Christina’s Journey Journal

Tag: Māori

  • The Adventure Capital of the World —Queenstown, New Zealand 🇳🇿 ; Day 8 (March 23, 2026)

    The Adventure Capital of the World —Queenstown, New Zealand 🇳🇿 ; Day 8 (March 23, 2026)

    They don’t call Queenstown the Adventure Capital of the World for nothing. This is where commercial bungy jumping, jet boating, and tandem paragliding were all born—because apparently someone looked at these mountains and thought, “How can we make this more intense?”

    Milford Sound: Worth Every Bit of the Hype

    We kicked off the day with a scenic flight with Glenorchy Air to Milford Sound—often called the “8th wonder of the world” (Piopiotahi in Māori) and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Take one didn’t exactly go as planned. We took off and then had to turn right back around because the cowling (covers the engine) flew open mid-flight. Nothing like a little pre-adventure adrenaline spike. Our pilot, Annabelle, handled it extremely professionally.

    Round two was much more successful—and absolutely stunning. A few snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes up high in the mountains, deep valleys, and scenery that doesn’t even look real from above.

    Once we landed, we boarded a boat to explore deeper into the fjord (and yes—it’s actually a fjord, not a sound, carved by glaciers).

    Towering granite cliffs clinging to impossible angles, and waterfalls everywhere—some permanent like Stirling Falls and Lady Bowen Falls, and others that appear out of nowhere, especially when it rains (we had a blue sky day).

    And then there’s Mitre Peak—rising straight up 5,551 feet like it’s showing off.

    At the entrance to Milford Sound, opening up to the Tasman Sea.
    Stirling Waterfall – one of two permanent waterfalls. Most of the waterfalls are temporary and happen when it rains.

    Just when it felt like it couldn’t get any better, we spotted a New Zealand fur seal having a little snack in the water, completely unbothered by our presence. Watching it in that setting, with waterfalls crashing around it, felt like we had somehow wandered straight into a nature documentary.

    Lady Bowen Waterfall – the other permanent waterfall. It provides water and electricity to the local town.
    Flight back to Queenstown.
    A glacial lake high up in the mountains.

    A Quick Kiwi Encounter

    Back in Queenstown, we stopped at a kiwi (bird) sanctuary—because you can’t come to New Zealand and not see one.

    Since they’re nocturnal, the sanctuary flips their schedule so you can actually spot the birds foraging “at night” (in the dark). What surprised me most? Their long, skinny beaks with nostrils at the tip, which they use to sniff out food.

    This is the famous Kea bird. It’s a world‘s only Alpine parrot, native to the South Island, New Zealand. The Kea is very curious and mischievous, pick pocketing small car parts and things off a backpack. It makes a very distinctive kee-aa sound in flight. It took me a back the first time I heard it as I thought it was a kid laughing. 

    And Then… We Floated.

    To round out the day, we tried one of Queenstown’s signature inventions: tandem paragliding with Gforce Paragliding. I had to be talked into this by Brendan but very glad I did it! After all, it was invented here in Queenstown.

    You run a few steps off a mountain (which your brain strongly objects to), and then suddenly… you’re not falling, you’re floating. Quiet, peaceful, and completely mesmerizing as you glide over Lake Wakatipu with views that don’t feel real.

    And then you do a few twists and turns and before long, you’ve landed on your rear end.

    Queenstown doesn’t do passive sightseeing. Good thing we are not passive people!

    Interesting to note: Tipping is not common in New Zealand. Traditionally, you don’t tip, but you can leave something if you think the service was really good.

    Dessert: The dessert of NZ is pavlova. There’s an going dispute between New Zealand and Australia who invented it. The Kiwis are holding firm to historical facts that point to it being invented in 1926 to honor the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, who visited the country. It’s meringue with a creamy marshmallow-like center, topped with fruit. Yum!!

    Pavlova at Public Italian Kitchen in Queenstown.
  • Rotorua, New Zealand 🇳🇿- Day 4 (March 19, 2026): Rafting, Waterfalls and a Māori cultural experience 

    Rotorua, New Zealand 🇳🇿- Day 4 (March 19, 2026): Rafting, Waterfalls and a Māori cultural experience 

    We left Auckland this morning in our rental…this will take some getting used to! We will be driving on the left side (just like we did with the e-bikes), and the driver sits on the right. Everything is reversed so instead of the turn signal, Brendan turned on the windshield wipers many times!

    We arrived in Rotorua around noon and stopped at Lake Rotorua—the volcanic crater lake in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region.

    Lake Rotorua – a caldera lake that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption over 200,000 years ago. It has a slightly green-yellow color which is caused by high sulfur and mineral content from the surrounding geothermal springs. We could smell the sulfur throughout Rotorua at various times but it wasn’t unpleasant.

    🌊 We Went Over the Highest Rafted Waterfall in the World

    We did the most extreme thing I’ve ever done—white water rafting on the Kaituna River, charging through Class V rapids and a series of waterfalls you actually go over in a raft.

    And then came the moment: Tutea Falls.

    At 23 feet (7 meters), it’s the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world…and yes, we went straight over the edge.

    💥 The Experience

    This was an adrenaline rush like no other.

    For the first few falls (Maybe they were rapids?), I sat right up front—which meant taking the full force of every drop. Think: a wall of water straight to the face and more than a few unintended gulps of river water.

    This was our entrance into the canyon and the first drop. I am front left having my first “oh sh*t” moment!😱
    About to get my first big gulp of river water. Close your mouth!
    We survived the first one only to see the second drop!

    By the time we approached Tutea Falls, I made a strategic decision and moved to the back of the raft. When we plunged over and fully submerged, I held on for dear life—but this time, I knew enough to hold my breath. Progress. 😅

    I will take you through a series of photos of us going down the waterfall. My son had on his GoPro and will post when he downloads it. We were a group of 3 rafts. We went first over the falls. The second raft flipped going over and everyone but 1 person fell out—all ok! The 3rd raft repeated our performance.

    Approaching Tutea Falls!
    Tutea Falls – now I am back left, next to our guide in the red helmet, ducking my head as I was told to do, and getting ready for the 23 foot drop!
    Over we go!
    Water intake
    We are somewhere submerged below the falls
    And here we are!
    I am pretty sure that is actual water
    coming out of my nose 👃
    Loved this arial shot at the base of the falls
    Celebration!

    🚣 The Crew

    We went with Rotorua Rafting (through Viator), and they were fantastic.

       •   3 rafts in our group. Brendan and I were with our guide and then two others (one happened to be a former guide).

       •   Our guide, Jure from Slovenia, was equal parts hilarious and incredibly skilled

       •   You could tell instantly we were in good hands, especially after the prayer for good luck before we headed over Tutea Falls.😂

    👉 If you want a preview of just how wild this is, their Instagram says it all.

    All smiles at the end!😅

    🌿 Not Just Adrenaline

    What surprised me most? The setting.

    You’re not just battling rapids—you’re floating through what feels like a lush, jungle-like canyon with the rush of the water. It’s equal parts chaos and beauty.

    At one point, we even got to jump out of the raft and swim down a smaller waterfall/rapids, which somehow felt both insane and completely unforgettable.

    The surrounding landscape was breathtaking!

    🤔 Would I Do It Again?

    Heck yes.

    Would I recommend it? That depends on your comfort level, but if you’re even considering it, take the leap—literally. This is the kind of experience that sticks with you… the kind I will be talking about for years to anyone who will listen.

    TE PA TU – a living Māori cultural experience🥢

    We slowed down the pace and went to Te Pā Tū this evening and the 4 hours was everything I expected plus more.

    Te Pa Tu entrance
    The acceptance and welcoming of the visitors. We picked a “chief” to represent the visitors. That chief then performed the hongi, which is a Māori greeting where you shake hands and then touch your foreheads and noses two times. This symbolizes the exchange of ha (breath of life) and the merging of the souls. It also meant we were then welcomed to enter the village.

    Our time at Te Pā Tū is brought to life by the Tamaki family, who are storytellers, performers, and guardians of the Māori culture and traditions. The performers are all related (many cousins).

    After the welcoming, it’s not just a show you sit and watch. You’re pulled into it pretty quickly, moving through different parts of the experience while the family shares Māori stories, traditions, games, and history in a meaningful way. We tried our hand at the Māori poi balls, which are weighted tethered balls that are used in performance and help hand-eye coordination.

    The performers did the poi in a way that made it look easy. We know it wasn’t easy because we smacked ourselves in the head a few times. 

    We also learned about the traditional Māori stick games like Titi Torea, where players throw short sticks to each other or ti rakau (long sticks) where you pass the sticks left and right. Both help with rhythmic coordination and focus.

    Titi torea — the game is performed with wooden sticks known as tītī. We played the game where we moved right and left while catching the stick.

    The performance ended with the Haka, an up close experience that is intense and way more powerful than anything you see on video.

    And the food… yum! The hāngī alone is worth it. Btw, hāngī is a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven.

    I left feeling like I learned so much about the Māori culture and left with a greater appreciation of just how special it is. ❤️

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • First Day in Auckland, NZ 🇳🇿 (March 16, 2026): Leaning Into the Adventure

    First Day in Auckland, NZ 🇳🇿 (March 16, 2026): Leaning Into the Adventure

    Welcome to New Zealand, Aotearoa in Māori, meaning the long white cloud

    My apple watch was the first to grasp the reality – there’s  something surreal about landing somewhere new at sunrise, especially when it’s on the other side of the world. 

    Yesterday was our first full day in Auckland, and from the moment we stepped off the plane, it was the start of a Christina and Brendan’s grand adventure. 🌎 

    We landed at sunrise, equal parts excited and exhausted after the long travel day. Since our room wasn’t ready yet, we dropped our bags at M Social Auckland and decided to start exploring.

    And explore we did.

    And we’re off to explore!

    First view of the city – Auckland CBD (Central Business District)

    One of the things I already love about Auckland is how connected it is to the water. We walked to the Auckland Ferry Terminal and bought our ferry tickets to Waiheke Island (Wednesday’s adventure). 

    Then we stopped by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, established in 1842 and the seat of the bishop of Auckland.

    Flat white first, of course.

    Hot chocolate with marshmallows on the left for me and flat right in the right for Brendan. A flat white is espresso-based coffee with steamed milk.

    At a local café we ordered a flat white for Brendan (New Zealanders have this perfected) and a hot chocolate with marshmallows for me. People watching over a warm cup was the perfect way to energize our tired bodies into the day.

    Leaning Over Auckland


    The Sky Tower stands 328 meters (1,076 feet) and is used for telecommunications and observation with panoramic views of the city, its harbors, and the volcanoes.

    No visit to the city would be complete without a trip up the iconic Sky Tower. It’s one of the focal points of the city —ever lost? Look up and find the tower!


    (In the background) The Auckland Harbour Bridge was constructed in 1959, has 8 lanes, and is 1,020 meters long. The bridge connects Auckland’s city center with the North Shore. And, if you want, you can plunge 40 meters (~131 feet) by bungee jumping!

    But we didn’t just go up to admire the view from the two observations decks…We did the SkyWalk and I have a free t-shirt and a lot of photos to prove it.

    Picture this: A narrow platform circling the outside of the tower more than 1,000 feet above the city. No rails. Just a harness (two, actually), a lot of sky, and a big drop below.😳

    And while some people carefully shuffle along, we… leaned and did the challenges our guide gave us. Like hanging out over the ledge, walking backwards, and looking down.

    Leaning out over the edge with Auckland stretching in every direction is one of those moments where you realize travel isn’t just about seeing places—it’s about experiencing them fully. Even when fully is out of your comfort zone. 

    And yes, my heart was definitely racing in the beginning but by the end, we were having fun with every challenge! (Note – safety is first and we felt so safe/secure the entire time with our knowledgeable guide, Logan.)

    You can also bungee jump to off if you prefer! Remember that commercial bungee jumping was invented in New Zealand. 

    We headed off to a quick lunch of tapas at Depot Eatery. I had one of the best salads here and Brendan had delicious snapper sliders. For those seafood / fish fans, Auckland has you covered.

    Stepping Into Rugby History

    After our adrenaline rush and full bellies, we slowed things down with a visit to the All Blacks Experience.

    Even if you’re not a die-hard rugby fan, the story of New Zealand’s legendary All Blacks is fascinating and inspirational. The interactive exhibits bring the history, pride, and intensity of this world class team to life.

    At the end of the tour, a hologram of both the All Blacks and the Black Ferns (women’s team) perform the Haka, the Maori ceremonial posture dance. The interactive experience put me as if I was on the opposing team—talk about equal parts intimidated and exhilarated! While it’s a rhythmic dance to challenge opponents, it also shows unity and welcomes the devoted All Blacks fans. 100% New Zealand. 

    It’s impossible to walk out of there without a deeper appreciation for how much rugby means here.

    To end the day

    By this point, the jet lag was starting to scream in our ears, so we returned to the hotel and finally checked in. After a quick reset, we headed back out for the evening.

    Our hotel sits on Princes Wharf and overlooks Waitemata Harbour, the main harbour in Auckland and gateway to the Pacific Ocean (via the Hauraki Gulf)

    Dinner With a View

    Dinner was at Dr Rudi’s Rooftop Brewing Co., perfectly timed with the sun dropping behind the harbor.

    The sky turned shades of orange and pink while boats drifted across the water. Sitting there with my son, watching the light change over the city, was one of those quiet travel moments you wish you could freeze.

    The Best Ice Cream and Cone (maybe ever!)

    Then came dessert—and this was a very much anticipated event since researching places to eat in Auckland. I knew New Zealand would have my heart when I realized the country eats more ice cream per capita in the world! (And they’re the 3rd largest producer of milk and milk related products).

    Welcome to Giapo, which may very well be the most creative ice cream shop on the planet. And, it’s 100% gluten free!! In addition to ice cream they have pastries and other GF sweets like cookies.🍪

    We decided this was the time to try the island classic, Hokey Pokey. It’s a creamy vanilla ice cream with crunchy honeycomb pieces. Brendan described it perfectly: “It’s like a Butterfinger… only much better.”

    Oh and did I mention everything is gluten-free, even the cones! I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a really good ice cream cone, and this one absolutely delivered. Creative, delicious, and unforgettable.

    Lights Out

    I would say that today was a very good day. We finally called it a night and I feel asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. Tomorrow’s agenda? Get ready to experience Middle-Earth and some glow! The adventure is just getting started. ✨

    The Ferry Terminal at night