One Week in New Zealand: How Our “Someday” Trip Finally Happened

May 19

New Zealand had been our someday trip for years. You know the one - you talk about it, dream about it, save the travel reels… but it always feels just a little too far away to actually pull the trigger.

Then we hit our 25th anniversary, the house got quiet (hello, empty nest), and suddenly we were like… wait, what are we waiting for?

So we did it. Booked the flights. Picked February (which is summer there, by the way, highly recommend), packed our bags, and just went for it.

And honestly? Even one week was incredible.

Getting There: The Skycouch = Worth It

Okay, real talk… the 12-hour flight from LAX was the part I was least excited about.

But we tried Air New Zealand’s Skycouch, and I’m not being dramatic when I say… It changed everything.

It’s basically like buying an extra seat so you can have the whole row to yourselves and turn it into a little couch. Not a full bed, but enough space to stretch out, rotate, and actually sleep a bit. We took turns, got surprisingly decent rest, and didn’t feel completely wrecked when we landed.

It sounds a little gimmicky until you try it, and then you’re like, wait… why is this not standard everywhere?

Also, flying Air New Zealand just felt different in a good way. The accents, the food, even the movies, it kind of eased us into the whole NZ experience before we even landed. Like the trip had already started!

First Impressions: Hawaii-ish… but not really

We landed in Auckland, stepped outside, and immediately got this warm, humid, super-green vibe that reminded me a little of Hawaii, but still totally its own thing.

Everything just felt… alive.

We grabbed our rental car and had that moment of “oh wow, we’re actually here.” Cue excitement and mild panic.

Driving on the left side of the road was honestly one of the most fun parts. Slightly terrifying at first, but also kind of exhilarating. You’re super focused, talking to yourself the whole time like, “okay… stay left… STAY LEFT…” 😄

But I’d 100% recommend renting a car. It gives you so much freedom, and the drives are gorgeous.

Auckland: Soft Landing Mode

We stayed at the InterContinental right on the waterfront in Auckland, which was perfect for easing in.

We got there just in time for breakfast (which felt like a miracle), ate like we hadn’t seen food in days, and then immediately crashed for about five hours.

We forced ourselves to set alarms so we didn’t fully spiral into jet lag, and honestly, it helped.

Woke up later feeling semi-human and headed out to wander.

First stop? Souvenirs. And wow… kiwi everything.

Dried kiwifruit, chocolate-covered kiwifruit, kiwi jam - you name it. I fully leaned in and treated it like a personal kiwi taste-testing tour. No regrets.

Also quick FYI: they say “kiwifruit” for the fruit and “kiwi” for the bird/people. Helpful distinction 😄

Sky Tower: Cool Views + Mild Fear

We walked to the Sky Tower (about 15 minutes from our hotel), and it’s definitely worth doing.

The views are insane - full 360 of Auckland.

But then… the glass floors.

You step onto them, look straight down, and your brain is like, “absolutely not.” Even though you know it’s safe, your body is still like… nope.

It’s that weird mix of thrilling and slightly panic-inducing. 10/10 would do it again.

The No-Tipping Thing (Still Weird)

That first dinner out, we had our “wait… where’s the tip line?” moment.

We knew tipping isn’t expected in New Zealand, but it still felt so strange to just… not do it. We actually ended up leaving one anyway because we couldn’t help ourselves.

Old habits.

But truly, you don’t need to tip there. It’s built into wages, which honestly is kind of refreshing once you get used to it.

Papamoa Beach: This Is the Dream

Auckland was a great start, but when we were researching places to stay, we quickly realized, the magic of New Zealand might be outside of the big cities.

We booked an Airbnb right on Papamoa Beach, even though it meant driving about an hour to a lot of things.

And I would make that same choice again in a heartbeat.

Every morning: coffee, ocean, quiet, barely anyone else around. Just that slow, peaceful, “this is exactly what I needed” kind of feeling.

It felt like a little hidden gem too. Not crowded, not touristy ~ just beautiful and calm.

And having one home base made everything easier. No constantly packing and unpacking, just day trips and coming “home” at night.

Seeing a Kiwi Up Close

We made a last-minute detour to the National Kiwi Hatchery on our way to Papamoa Beach (without booking ahead… which meant a 90-minute wait). But honestly, it worked out. We wandered the grounds, watched sheep and sheepdogs, grabbed lunch, and even learned that kiwifruit grows on vines… did not expect that.

But the real experience starts once you go inside.

It’s dark, quiet, and you can’t take photos, which somehow makes it feel even more special. As your eyes adjust, you start to see them - kiwis moving around in the shadows. And it’s kind of magical. Seeing New Zealand’s national bird up close, knowing how rare they are, makes it feel really meaningful.

What stuck with me most wasn’t just seeing them… it was understanding them. Their eggs are huge compared to their bodies, the dads incubate them for weeks, and their beaks can literally sense food underground. They’re so unique… and also incredibly vulnerable.

Seeing the chicks, the incubators, and the care that goes into protecting them made it feel like more than just a stop, it felt like a behind-the-scenes look at something that actually matters.

It’s not flashy or over-the-top. It’s just quiet, thoughtful, and surprisingly impactful.

Here’s my longer recap.

Hobbiton: Stepping into Middle-earth

I’ll be honest, I went to Hobbiton thinking it would be a quick “this is cute, take some photos, move on” kind of stop.

It was not that.

The second we stepped off the tour bus and walked past that little Hobbiton sign, it felt like we had wandered straight into a movie set… except it didn’t feel like a set at all. Everything was so detailed, so perfectly placed, that it almost felt real in a slightly surreal way. The hills were this unreal shade of green, and tucked into them were all these tiny hobbit holes with the cutest round doors in every color you can imagine. Little mailboxes, laundry on the line, gardens that looked like someone had just been tending them that morning… it was all so thoughtfully done that you kind of forget you’re not actually in Middle-earth.

What I loved most was how unhurried it felt. We walked with our designated tour guide at a really easy pace, stopping constantly for photos (you’ll want a lot), but also just to take it all in. And then getting to step inside one of the hobbit holes? That was the moment it fully clicked. It wasn’t just adorable, it felt lived-in, like someone had just stepped out and might come back any second. I kept noticing little things… the pantry, the furniture, the tiny touches that made it feel like a real home!

By the end, when we stopped at the Green Dragon, it felt like the perfect exhale after the whole experience. Just sitting there, taking it all in, not rushing off to the next thing. It’s one of those places that surprises you… not because you didn’t expect it to be good, but because you didn’t expect it to pull you in quite that much!

I wrote more about the whole experience here if you’re curious.

Redwoods Treewalk ~ At Night

We drove to Rotorua one evening for the Redwoods Nightlights Treewalk, and I’ll admit, it felt a little funny at first… flying all the way from California to see California redwoods. But this isn’t just about the trees, it’s the whole experience.

At night, everything shifts. You’re walking 30-60 feet up in the canopy, crossing suspension bridges between towering redwoods, all lit with soft, glowing lanterns. It’s quiet, a little surreal, and somehow really calming.

What makes it even more interesting is that these trees are the same species as the ones back home, but they’ve only been here about 100 years and are already massive. New Zealand’s climate helps them grow faster, which makes it feel both familiar and completely different at the same time.

It’s one of those experiences you don’t plan for but ends up sticking with you long after.

I wrote more about the whole experience (plus tips) here.

Rotorua Canopy Tours: A Little Adrenaline in the Forest

We wanted to add at least one “slightly out of our comfort zone” activity to the trip, and this ended up being such a highlight.

Rotorua Canopy Tours takes you through a native New Zealand forest that’s over 1,000 years old, which is wild to think about on its own. But instead of just walking through it, you’re climbing up into it and then ziplining over it.

It’s not just zipline → next → repeat either. The whole experience feels like part of the adventure. There are swing bridges, forest paths, and even a short (slightly mind-bending) volcanic cliff walk to get to one of the lines. Equal parts fun and “okay, heart rate is definitely up now” 😄

The forest itself is unreal… so green, so dense, and somehow even more beautiful from above. Flying over it gives you this completely different perspective that you just can’t get any other way.

And the guides really make it. They’re fun, high-energy, and clearly love what they do - but also super focused on safety, which you definitely appreciate when you’re clipped into a harness. Along the way, they point out plants, share little details about the ecosystem, and even stop for a quick break where we got to feed a few wild birds… which was unexpectedly one of the sweetest moments of the day.

It ended up being more than just a thrill activity - it felt immersive, a little educational, and just really fun from start to finish. Definitely worth it if you’re even a little bit curious.

Here’s my full canopy tour write-up.

Hot Springs Reset Day

We planned this as a mid-trip “reset day,” and it ended up being one of the best decisions we made in New Zealand.

Polynesian Spa in Rotorua is more than just a hot spring… it’s a full slow-down experience. The geothermal pools alone are worth it, with mineral-rich waters that somehow leave you feeling both relaxed and recharged (and your skin noticeably better, too).

But if you do one thing here, make it the private lake view pool.

Sitting in steaming mineral water, overlooking Lake Rotorua, with no noise or crowds, it was the perfect way to actually pause and be present. The water is hot, but in that satisfying, melt-into-it kind of way (with quick cool-down breaks in between).

From there, we leaned fully into it with a massage and a Manuka honey body wrap - equal parts relaxing and sticky, but in the best way. By the end, we felt like completely new humans.

Afterward, we explored the public pools, moving between different temperatures and mineral types, which somehow turned into its own little experience - figuring out which ones felt best, cooling off, and just taking our time.

It’s not flashy or fast-paced, it’s the opposite. And that’s exactly why it stands out.

If you’re the kind of traveler who tends to pack your itinerary (same), this is your reminder to build in a day like this. It makes everything else feel better.

Full recap (with tips) here if you’re curious.

More Than Just the Glowworms

Like most people, I went to Waitomo expecting the glowworm boat ride to be the highlight, and don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful. Floating silently through a dark cave with thousands of tiny blue lights above you does feel a bit surreal.

But… it’s also quick. You can’t talk, you can’t take photos, and before you really settle into it, it’s over. I remember thinking, “wait… that was it?”

What made the whole experience worth it for me was adding Ruakuri Cave.

Completely different vibe! You walk down this dramatic spiral entrance into the cave, and from there, it’s slower, more immersive, and way more interactive. You’re in there longer, you can actually learn about what you’re seeing, and you get up-close views of the glowworms instead of just passing beneath them in the dark.

The cave itself is just as impressive - stalactites, rock formations, even fossilized seashells that remind you this was once underwater. And after the no-photos rule at Waitomo, being able to take a few here felt like a bonus.

More than anything, this is where the experience started to feel meaningful, not just pretty. There’s a strong connection to Māori history, and you actually have the time and space to take it all in.

If you’re deciding what to book, here’s my honest take: do both if you can. The glowworm cave gives you that iconic moment, but Ruakuri is what makes it feel complete.

I wrote more about both experiences (plus what to book and tips) here.

Hell’s Gate: Like Walking on Another Planet

Hell’s Gate wasn’t just another stop, it felt like stepping into a completely different world.

This is one of the most active geothermal areas in New Zealand, and the name is very accurate. Think steam rising from the ground, mud pools constantly bubbling, and bright mineral colors everywhere. It’s not a peaceful nature walk - it’s dramatic, intense, and kind of surreal.

What stood out most was how alive everything felt. The ground hisses, steams, and shifts around you, with 20+ geothermal features to explore - from boiling cliffs to mud pools hot enough to cook food.

I went with a guided tour, and I’d definitely recommend it. Learning about the Māori history and cultural significance added so much depth… it turned it from “this is wild” into something much more meaningful.

We had originally planned to do the full mud bath experience too, but between the geothermal heat and the sun, it got intense fast. I ended up skipping it - but still got to feel the warm, mineral-rich mud during the tour, which honestly felt like a more connected way to experience it anyway.

It’s one of those places that’s not just visually striking, it sticks with you because it’s so different from anything else.

I shared the full experience here if you want more.