I can still remember the feeling when the Boeing Dreamliner landed in Auckland, New Zealand, last summer. It marked the start of a nine-day trip across the country. Nearly seven months later, I’m still dreaming about a return.
Monica Humphries/Insider
In June of 2022, I visited New Zealand. For the entirety of my 13-hour flight to Auckland from Los Angeles, I was excited to get off the plane.
And it wasn’t because long-haul flights are often exhausting, cramped, and uncomfortable. If anything, my experience was the opposite. I was on my first business-class flight, and the ride was a complete luxury.
I was eager to get off because for the next nine days, I had plans to explore the country’s dramatic landscapes, dine on delicious cuisine, chat with locals, and learn about new cultures.
My itinerary kicked off in June with a few days in Auckland, where I gained a first glimpse of Air New Zealand’s redesigned plane cabins.
From Auckland, I headed to Waiheke Island to taste wine and explore abandoned WWII complexes.
Then, it was off to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown.
Practically every day I pinched myself in disbelief at where I sleeping, who I was meeting, and where I was exploring.
It’s now been seven months, and I’m still pinching myself. Take a look at why I haven’t forgotten the trip, and why I’m even more eager to adventure back to New Zealand.
