After nearly six weeks, it's the end of the road for my travels in New Zealand. The journey has been intense, fast in some ways and slow in others.

From the high-speed pace of the South Island tour and whirlwind of unforgettable experiences to the endless hours spent staring out the bus window and spacing out in hostel kitchens and TV lounges, it would take me far too long to try to explain all that I've seen, thought and felt along the way. So give me a minute and I'll try to run through the highlights and low points of my kiwi experience.

First of all, with an emphasis on activities like black-water rafting in underground caves, bungee jumping, sky diving, canyoning, abseiling, kayaking, white-water rafting in Class 5 rapids, mountain climbing, glacier hiking and long-distance trekking, New Zealand lives up to its reputation as an adventure seeker’s paradise. I’ve never felt more pressure to jump out of a plane or throw myself off a bridge than I do here. Big thrills are the main objective, and your first sky dive or bungee jump is pitched more like a rite of passage than mere activity.

As everyone knows, I am not and have never been a thrill seeker. It’s never been my style. I’m more of a slow-movin’, sun-lovin’, easy-goin’ girl who prefers golden sands and warm blue waters over frigid river rapids or snowy mountain slopes. Top that off with the fact that every major activity is in the upward $100 range, you could easily spend a fortune here.

Since I’m trying to stretch my budget to last a full year (and I’m only in my fifth month), my original attitude when I arrived here was to just see as much as I could, skip the activities and simply enjoy moving around the country. I selected a few activities that seemed most appealing to me and just sat out the rest. In retrospect, there were a few things I missed that I wish I hadn’t.

I wish I had made the Tongariro Crossing (rated as one of the best day hikes in the world). I wish I had pushed myself to wake up early and do the 8-hour Franz Josef Glacier hike. And I wish I had taken the plunge on the world’s original bungee site at Kawarau Gorge.

If you’re heading to New Zealand any time soon and are fit enough to partake, don’t miss these three.

While the general attitude here is centered on thrills and extreme sports, New Zealand has some of the most remarkable natural scenery I’ve ever seen. One day, you could be driving through the vineyards of Nelson, and the next, heading across the majestic Southern Alps. Most locals refer to the South Island as the “real” New Zealand, and once you see the dramatic landscapes you’ll understand why. My tiny photographs could never capture the grandeur of this place.

I just hope that I'll be able to eventually sort out the massive collection of impressions and memories I've made here. I moved a little too fast for my taste (especially on the South Island), and feel a bit over-stimulated here at the end of the road. Click here to see everywhere I've been.

Come this weekend, I'll be in Cairns, Australia, hopefully enjoying the warm sunshine once again. All in good time too, I'm ready to burn the jeans and sweatshirts that I've been wearing every day for the past month. Maybe I'll come back to New Zealand one day... but next time, I'm coming in the summer.

May 31, 2006