After months of dreaming and planning, it’s almost here: in a few weeks, I leave for New Zealand for two whole months, to be followed by an additional three months in Europe through late spring into summer.
Yes, it’s not just a little trip this year but a full six-month break. I’ve been able to arrange an unpaid leave of absence from my company so can look forward to returning at the end of my travels (and restocking my bank account).
I realised early last year that I needed to take some kind of break from work, which had been increasingly stressful through 2020 and 2021. I work for a wonderful company and love the people I work with, but we are all rather intense. Life is too short not to take a breath every now and then, something I was reminded of between a few health issues of my own, scary diagnoses for friends and colleagues, and the sudden tragic death of a woman I’d known professionally for a decade, who was killed alongside her husband during a horrible storm. Her death really shook me as we were roughly the same age and I had rejoiced with her over so many milestones. Remembering her excitement at overcoming family prejudices to marry her high school sweetheart, planning an epic holiday in Southeast Asia, and then becoming a mother, it was – and is – upsetting to realise she won’t have any more of those moments. But I can.
I am healthy, I am relatively rich, I’m independent and there are things I want to do and see while all of that remains true!
So off I go! As usual, I’d be delighted hear your travel tips. Here’s a quick outline of where I’m headed for the first big leg of the trip – I’ll be back in April with more details about Europe:
New Zealand
- Russell
- Taupo
- Napier
- Wellington
- Nelson
- Abel Tasman (multi-day walk)
- Marlborough Sounds (multi-day walk)
- Christchurch
- Akaroa
- Mount Cook
- Wanaka
- Dunedin
- Auckland
The Captive Reader 
It sounds an ideal jaunt … Wellington is the birth place of my favourite writer Katherine Mansfield … will you be posting while away or waiting until you return?
I’ll try and preschedule some posts, but am not sure how much I’ll manage on the road. I’ve historically been good at the Library Loot posts (I keep up my e-book supply while travelling) so should be good for those at least!
Gutenberg has a number of items for Katherine Mansfield … of her Virginia Woolf said ‘the only writing I have ever been jealous of’ … all short stories …
What an amazing trip you have planned, Claire. I hope if you have time you’ll be posting updates. New Zealand is on my “bucket list,” mostly from all the books I read there set.
I was amazed by how few books I’d read about New Zealand when I started planning this trip but have certainly read a lot over the last year! We’ll see what I manage to post from the road but I’ll try and give some updates.
Have a wonderful time! Have I recommended Mary Scott? She is the Betty MacDonald of New Zealand. You will doubtless find her books in used bookstores. Besides Essie and Clare Mallory, she is my favorite New Zealand author.
My month in London last June was a great experience, although a bit claustrophobic at times being with a 90 undergraduates and 9 other graduate students, all much younger (and acting it). You will have much more freedom and fun.
If you have, I missed that recommendation! And Clare Mallory. I’ll keep an eye out for both of them.
Congratulations! I look forward to hearing from you, even if sporadically. Please keep us posted.
I’ll do my best!
Happy travels!!
Thanks!
Sounds wonderful. Have fun. Save travels.
Nora (from Kingston, ON)
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks, Nora!
This sounds like an absolute dream of a trip. I hope you have an amazing time and update us about all your adventures at some point.
Thank you, Jennifer! I’ll do my best to provide some updates along the way.
I hope you have a wonderful time and I’m looking forward to hearing about it. NZ is on my list and hopefully not too far away!
It’s been on my list a long time too! I hope you make it there soon.
Have a wonderful time!
Are there any guides you’d recommend? May I ask what books/guides you used to plan your trip?
Looking forward to read you.
Hi Karima, I used every book I could find at the library plus a LOT of time online corresponding with local tourism offices since so many things have changed with Covid. I really liked the Moon and Rough Guide books, plus Lonely Planet is always reliable.
That is amazing and so inspiring!! Enjoy!!
Thank you!
How exciting that you are coming to my corner of the world, Claire. I hope that the weather settles before you get here and that you have a wonderful time. I can’t wait to hear you stories of your travels.
I am so excited to see it! A friend who lives in Auckland was sharing updates during the worst of the storm and it looked truly scary. I’ve a bit more time before I leave and am certainly hoping for nice weather.
Wonderful. Yes, time to just DO it.
I loved my trip to NZ in 2008,
The most reassuring thing about heading to NZ is that literally everyone I’ve ever met who has been there has loved it. I think the only other place I’ve heard of that happening is Slovenia! (where I’ll also be heading this year)
Sounds like a dream! I hope you have a fantastic time, though I will miss your Library Loot posts. 🙂
I’ll do my best to keep the posts going while I’m away – just with library e-books rather than physical ones!
Best wishes and you will need the two months! We lived there for 4 years 2016-2020, and it is the most amazing country. I am not sure how you are travelling, but the great thing is if you rent a car you shouldn’t have to pay drop off charges. I assume you will fly into Auckland. Rent a car and drive your way through your places to Wellington. Drop off the car and take the ferry to Picton. Piclkup the train to Christchurch with a stopover in Kaikōura. Rent a car in Christchurch and do the rest of the south island and fly back from Queenstown.