The More You Travel, The Better You Will Understand Life… And Yourself
Sure, school can teach you a lot, but how can you learn about life until you go out there and live it? When backpacking through New Zealand you will encounter people, challenges and adventures that will teach you more than a year sitting in classes. Some of them are things that you will carry with you your whole life. Some of them are specific to New Zealand. Either way, we have put together a few things that only those who dared to backpack through New Zealand will learn…
Warning: some lessons listed in this article are more serious than others.
1. If a hiking guide says: “We are almost there,” they are lying to you!
2. It is Ok to applaud after landing in Queenstown airport on a windy day.
3. Never go to the bathroom if the barman hands you a key attached to an oversized random item.
4. A Canadian traveller will always have a Canadian flag somewhere on their bag.
5. If somebody can convince an entire country that beetroots and eggs in a burger is a good thing, you can do anything!
6. You cannot feed an Abel Tasman sandfly and expect it to get full.
7. Never ever use a small ATM in a crowded bar unless you are Ok with a $5 fee!
8. Whatever town you go to there is always a burger joint, a pizza place and an Irish bar.
9. Thinking that Wearing your heaviest clothes on your flight to New Zealand is the best way to reduce luggage weight, but it is the worst idea ever!
10. A bus timetable is more like “guidelines” rather than actual times.
11. The weather forecast in a country that has “four seasons in a day” is like playing darts blindfolded.
12. If your guidebook uses the terms: “rustic, authentic or historic,” to describe a town, you should drive straight on through.
13. You will never take free WiFi for granted again once you leave New Zealand.
14. Learning to enjoy the fact that nothing ever goes according to plan.
15. A tourist knows when they are going back home… a backpacker doesn’t.
16. You can never take enough photos of a waterfall.
17. True friendship can be created in a matter of days if you go through the best (or worst) time with someone.
More Backpacker Life Lessons Can be Learned in Our Other Articles…
Like this little chestnut: 16 Classic Backpacker Problems or even that one: 15 Backpacking Myths Busted!
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
About The Author
Robin C.
This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.