Why New Zealand??

This is the most frequent question that people ask me, so here is why:

I am an accountant and therefor I love spreadsheets. I love planning. I love putting my plans into spreadsheets. For our vacation to Paris a few years ago, I had each day planned out to maximize sightseeing while minimizing cost, along with another that had Metro directions, estimated route times, etc. in between each activity (That was quite a learning experience, and there are plenty of funny stories, including the one where I forgot to get directions to the Hotel...). All that being said, my travel companions let me do all the planning and they, in their own words, "just show up." It works for me.

Since I just graduated (hooray!!) and have the entire summer off before I start the 60+ hour-a-week grind that is public accounting, we decided that a long trip would be in order. We aren't independently wealthy so we needed to find a place where we could afford to stay for a long time. So I chose South America.

The plan was to fly into Ecuador or somewhere similar, spend two weeks in an intensive spanish language program, then hit the road! We would hike to Macchu Pichu, take a seven day hike into the woods in Columbia to explore a lost city, see Iguazu Falls and so much more! I made the mistake of sharing these ideas with my companions who saw this dream vacation rapidly evolving into a two month episode of Survivor, starring them. They did not want to show up to that.

They suggested Europe and immediately I saw dollar Euro signs piling up as I ran initial calculations of cost. I suggested Eastern Europe since it would be cheaper, but that meant weeks in countries where our ability to communicate would be in serious question. At least in Western Europe most people speak English as a second or third language. Who knows about Estonians et al.?!?! Then it hit me: Why not go down under?

Australia would be perfect. And we would also do New Zealand while we were at it, since they are so (relatively) close. As I planned out the trip, it was clear that three weeks in each place would not be adequate, but several blogs and sources I read indicated that six weeks in New Zealand was perfect and so we decided to just focus the one. Plus it is cheaper there and we have saved a ton by renting an RV.

In the end, I think that this is going to be the best option out of all the potential iterations that this vacation has went through. I have received countless endorsements, including one from a self-professed world traveller that, in his 93 years, has been to 92 countries (including both poles).  His favorite? Yep. You guessed it: New Zealand.

So now my computer is full of research, my spreadsheet is full, the house sitters are arranged, and the business is covered. Now all that's left is a little packing and the adventure can begin...