As avid travelers who have been to over 70 countries and love exploring the world, we get this question often. What’s your favorite place you have traveled to? Everyone in our family (our fearsome foursome) will say, New Zealand.
Sam and I came here almost 20 years ago for the first time, to celebrate our 10th anniversary. The genesis for choosing New Zealand? – Watching “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf” on Thanksgiving and seeing Michael Campbell (NZ golfer) playing at Kauri Cliffs, a spectacular course in the North Island of NZ. We had literally never been anywhere outside of the United States, with the exception of Mexico and Canada and here we go with this harebrained idea of flying halfway across the world for 7 days. (Note – we never would recommend flying to NZ for just 7 days!!) There are many stories to tell about that trip, which many of our friends have heard – “chance” meetings that make for a lifetime of opportunities for change.
Fast forward to 20 years later and we now have joined golf clubs in NZ and visit for 2+ months every year. We have friends from the past 20 years (some stemming from when we lived here for 6 months in 2009 with the kids) and we have been gathering more along the way (friends, not kids!) our 6 months that we lived in New Zealand with the kids was one of the best things we have ever done as a family. They weren’t damaged too much educationally from the home schooling (they both are out of college with jobs – so success on that front). We hiked hundreds of miles, saw glow worms in caves, jumped off things, rolled down hills in plastic balls and explored the country in our trusty Land Cruiser which we nicknamed “Marge”.
Every time we visit, we travel around both the North and South Islands and try to visit places we haven’t gone to before. There are some places that draw us back again and again, like Queenstown and Fiordland, where the beauty is breathtaking and hiking and adventure activities are plentiful. in this trip we have done. 3 day hike of the Hollyford Track as well as the Routeburn Track, which we have hiked 3x previously. This time was the most difficult, as the first two days were in the sheeting rain and wind – always a plus.
Being outside in nature, soaking in the beauty and wonder of creation in a place that has breathtaking views at every turn. Shockingly blue mountain lakes and rivers, rainforests with moss covered trees that look like something out of a Disney fairytale, mountains and beaches – most untouched and wide open. Photos don’t do these places justice, although I for sure have documented the journeys.
It’s the place, the people – the laid back way of life and comfort in the outdoors. The friends that we have met and stayed in touch with over the years are precious to us. We feel comfortable here, we are ok to have chill days just looking out over a lake to the mountains. Chill is good as we tend to sometimes jump from one active thing to another- hiking, cycling, golfing – just being active in some way, but in beautiful places, which is the kicker. I can’t tell you how many times I still say wow when I am outside in NZ, whether on a hiking track or a bike trail or just riding down the road (on the other side of the road, but I’m comfortable with that now as well).
We have been in New Zealand now for almost two months, starting with Christmas with our kids joining – that’s one of the best gifts ever!! Ethan came with us for two weeks spent mostly playing golf at Te Arai and Tara Iti and then going to Queenstown. Anna was with us for around 4 weeks, following us for a week in Fiji and finishing up in Melbourne, Australia for a few awesome days at the Australian Open tennis tournament.
I’ve done a bit of posting on Instagram and Facebook, the only two social media sites I still remain on, but have been woefully negligent in posting to this blog. Now it’s overwhelming to try to go back and post – but I may try to do some smaller posts on some of the more adventurous parts.
We are blessed – by a strong family and friends at home and abroad. We have been traveling quite a bit in these last 15 months, so we are planning on coming back home and settling down for a while. We’re hoping to get another puppy as our home has felt like we’ve been missing something since our dear chocolate lab Winnie passed away last summer. I’ll be doing the puppy mom thing (and puppy grandma too with Ethan getting a puppy as well). Lots of things to look forward to once we return. I’m ready to dive back into my volunteer work as well and put that social work degree to use! I love the organizations I’m involved in back home: Guardian Ad Litem, First Coast Women’s Services, Haven Retreats and others – all focusing on helping women and children – supporting families in difficult circumstances. Being able to help these families brings a different kind of joy to my life.
As I get older (coming on 57 now), I don’t feel “old” – but I feel content with my life. My faith, my family – I feel like I have led a good life and if I kick off soon, I would have very few regrets. Now I’m hoping that I’ve still got a few good years left in me, to continue to watch our children grow into the amazing adults that they are. I never want to take a day for granted and I want to let those around me know that I appreciate them for who they are – lumps, bumps and all. Hopefully I’ll get a few more trips back here to this beautiful place that we love.
VAN VOORHIS FAMILY BLOG 