Two Tickets to Everywhere

There’s no better way to kick off a new year than to hop across the Pacific and land in a country where the adventure begins the moment you arrive. For New Year’s 2024/2025, Jef and I teamed up with our great friends Paulette and Hamilton, flew into Auckland, and were lucky enough to reunite with dear friends from London who are now back home in New Zealand. From the very first toast to the final sunset, this trip was one for the memory books.

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🎆 New Year’s Eve in Auckland

We landed at just the right time to welcome the New Year Kiwi-style — good friends, great food, and the Sky Tower lit up in dazzling colors. We toasted 2025 under the glow of fireworks, feeling so grateful to be halfway around the world and yet so at home among friends.

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🛏️ Our Home Base: JW Marriott

Staying at the JW Marriott in downtown Auckland put us right in the heart of the city. We loved being able to step out the door and be just a few blocks from the harbor, restaurants, and all the action.

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🚲 Exploring Auckland on E-Bikes

If you really want to see a city up close (and skip the traffic), rent an e-bike! We zipped along the waterfront, cruised through the busy downtown streets, and found hidden corners we’d have never seen otherwise. It’s amazing how much more you can experience when you’re on two wheels.

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🐑 Dining Kiwi-Style

You can’t go to New Zealand and not have lamb. We enjoyed perfectly cooked lamb dishes at several spots — tender, flavorful, and unforgettable. Every meal felt like a celebration of the country’s fresh produce and warm hospitality.

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🌋 Thermal Wonders at Wai-O-Tapu

A day trip took us to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, where the ground bubbles and steams like another planet. The colors of the hot pools were unreal — bright greens, yellows, and oranges that looked painted on.

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🌌 Glowworm Magic: Two Caves, Two Experiences

We couldn’t resist checking out two different glowworm caves.

• The first, Waitomo Cave, is free for tourists and gives you that first taste of the glowworm magic — tiny blue-green lights like stars against a dark cave ceiling.

• The second, Spellbound, was a paid tour and absolutely worth it — quieter, more intimate, and felt like stepping into a galaxy underground.

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🏞️ Day Trips & Outdoor Fun

From hiking near waterfalls to admiring Auckland’s skyline from Mt. Eden, we soaked in the natural beauty of the North Island. Every day was a new chance to get a little muddy, laugh a lot, and appreciate how diverse the landscapes are in such a compact country.

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❤️ A Trip to Remember

New Zealand gave us adventure, nature, incredible food, and the best company we could ask for. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025 — full of hope, laughter, and a reminder that the world is full of places worth exploring.