Reflecting on Semester 2 adventures…

The University of Otago – Kara Dillon

As my second semester is coming to an end, I find myself reflecting on my time here in New Zealand. There are too many unforgettable moments that I would love to share with you, however a particular favourite from this semester, was during the mid semester break.

I was lucky enough to be joined by my sister for a trip of a lifetime round the South Island. We started off by driving to Te Anau – a small town on the way to Milford Sound. The following day we made our way to Milford Sound for a cruise which I have been desperate to embark on since arriving here in New Zealand. If you ever get the chance to do this, PLEASE allow an extra hour or two to travel there, as the drive up to the Milford Sound dock is on one of the most beautiful roads I have ever encountered. The beauty of New Zealand is that there are always multiple opportunities for you to pull over and take photos of the scenery – just keep an eye out for the brown signs! Anyway, eventually after several stops and a few tears which were shed at the sheer beauty of this planet, we made it to Milford Sound.

The cruise itself was amazing! My favourite part was when the boat was taken right up to a waterfall. For those of us who were stood out on the top deck, we had the pleasure of receiving a ‘glacial facial’ from the spray off the waterfall – an unforgettable but cold moment. After the cruise we drove back to Te Anau, still managing to find more photo spots on the way.

The next day we drove up to Wanaka, via an ice cream stop in Queenstown. One thing I have learnt about New Zealand is that Kiwis love their ice cream – and now so do I! Once we arrived in Wanaka, we took a stroll around the lake and stumbled upon the Wānaka tree. A small but beautiful tree nonetheless which stands alone in the lake.

An early night was calling our name as we had a BIG day ahead of us – taking on Roy’s Peak. In order to beat the sunrise, we had an early start of 3am to begin our hike at 3:30. I would recommend hiking up Roy’s Peak in the dark, purely to avoid discovering, all at once, the relentless distance and gradient which still stands between you and the summit. After a painful few hours of walking up the steepest hill I have ever set foot on, we reached the summit just in time to see the sunrise in full swing. For me, this moment made it all make sense. It was a moment where everyone’s collective struggles and efforts to reach the top became worthwhile, whilst we all sat in awe of the sky and scenery around us.

Unfortunately, this trip did have to come to an end, however we managed to squeeze in another few adventures on our journey home. We stopped by Mount Cook, Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo – some of the most stunning places I have ever visited. This was a perfect way to end our South Island adventure!