We have found heaven on earth

Dragged out of our beds, we stood at the Kiwi Experience bus stop at 8 o'clock sharp - because today our tour of New Zealand finally started. With this thought, we were able to dispel the last traces of sleepiness. Our bus driver, Lisa, was likeable from the beginning. Friendly and in a good mood, she sat behind the wheel and drummed to the music of blink-182. At the latest at this point, we knew: there can't be a cooler bus driver.

After a good three-hour drive and good music, we arrived at today's destination. The Hot Water Beach Resort seemed like the perfect holiday paradise. Children were playing on the playground, campers were sitting in front of their tents, and backpackers were making themselves comfortable in the communal kitchen. For those who were interested, a tour to Cathedral Cove was offered - of course, we couldn't miss that. Alone the view during the drive would have made it worthwhile. This sight was the epitome of New Zealand for us. Forests lined the hills, rivers meandered through the meadows, and the sun illuminated the mountain ranges in the background. Yes, that's right, this time the weather played along all day long. The bus finally stopped at the definitely most beautiful place. Welcome to Cathedral Cove!

A narrow path, overgrown with plants, wound its way from the summit down to the coast. And as beautiful as the mountain landscape seemed from a distance, it was just as exhausting to descend or climb it. But the view that was offered during this hike was simply incredible. It was simply heaven on earth. There is no other way to describe it. I never thought I would see something so beautiful in my life, and it will take a while before I have processed all the impressions of this one day. Too bad that we had to go back to the bus right away.

Back at the Hot Water Beach Resort, Lisa showed us the way to the beach. Who would have thought that this almost perfect day just didn't want to end. The beach is called Hot Water Beach because hot water flows under the sand at some distance from the sea. Like almost a hundred other people, we also started digging a hole to sit in our own little open-air hot tub. Well, it didn't bubble, but that would have been rather uncomfortable anyway... okay, and we didn't actually sit in it either. But our feet were in it, and that's what counts. But when the sun went down and the outside temperature approached freezing levels, all the hot water didn't help anymore and we made our way home.

Our room was located right at the edge of the forest, even here the view was gigantic. With the window open, we listened to the songs of the unknown birds until we gradually dozed off to sleep and dreamed once again of heaven on earth.