I’m yet to hear something bad about New Zealand (not counting comments from Aussie rugby rivals). I’ve only seen it make headlines as the travel section’s featured destination. And what’s not to love? There are more sheep than people, the people are called Kiwis, and the mythical world of J.R.R. Tolkien was created within its natural landscapes.

We left Australia just as I was getting used to the accent, and now I have a new one to get lost in. When we were descending into Christchurch, I heard the pilot announce, “The temperature at prison is 24 degrees.” He of course said “present,” but I was completely baffled for a good 10 minutes.

At customs, the purity of New Zealand is a matter not taken lightly. Officials inspect hiking boots for foreign dirt. They scan wood for insect holes. They clean the silt from coffee cups. When in doubt, they spray or hose down. If I had failed to declare an illegal item, I may have found out the temperature at prison after all.

I always feel so special when there’s a sign for me at the airport. Kevin and Robyn O’Gorman are friends of the family, and, though I had never met them before, Robyn was there to pick us up. I spotted her sign in the crowd and, after introducing myself, congratulated her on being the first to spell my name correctly.

We dropped Tanya off at her grandmother’s house and then drove around Christchurch – “The Garden City.” For the biggest city on the South Island, I was amazed at how charming and flat it is. There’s a metropolitan feel, but it doesn’t overshadow the English antiquity of the place. We passed schoolboys in their coats and ties, sheep and deer farms, the old-fashioned tourist tram, the punts on Avon, churches and museums and parks. Robyn took the scenic route home – curving mountain roads with views of the ocean on one side and all of Christchurch on the other. There were people walking and mountain biking everywhere. If you couldn’t tell, it was love at first sight. I have a crush on the country. She’s not like the exotic swimsuit model you fantasize about, but rather the nice girl you want to take home to your parents.

Within my first few hours in New Zealand, I was spoiled by the O’Gormans. They welcomed me into their beautiful, cozy home, resting on the slope of an area appropriately named Mount Pleasant. They checked off a huge “must” on my list with a lamb roast dinner…along with sweet potato and pumpkin. It was phenomenal. As was dessert, which I was told is another famous food here: Hokey Pokey ice cream. After I loosened my belt a bit, we all watched “Once Were Warriors,” a film about the dark side of Maori (the indigenous people) culture. That’s what it’s all about.

The following morning, I said “goodbye” to a big room, nice bed, and lamb roasts when I said “goodbye” to the O’Gorman family. Tanya and I met up again to pick up our campervan. We’re touring both islands of New Zealand the classic way, with our big metal friend Moses Temple (from Christchurch). There’s a refrigerator, stove, and sink. There are 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 forks, knives, and spoons. The table folds into a bed. We’re going to eat, sleep, and live out of it for the next 10 days. Since Tanya and I (combined) can only cook 3 meals, it should be interesting…

This entry was posted on Friday, February 10th, 2006 at 1:45 am in XVI. NZ. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.