It was interesting to drive through this seemingly natural landscape and realize that the flora and fauna is relatively recent (within the last few centuries). The original forests were decimated with the colonization by Europeans and replaced with European flora that would sustain their Euro-centric vision for NZ. And before the Polynesian settlers, the Māori's ancestors, came there weren't even any large mammals on the islands! I think the trip would have been a little more relaxing for me if I hadn't been thinking about all the environmental history of it the entire time!
It was also interesting to see how even the smallest towns had a rubgy pitch. And most had skate parks also.
Everyone was really nice and welcoming on the trip. I don't think anyone treated us badly, deserved or not, the entire time. Not even when we ran onto the dock of our glowworm tour boat as it was leaving and tried to board it.
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