Embark on a digging journey in Amsterdam, continue the excavation, and you’ll find yourself approximately 400 kilometers south of my current location—yes, you’ve reached New Zealand!
Above the Clouds: A Comfortable Flight and Sleepless Skies
Yesterday, at approximately 11:30 pm, I boarded my flight to Christchurch, New Zealand. I was en route to a country I had longed to visit ever since my childhood, sparked by my first viewing of Lord of the Rings. My goal was to explore as many movie locations as possible. The flight proved comfortable, free from turbulence or any unexpected disruptions.
The flight lasted three hours, and as usual, I couldn’t manage to fall asleep. The cramped chair with limited leg space made it uncomfortably challenging. Nevertheless, I had my music, a good book, and engaging conversations with my neighbors, ensuring I remained entertained throughout the entire flight.
Coffee and Currency: Exploring Christchurch Airport and its surroundings
We landed at 3 am Melbourne time, which translates to 5 am New Zealand standard time. With a few hours to spare at the airport, I awaited the delayed city shuttle. After retrieving my baggage and passing through customs, I filled out a form on the airplane regarding my luggage, including details about food and boots. I declared my boots as used, and one of the cheerful customs officers took the time to inspect and clean them. With ample time on my hands, I wasn’t bothered at all. I was aware of New Zealand’s strict policies on reporting such items; failure to do so could result in a fine of 200 New Zealand Dollars (NZD).
Following the boot inspection, I proceeded to pass my luggage through the x-ray machine and was granted clearance. Subsequently, I made my inaugural New Zealand dollars withdrawal from the ATM. Notably different from Australian dollars, the New Zealand currency featured larger-sized notes with slightly less vibrant colors. After a brief stroll, I acquired some magazines and travel papers from the information stand. Stepping outside, I pushed my cart with my luggage neatly arranged on it, prompting me to capture a few pictures of the surroundings.
Afterward, I spent some time in a quaint cafe, dedicating myself to working on reports and indulging in a series. Opting for a delicious but somewhat pricey salmon bagel, I lingered for two hours until the sun had fully risen. At around 7 am, I departed from the charming cafe and took a leisurely stroll. Upon encountering the airport shuttle buses, I made my way toward them. The driver warmly greeted me and inquired about my destination. Familiar with the address, he quoted a reasonable fare of 24 dollars. Given the acceptable price and considering a cab as the only alternative, likely more expensive, I decided to board the shuttle.
Subway Chronicles: A pitstop before hostel check-in
In the shuttle, there was another lady accompanied by a child, and within 10 minutes, we were on our way. Despite enjoying the ride, my fatigue and laziness prevented me from searching for my camera to capture the stunning scenery—an oversight I now regret. The trees surrounding Christchurch displayed vibrant autumnal hues, a captivating sight. While Melbourne still retained the original colors of its leaves, the autumn spectacle in New Zealand was truly breathtaking. Christchurch, renowned as the ‘garden city,’ certainly lived up to its reputation, with an abundance of trees and parks enhancing the natural beauty of the surroundings.
At around 8 am, I reached the hostel, finding myself with an hour to spare before the reception opened. Aware of the wait, I initially lingered in front of the hostel. However, when a stroke of luck revealed a nearby Subway, I couldn’t resist. Long-time readers, familiar with my Subway addiction, know that I decided to pass the time by grabbing a meal at the conveniently located Subway nearby before checking in and catching some much-needed sleep.
Waiting Game: The unexpected delay at the hostel
Regrettably, plans don’t always unfold as anticipated. Having made a reservation at the hostel and recalling a mention of a 9 am check-in time, I arrived promptly at 9:05 am. Two other individuals were ahead of me, one of whom successfully checked in and received a room key. However, when it was my turn, the receptionist informed me that I needed to wait until 1 pm, as they were still in the process of cleaning the other beds.
I think the girl saw my facial expression; she apologized ten times. My exhausted state had stripped away my usual effort to conceal any signs of irritation. The relentless sleep deprivation had taken a toll on my mood, clouding my thoughts. Despite her repeated apologies, I couldn’t muster the energy to care about her perception of me. The girl apologized once more and informed me that I could use the relaxation areas in the lodge.
I entered and placed my bags in an unsecured locker room, ensuring that my valuables were securely tucked away in my bag, which I then locked with a padlock. Taking only my money, passport, and credit cards, I decided to handle the car rental now, opting for the task before my planned afternoon nap.
Wicked Campers and Deposit Dramas: A Rental Odyssey Begins
I had pre-booked another car with Wicked Campers for my New Zealand adventure, and their office was conveniently just a few blocks away. As I approached, it seemed closer than I had initially thought. Upon entering, I inquired with the lady at the counter about the deposit hold, emphasizing the absence of an insurance package. I had paid a 3000 Australian dollar deposit, refundable upon returning the car undamaged. To my surprise, she seemed unaware of this arrangement. Patiently, I explained that I had informed Wicked Campers about this four times—during the car pickup in Cairns, explicitly stating that they should hold the bond in New Zealand, at the Melbourne drop-off, and through multiple emails with the company. Fortunately, I had one of those emails with me, and presenting the text helped persuade her to agree with my proposal.
The 3000-dollar deposit posed a challenge, as Wicked Campers could only deduct it from a single credit card, and the entire amount would be returned to that card later. Given the limits on my credit cards, this had caused delays in Australia during the initial two days. To expedite the process in New Zealand, I informed the lady that it was crucial for them to hold the deposit promptly, expressing a false sense of urgency about potential financial trouble. In reality, I aimed to avoid any delays and the inconvenience of obtaining a new prepaid credit card. Little did I know that the next day would be a national holiday in New Zealand, with shops closed, and I would end up with two new credit cards carrying two different currencies: 3000 Australian dollars and 3000 New Zealand dollars.
The lady instructed me to wait in the waiting room while she returned to the office to consult her supervisor and clarify the situation. After 30 minutes of negotiation and explaining the circumstances, they agreed to make an exception for me, just this once. I settled the remaining amount and handed over my credit cards. I emphasized that in Cairns, two imprints were made: one for the 3000-dollar deposit and another for security reasons, as the police and government would charge that card for any speeding or illegal camping offenses.
Roads Less Traveled: Navigating Christchurch’s earthquake scars
The lady returned to the office and informed me that I needed to sign a form for holding the deposit in Australia. I willingly signed it, expressing my satisfaction with this arrangement. Another 15 minutes passed, and the conversation took a more pleasant turn, devoid of anger and agitation. The woman then asked me to name my car, noting down the name I provided: Sasha. Shortly after, I drove to a nearby fuel station. Unfortunately, my credit card didn’t work there, so I had to locate another one. After an additional 5 minutes, I successfully fueled up and returned to the hostel.
The roads in Christchurch were in poor condition, bearing the scars of the 2011 earthquake. I was surprised that the damages hadn’t been fully repaired yet. The city lacked a recognizable skyline, with ongoing road works and some buildings awaiting demolition. Despite the absence of my camera, I would have documented the situation if possible. Later, I discovered that the delay in reconstruction was due to the necessity of fixing everything underground first—sewers, wires, and pipes had all been destroyed.
Upon returning to the hostel around noon, I inquired about the possibility of an early check-in. The staff handed me a key to a room but mentioned that I needed to wait until 1 pm for a bed to become available. Undeterred, I walked to the dormitory and noticed a vacant bed. Retrieving my bags from the storage room, I promptly claimed my spot in the dorm.
Navigating the City: The quest for a sim card and essentials
I observed a Dutch girl tuned in to a Dutch radio station. Opting for a simple greeting, I didn’t make much effort to engage socially. After placing my bags down, I reclined, feeling utterly exhausted. Despite the Dutch girl’s music being relatively quiet, I had reached a point where I could sleep through even loud party music. Within 5 minutes, I succumbed to sleep, and during my nap, I overheard the girls jokingly questioning if I was still alive. I must have looked quite worn out, haha.
At around 5 pm, I woke up and realized I needed to head to the city center promptly for a sim card. It would be crucial for navigation the next day. Navigating through a peculiar mall in the center, I approached a girl for directions to the shop. Following her guidance, I bought a prepaid sim card from 2degrees for 50 dollars, offering 3 gigabytes of data for one month. I felt relieved that my primary concern was sorted.
Following that, I visited the supermarket and picked up eggs, Coke Zero, mayo, juice, milk, bread, peanut butter, jams, and a cupcake. Consuming the cupcake and juice immediately, I noticed a bit of exhaustion setting in, and my throat was showing signs of soreness, akin to the feeling just before falling sick.
Egg Salad Dinners and Late-Night Tours: Evening at the Hostel
Returning to the hostel, I cooked all six eggs, preparing a self-made egg salad that I paired with four slices of bread and a complete serving of milk. The cooking process took some time, and after 30 minutes, I was ready to enjoy my meal while watching How I Met Your Mother.
At the table, the Dutch girl, another girl from the UK, and I sat down and discussed the higher cost of living in New Zealand compared to Australia, expressing our dissatisfaction with this fact. Despite the noticeable dent in my wallet on this first day, with the hostel alone costing me 40 dollars per night, it didn’t bother me much as I needed to be in close proximity to the Wicked Campers car rental company, which worked out perfectly. Although we continued talking, I didn’t form a strong connection with these individuals. In fact, I didn’t even inquire about their names.
Settling at my computer, I browsed the internet, planning the next steps of my journey. Tomorrow marked the beginning of the road trip, and I needed to finalize my bucket list. Numerous decisions lay ahead. Later in the evening, another couple joined me, and our conversation revolved around Lord of the Rings, the movie that inspired my visit to New Zealand. Surprisingly, they hadn’t seen it yet, having just started watching the first one. I suggested the guy copy my movies, a task that was quickly accomplished. In return, I copied some of his.
We continued chatting and indulged in watching YouTube prank videos in the kitchen. However, around 12:30 am, a girl entered and requested us to keep the noise down. We promptly lowered the volume on the last video, and soon after, the guy left. I stayed for another 1.5 hours, typing and exploring the internet. During my online perusal, I stumbled upon an amazing tour, pondering whether to book it. Tomorrow would bring the decision, and as a spoiler, I eventually did book that tour.
