Hello from sunny New Zealand!

If you’ve read my earlier post, you know I’m on a year-long travel adventure with my husband and our two daughters. Right now, we’re about 11 days into our time in New Zealand, and it’s been nothing short of magical.

We came here after spending three months with family in Washington, D.C., Raleigh, North Carolina, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was such a gift to have that much uninterrupted time with our parents, cousins, and friends. Then, on January 3, we embarked on a 30-hour trek across the U.S. to Los Angeles and then from LA to Auckland, New Zealand.

While the journey was exhausting, New Zealand has more than made up for it. These islands live up to all the hype and then some. If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting, I can wholeheartedly say, "Do it!" I’m struggling to describe its beauty without falling into cliches, so I’ll let the pictures do some of the talking:

New Zealand is tropical and lush without being oppressively hot or humid. There are no snakes or scary spiders here—a huge plus, especially considering our next stop is Australia, where I’ll be on high alert! The terrain is incredibly diverse, offering crystal-blue waters, towering mountain ranges, volcanic valleys with geysers, and dense, mossy forests full of ferns and waterfalls. Outdoor lovers take note: there aren’t even many biting bugs to contend with!

One of the highlights so far was a trip to a secret waterfall that my husband, Matthew, discovered on a blog. Getting there wasn’t easy—we had to choose between traversing a steep, fern-filled forest with no clear path or wading through icy-cold rapids. We opted for the forest, and while it was tricky, it was also exhilarating. Crawling through the moss and ferns, sometimes on our hands and knees, I couldn’t help but shout to my family, “This is the most fun I’ve ever had!” and, “This is where I want my ashes scattered. I’m not kidding; I want to be here forever.”

My family knows I often speak in hyperbole. I like to think of myself as a charmingly dramatic person—the kind who says things for emphasis and effect, even if I don’t always mean them. But in this case? I was 100% serious.

Adults don’t often get to play. We’re frequently given advice from podcasts and self-help books (looking at you, Brené Brown) about how essential play is and how we need more of it in our lives. But let’s be honest: who has time to play when modern life feels like an endless to-do list? Even the suggestion can feel overwhelming.

Yet, as I crawled through the brush, with the sound of the waterfall growing a little louder, I felt a deep sense of calm and joy. We were close to the edge of a steep drop, going over and under ferns and branches. For someone like me, who’s usually happiest at home with a book and a blanket, this felt adventurous in the best possible way. I was playing—really playing—and it was pure, unfiltered delight to let go and immerse myself in the moment. It turns out immersing yourself in the moment is pretty easy when you're hands are touching soft green moss, and you have to pay close attention to every step to remain safe. 

We couldn’t see the waterfall yet, but we could hear it—a distant roar. Finally, after a bit more crawling and climbing, we rounded the last bend. Hair covered in moss and leaves, we saw the secluded, giant 60-foot cascade of water over rocks and into a clear bright turquoise pool below. It was absolutely breathtaking—and extra exciting as we had to work so hard to get there.

Another standout experience was our stay at a true Bed and Breakfast called The House With No Nails. Our host, Jen, was a vibrant Kiwi who could’ve written the book Unreasonable Hospitality. She and her husband served us a gourmet dinner and joined us at the table alongside another couple from Austria. Afterward, she treated us to warm apple pie with freshly whipped cream by the firepit on their back patio. It was an evening that felt truly memorable—simple, warm, and full of good company.

The next morning, Jen laid out an equally luxurious breakfast spread complete with fresh-squeezed orange juice, and we had more time to chat. I loved hearing about her life in New Zealand and how she’d turned their rustic farmhouse into one of the world’s most popular small B&Bs. (They’re now promoted by the nearby Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, which is how we found them.)

_{House With No Nails handmade kitchen cupboards}

Jen’s place epitomized “relaxed luxury”—a mix of rustic charm and thoughtful details. The farmhouse was filled with hand-selected vintage furniture, dried hydrangeas, and velvet duvets on the beds. And the cherry on top? A fuzzy, soft pink bathrobe hanging on the back of our bedroom door—a much-missed comfort I’ve rarely encountered during our travels.

_{Every herb from Jen's garden picked by my little one + a hand-drawn map from Jen with local recommendations 🤗}

After checking out, we headed to Hobbiton, where we fully geeked out on all things Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. For months, we’d been preparing by watching the movies and even the Prime series with our kids. Hobbiton exceeded every expectation. The Shire was as magical as we’d hoped, and my husband was in paradise, snapping approximately seven photos of every hobbit hole we passed.

For me, the interior design of the hobbit hole we toured was the highlight. Every inch was meticulously crafted, from the tiny books to the cozy nooks. It was a designer’s dream come true!

_{Interior and Exterior of a Hobbit Hole at the Hobbiton Movie set in New Zealand}

During a recent call with my best friend back in Tennessee, she asked if this year of travel has changed me. My answer? “I don’t know yet.” It’s a question I’ll keep pondering, but I suspect the real impact will become clear once we’re back home in England and life returns to “normal.”

One thing I’ve noticed is my relationship with our “stuff” is shifting. After weeks of packing up our belongings for storage in the attic before we left England, I find myself wondering, “What even is all that?” At this point, I can think of about seven things I’d keep—the rest will face serious scrutiny when we return.

Living out of a suitcase has its advantages, and certainly some drawbacks. But it's so freeing- a capsule wardrobe full of quality things you love versus a closet full of clothes you barely wear. I've been striving towards a capsule wardrobe for years as a self-proclaimed "wannabe minimalist". But when you're forced to live out of a suitcase- by your aforementioned explorer-heart husband - you don't have a choice. Sometimes it's the choices that seem to keep us stuck. 

Maybe that’s the gift of this year—the chance to live with less, reflect more, and let the impact of it all unfold in its own time. 

Tomorrow, we’re off to Australia for six weeks of new adventures.

If you’d like to follow our journey more closely, you can sign up for my weekly email list here. 👈 I send out updates (nearly) every Friday, sharing travel stories and musings. 

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Until next time, Happy Hosting!