Kiwis take South Island for granted
by Matt Critton
I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have experienced the South Island first hand.
Sorry, Lord of the Rings, your mystical portrayals are now history to me.
However, I had to travel some 10,000kms in order to do so.
You Kiwis on the other hand are the real lucky ones.You have had this beautiful land in your backyard all your life.
After two weeks in the south I came back to Auckland, with much regret, to re-live stories of adventure to my new found kiwi friends. To my disgust, I found that the majority of them have never even stepped foot on the South Island.
I guess I just assumed all kiwis had at some point in their lives been to the South Island, seeing as New Zealand is made up of more than just one island.
Perhaps my misjudgment is because of where I come from. In my home state of Ohio I challenge you to find someone who has not been to one of the states four largest cities. And the sad part is that there is nothing spectacular about any of these cities. Nothing.
Don’t get me wrong, I take great pride in being a buckeye.
I have explored every nook and cranny of my home state, and now I can say I have also explored all the largest cities, and plenty of smaller ones, that the South Island has to offer. Something many kiwis cannot admit to.
While in the South Island I basked on the beaches of the Abel Tasman, kayaked Milford sound, got lost in the wilderness that is the West coast, bungee jumped in Queenstown, partied in Dunedin, got cultured in Christchurch, and plenty there in between.
Come on kiwis, have a go…
I agree - NZers don’t make the most of the South Island.
I’m real keen to go explore the South Island. It’s expensive though. Prices are geared towards tourists from the stronger currency nations. It’s cheaper to go somewhere like Samoa.
All said, I’m off South as soon as I can swing it.