Exploring New Zealand: A Journey Across the North and South Islands

We recently completed our OurTown New Zealand Tour, traveling over 20,000 miles roundtrip and visiting both the North Island and South Island. Along the way, we experienced breathtaking scenery, warm hospitality, and fascinating insights into the culture and land of this unique country.

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First Impressions and Arrival

Flying into Auckland, a bustling city of over two million people, was a thrill in itself. The journey included crossing the International Date Line for the first time, an unusual sensation of “jumping a day.” The Air New Zealand crew made the trip memorable—cheerful, endlessly helpful, and serving meals better than many restaurants, complemented by complimentary New Zealand wines.

Tidbits About New Zealand

• Very few animals are native to the land; most were introduced only 200 years ago.

• There are no snakes in the country.

• One-third of New Zealand is national parkland.

• The country experiences over 1,000 earthquakes per year.

• In 1995, there were 156 vineyards; today there are more than 750.

• There are about four sheep for every person.

• Blue cod and green-lipped mussels are among the local culinary treasures.

• The Takaka Mountain road includes over 400 switchbacks.

Landscapes and Geology

New Zealand offers nearly every type of landscape imaginable: beaches, mountains, rivers, plains, glaciers, and geothermal pools. About half the country is farmland, a quarter is forest, and an area the size of Vermont is national park. The Southern Alps stretch almost the entire length of the South Island, boasting 16 peaks over 10,000 feet, including Mt. Cook, still the tallest mountain after part of its summit collapsed in 1991. On the North Island, volcanoes still hint at the nation’s geologically young age.

Highlights From the Journey

• Nelson & Christchurch: Iconic landmarks such as Christchurch Tower and Trafalgar Street.

• Mapua: We stayed at a home surrounded by fertile vineyards, orchards, and rolling hills, with views of Tasman Bay and Abel Tasman National Park.

• Motueka: An old high school repurposed into a café and museum.

• Queenstown: A hub for adventure sports like jet boating on the Dart River and bungee jumping.

• Milford Sound: The fjords here offered some of the most dramatic scenery of the trip.

Along the way, we enjoyed fresh produce—apples, oranges, peaches, plums, pears, hops, and grapes—and unforgettable meals, including a lamb dinner at the Millbrook Resort outside Queenstown.

Culture and Language

New Zealand’s charm is not only in its scenery but also in its culture. The Māori people, who make up about 13% of the population, are central to the nation’s identity. Their name for New Zealand, Aotearoa, means “Land of the Long White Cloud.” Everyday Kiwi slang adds color to daily life:

• Bach – holiday home

• Barbie – barbecue

• Chook – chicken

• Good on ya, mate! – congratulations

• Jandal – flip-flops

• Loo – bathroom

• Togs – swimsuit

• Wop-wops – off the beaten track

People and Population

New Zealand has about 4 million people, most living in cities. Nearly a third of the population is in Auckland, while the capital, Wellington, sits 400 miles south. Other major South Island cities include Christchurch and Dunedin, with proud English and Scottish heritages. The population is primarily of European descent, with growing communities of Māori, Pacific Islanders, and Asians.

Climate

As a maritime nation, New Zealand enjoys a temperate climate with mild seasonal shifts. Rain, wind, and sunshine can all sweep through in a single morning. Seasons are opposite those in North America: January is the warmest month, July the coolest. Temperatures are generally moderate, with summer highs rarely exceeding 85°F and winter temperatures in the north often reaching 60°F.

Memorable Moments

• Watching a friend dive into the icy waters of the Resurgence, a crystal-clear mountain stream at 50°F.

• Traversing the endless switchbacks of the Takaka Mountains.

• Visiting Waikoropupu Springs, famed for some of the clearest water in the world.

• Meeting Patrick, an American vineyard owner near Queenstown, who reflected on the growth of New Zealand’s wine industry—from fewer than 200 vineyards when he arrived to more than 700 today.

Final Reflections

From kayaking in Mapua to hiking Abel Tasman, from lamb feasts to world-class wines, our New Zealand adventure was unforgettable. The landscapes are varied and dramatic, the people warm and welcoming, and the cultural richness profound.

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing pristine natural beauty, thrilling adventures, and unique cultural traditions, New Zealand should be at the top of your list.

New Zealand Slang & Definitions

A

• Anklebiter – toddler, small child

• Aotearoa – Māori name for New Zealand, “land of the long white cloud”

• Arvo – afternoon

B

• Bach – holiday home

• Banger – sausage (as in bangers and mash)

• Barbie – barbecue

• Big smoke – large town or city

• Bit of dag – comedian, person with character

• Bitser – mongrel dog

• Bloke – man

• Brickie – bricklayer

• Brown eye – to flash your naked butt at someone

• Boy-racer – young man driving a fast car with loud stereo

• Bring a plate – bring a dish of food to share

• Bugger – damn!

• Bungy – elastic strap, as in Bungy Jumping

C

• Caravan – tow-behind mobile home

• Cardi – cardigan

• Cast – immobilised, unable to get to your feet

• Cheers – thanks

• Cheerio – goodbye / cocktail sausage

• Chocka – full, overflowing

• Chook – chicken

• Chick – slang for woman

• Chips – thick-cut fried potatoes

• Chippy – carpenter, builder

• Chrissy pressies – Christmas presents

• Chuddy – chewing gum

• Chunder – vomit, throw up

• Cockie – farmer

• Cotton buds – Q-tips

• Crib – holiday home (same as bach)

• Cuppa – cup of tea

C–D

• Cuz – cousin

• De facto – couple living together but not married

• Ding – small dent in a car

• Dole – unemployment benefit

• Dodgy – bad, unreliable

• Down the gurgler – failed plan

• Drongo – idiot

• Drop your gear – get undressed

• Dunny – toilet

• Duvet – quilt

E–G

• Ear bashing – someone talking incessantly

• Fizz Boat – small power boat

• Fizzy drink – soda

• Flannel – washcloth

• Flat – shared rental apartment

• Flog – steal

• Footie – rugby union or league

• Full tit – going very fast, full effort

• G’day / Gidday – Kiwi greeting

• Get the willies – overcome with fear

• Going bush – taking a break, going reclusive

• Good on ya, mate! – well done

• Good as gold – fine, no problem

• Greasies – fish and chips

• Gumboots / gummies – rubber boots

• Handle – pint of beer

• Happy as Larry – very happy

• Hard case – funny person

• Hard yakka – hard work

• Hollywood – exaggerate an injury

• Home and hosed – safe, finished successfully

• Hoon – reckless young driver

• Hosing down – heavy rain

• Hottie – hot water bottle

• How’s it going mate? – greeting

• Iceblock – popsicle

• Jandal – flip-flops

• Judder bar – speed bump

• Jumper – sweater

K–L

• Kiwi – New Zealander

• Kiwifruit – brown fuzzy fruit (formerly Chinese gooseberry)

• Kick the bucket – die

• Knackered – exhausted

• Knuckle sandwich – punch in the mouth

• Laughing gear – mouth

• L&P – fizzy lemon soda

• Lift – elevator

• Lolly – candy

• Loo – bathroom

• Long drop – outdoor toilet

• Lurgy – flu

• Mad as a meat axe – very angry

• Main – primary dish of a meal

• Mate – buddy

M–O

• Motorway – freeway

• Naff off – go away

• Nana – grandmother

• Nappy – diaper

• North Cape to the Bluff – entire length of NZ

• OE – overseas experience after university

• Offsider – assistant, friend

• Old bomb – old car

• Oldies – parents

• On the never never – paying by layaway

• Open slather – free-for-all

P

• Pack a sad – get upset

• Pakeha – non-Māori New Zealander

• Panel beater – auto repair shop

• Pav – pavlova dessert

• Perve – stare at someone

• Petrol – gasoline

• Piece of piss – very easy

• Pikelet – small pancake

• Piker – quitter

• Pinky – little finger

• Piss around – waste time

• Pisshead – heavy drinker

• Piss up – drinking party

• Pissed off – annoyed

• Plonk – cheap wine

• Pong – bad smell

• Postal code – zip code

• Pram – baby stroller

• Pressie – present

• Pub – bar

• Pudding – dessert

Q–S

• Quack – doctor

• Randy – horny

• Rark up – scolding

• Rattle your dags – hurry up

• Rellies – relatives

• Root – have sex

• Ropeable – very angry

• Ring – phone call

• Rubbish – garbage

• Rust bucket – decrepit car

• Scarce as hens’ teeth – very rare

• Scarfie – university student

• Scroggin – trail mix

• Serviette – paper napkin

• Shandy – lemonade + beer

• Shark and taties – fish and chips

• Sheila – woman

• Shoot through – leave suddenly

• Shout – treat someone

• Sickie – day off claiming to be sick

• Skite – brag

• Snarler – sausage

• Sook – crybaby

• Sparkie – electrician

• Sparrow fart – very early in the morning

• Sprog – child

• Spud – potato

• Squiz – quick look

• Stubby – small beer bottle

• Sunnies – sunglasses

T–Z

• Ta – thanks

• Take-aways – takeout food

• Tea – evening meal

• Tiki tour – scenic long route

• Togs – swimsuit

• Torch – flashlight

• Tramping – hiking

• Twink – white-out

• Up the duff – pregnant

• Ute – small pickup truck

• Veges – vegetables

• Wally – silly person

• Whinge – complain

• Wobbly – tantrum

• Wop-wops – remote, out-of-the-way place

• Yack – chat, conversation

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