Spontaneity is the solution!

After a long time, there is finally a new entry, we have been able to experience a lot and there is a lot to tell.

The Northland is the beginning that we have explored as well as possible. Of course, we couldn't see everything, but what we did see has stayed in our memory even more.

Cape Reinga, one of the northernmost points of New Zealand, which you really have to see, was particularly impressive for me.

Pictures cannot begin to reflect the breathtaking view we were able to enjoy there.

The large sand dunes, the somewhat hidden Mermaid Pools, many small yet very charming towns (some with really interesting names like "Tutukaka"), a lot of time spent on State Highway 1, and the never-ending search for a new place to sleep followed, and we enjoyed every bit of it.

Although there was a time in between when we felt like homeless people who have nothing but their car and have to live in it, in retrospect, it is an experience that you have to have had, and it feels good to have the freedom to go wherever you want with your belongings and not leave anything behind.

After this week and a half that we needed to finish exploring the Northland, we started thinking about our first job. And what else could it be than something in the kiwifruit industry.

Unsuspectingly, we made our way to Te Puke (the kiwifruit capital of New Zealand). As a bad omen, Marie even got sick, but still went to work.

After the first day, it was clear that "bud thinning" can almost be compared to slave labor. In miserable heat, you have to quickly remove the too small or imperfect flowers from the kiwi plant and, of course, not miss any. The supervisor generously sent you back every time to go through the seemingly endless rows again. In addition, there were back and neck pain from standing for nine hours. No wonder that only the backpackers who do not yet know, accept this job and then only get the minimum wage.

Well, not everything can be perfect in New Zealand either.

This experience taught us to take things a bit calmer here and deviate from this "everything must be planned" approach, because spontaneity offers much better surprises! We discovered some of the most beautiful places by simply turning off the road, and that's how we want to continue.

The first police check (don't worry, nothing happened), milking experiences, and farm stays have already occurred. And we can only say that we really enjoy country life here and want to make the most of it as much as possible. The stillness and tranquility are simply beautiful. You feel as if stress doesn't really exist here or at least appears in very limited ways.

Furthermore, it can definitely be said that New Zealand is not lacking in German backpackers. That was not a secret before, but here we notice it even more. You meet them everywhere. Initially, it seemed quite boring and annoying, but now we have gotten used to it and it's not that bad. We try our best to improve our English language skills, although it is still very difficult to follow some Kiwis here. But I tell you, it will pay off .. until then, please eat your kiwis diligently and enjoy them, because it involves a lot of hard work to make them so 😊

-- Tom