Day 95 - 103: Departure to New Zealand - Wellington and the journey to the North

Day 95 - Sunday 25.12.2022
The slightly different taxi ride and our arrival in Wellington

Today we had to get up at 2:30 in the morning as our flight was already at 8:00. Everything was prepared and agreed upon with our taxi driver. But during the ride, the Fijian driver explained to us that he had a very bad headache and asked if Manfred could continue driving. We agreed and so the first car ride on the left side of the road began, in the middle of the night, on the way to the airport. We also passed an alcohol control at Nadi Airport without any further incidents, so the taxi ride adventure was already over.
The flight with FijiAir was pleasant and went without any problems. Arriving in Wellington, we took an Uber to Andreas, an Austrian who has been living in New Zealand for 18 years. The father of Amadeus, a good friend from Losenstein, greeted us very warmly and showed us our accommodation, the table tennis room on the ground floor of the house. Andreas and his wife were a great help in helping us get settled in the new country.

Day 96 - 103 - Monday, 25.12.2022 - Monday, 02.01.2023
Wellington, Job search and onward journey to Auckland

On the first day in Wellington, we took a stroll through the city, had breakfast, and enjoyed the beautiful weather on a nice walk with Andreas.
The following days were mainly spent organizing, searching for jobs and a car. In the evening, we enjoyed uplifting conversations with Andreas, relaxed in the in-house spa whirlpool, and made phone calls to our loved ones back home. One evening, we had schnitzel for dinner and another time we made lasagna for the whole family.
One day before the new year, we bought a Mercedes C180 Coupé because we found a really attractive offer. Andreas took us to the seller and we drove home with our new car. We were also able to land a job on the same day, but we had to be in Auckland already at the beginning of January, but more on that in the next post.
We celebrated New Year's Eve at the pier. There was a stage set up and we were able to witness a small fireworks display. All in all, it was a very beautiful time in Wellington and we are very grateful to Andreas and his family for helping us so much. A big thank you also to Amadeus who connected us with his father.
On Sunday, January 01, 2023, we continued on to Auckland and made a small stop along the way at Lake Taupo. We stayed in a small motel and the next day we took a hike around Lake Rotopounamu, which was truly exceptional. The nature and energy at this place were simply breathtaking. Additionally, we were able to take a refreshing swim in the cool lake. So we continued on to Auckland, strengthened and ready for our first day of work, which was already the following day.