There are some destinations you visit, enjoy, take photos of, and then come home.

And then there are the places that become part of your story.

New Zealand has become one of those places for me.

Australia may have been the destination that first captured my heart and ultimately changed the direction of my life, but just across the Tasman Sea is another part of the South Pacific that I have grown to love just as much.

New Zealand is young, beautiful, outdoorsy, welcoming, and sometimes a little wild. It’s a place where you can slow down and take in an incredible view one minute and find yourself being pushed completely outside your comfort zone the next.

I’ve had the opportunity to return several times, travel there with two of my children, and send countless clients—including many honeymooners—off to discover it for themselves.

So, what is it about New Zealand that keeps me coming back?

The People and the Culture

For me, travel has always been about more than seeing beautiful places. It’s about experiencing how other people live, learning about their traditions, hearing their stories, and hopefully coming home understanding the world just a little bit better.

That’s one of the things I love about New Zealand.

Māori culture is an important part of the country’s identity, and experiencing it adds so much more meaning to a New Zealand vacation.

Whether you’re hearing a Māori welcome, learning about traditions and legends, experiencing song and dance, tasting food prepared in a hāngī, or simply learning more about the connection between the Māori people and the land, it gives you a deeper understanding of the place you’re visiting.

Then there are the people themselves.

I’ve always found New Zealanders welcoming, down-to-earth, and genuinely proud of where they live. Conversations with locals are often among my favorite memories from a trip, and New Zealand has given me plenty of them.

The Food…and Definitely the Wine

If you know me, you know food is always going to be part of my travel experience.

New Zealand doesn’t disappoint.

Being surrounded by water means wonderful seafood, and you really can’t visit without trying the famous green-lipped mussels.

And yes, Australia isn’t the only country that knows its way around a good meat pie. I’ve enjoyed my share on both sides of the Tasman, and I’m not about to pick a winner and start an international incident!

Then there’s the wine.

Somewhere along the way, I went from enjoying New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to becoming a bit of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc snob.

Okay…maybe more than a bit.

Marlborough is particularly special to me. There is something about those crisp, fresh Sauvignon Blancs that has completely spoiled me. But New Zealand’s wine story goes well beyond a single grape or region, and visiting wineries and meeting the people behind what is in your glass is another wonderful way to experience the country.

For me, food and wine aren’t simply things you consume while you’re traveling. They’re another way to understand a destination—and often one of the easiest things to bring home and enjoy again later.

Nature Is Everywhere

New Zealand is a nature lover’s playground.

Mountains. Lakes. Beaches. Fjords. Waterfalls. Rainforests. Geothermal landscapes. Rolling farmland.

Sometimes it feels like Mother Nature decided to squeeze a little bit of everything into two islands.

And what I particularly love is that you don’t have to be an extreme adventurer to experience it.

There are hiking and walking trails everywhere, with options ranging from easy nature walks to some of the world’s great multi-day hikes. You can cruise through a fiord, bike through the countryside, kayak, walk along a beach or simply pull over during a self-drive and wonder how someplace can possibly be that beautiful.

I’ve always believed New Zealand is one of those destinations where the journey between places can be every bit as memorable as the places themselves.

That’s also why it works so well for my travelers who love a self-drive vacation. The roads themselves become part of the experience. You have the freedom to explore, stop in smaller towns, discover unexpected viewpoints, and experience New Zealand at your own pace.

The Wildlife Is Different, Too

New Zealand may not have Australia’s diversity of exotic animals, but that doesn’t mean wildlife lovers are left out.

Here, so much of the wildlife story is about the birds and the sea.

New Zealand’s native birdlife is fascinating, from the iconic kiwi to the mischievous kea and many species you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Then look toward the water.

Depending on where you travel, there are opportunities to see dolphins, whales, seals, penguins, and other marine life in their natural environments.

It’s a different wildlife experience from Australia, but one that fits perfectly with the country’s connection to nature.

And Then There’s the Adventure

New Zealand has a funny way of convincing you to do things you weren’t entirely sure you wanted to do.

I know this firsthand.

I’ve been pushed outside my own comfort zone with bungy jumping, jet boating and ziplining—and lived to tell the stories!

For those who want even more, there’s skydiving, ZORB, rafting, mountain biking and seemingly endless ways to get your adrenaline going.

That’s one of the things I love about New Zealand. You get to decide how adventurous your adventure will be.

You can throw yourself off a perfectly good bridge…

Or you can watch someone else do it while enjoying a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

No judgment from me.

New Zealand Has Become Part of My Story

Perhaps this is what I love most.

New Zealand isn’t simply somewhere I recommend because I’ve studied it or earned a certification. I’ve experienced it.

I’ve had the pleasure of traveling there with two of my children, which gives those trips an entirely different place in my collection of travel memories.

I’ve watched clients choose New Zealand for their honeymoons and begin a new chapter of their lives surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable.

I’ve helped independent travelers take to the road and discover the country at their own pace.

And every time I return, I discover something else.

That’s probably the real answer to why I love New Zealand.

It’s the people and the rich Māori culture.

It’s green-lipped mussels and a really good glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

It’s walking through landscapes that almost don’t look real.

It’s birds in the trees and wildlife in the sea.

It’s laughing after doing something that scared me and wondering how I got talked into it in the first place.

And it’s the memories I’ve been fortunate enough to make there with people I love.

Australia may have been the destination that first captured my heart, but New Zealand has carved out a place all its own.

Tucked away in that beautiful corner of the South Pacific, it’s a place I’ll happily return to again and again.

And one I never get tired of helping others discover.