundreds of sheep and imitating their voice never gets old.

A few things I will NOT miss in New Zealand

New Zealand is not a perfect country, and if you have traveled there long enough, you will start to notice little things that will drive you mad.

• The Internet. It's 2015, and there are still no unlimited data package options for travelers. I had to pay 50 NZD for 3 GB of data, which I ran through in 2 weeks. Not to mention the limited wifi in cafes. They trick you in with a free wifi sign, and before you know it, you have bought a coffee and realized that the wifi is limited for 15 minutes or 25MB. That's bullshit! Ironically, I found South East Asia to be more reliable than New Zealand in this case.
• The Overpriced Economy. Everything is overpriced here. Everything! It's understandable because it is an island at the bottom of the world where most of the things are imported, but wouldn't it be nice if what you get is at least worth the price you paid for?
• The Food. I'm sorry, but the food in New Zealand is disappointing. It's usually average, overpriced, and dull, lacking any uniqueness. Additionally, the limited bread options, which I relied on to save money, were frustrating. Considering the cost of a single meal in New Zealand, you could enjoy 5 - 6 more delicious meals in Bangkok.
• The Weather. If you are expecting to experience perfect weather like you see in most photos on the Internet, you are going to have a bad time. The weather in New Zealand is crazy. It changes so fast that the weather forecast has no power there. It once rained on me 5 times when I was cycling to Cape Foulwind in Westport. I turned back and it stopped and became sunny again. I decided to go back, and as you guessed it, it poured on me again.

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let me know in the comments below.

Planning to visit New Zealand soon? Check out:12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand in 2025

Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand

I've spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand from the North Island to the South Island that might help you in your trip planning.

Here's a selection of articles about New Zealand:

• Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
• Don't have one month in New Zealand? How about spending 2 weeks visiting all the highlights of New Zealand on the South Island? Check out our 2-Week Itinerary for the South Island, New Zealand.
• Want to visit New Zealand but not sure what to pack? Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for New Zealand
• Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
• If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
• Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
• Planning to travel across Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island? Here's How to Get From Wellington to Picton.
• Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
• Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand's Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here’s The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
• Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? Better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
• Want to go hiking on a glacier in the Glacier Country of New Zealand? Here is the Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef.
• Wanaka is a must-visit lakeside town full of incredible nature and wonderful mountains waiting for you to explore. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.
• Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have it in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
• Queenstown is also one of the best places in the world to go skydiving. Here's my experience skydiving with NZONE in Queenstown.
• The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
• One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here's The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
• Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook are some of the most photogenic places to visit in New Zealand, and visiting them together is the best option. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.
• Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From the sight of the world's largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
• Not convinced by my words about New Zealand? Come follow me, and I’ll show you New Zealand in 70 photos.
• You can see all of my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.