![E is for Earland Falls and Emily Creek (continuing wtih the alphabet challenge)](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/cimg6833-470x140.jpg)
I was starting to get a bit worried about finding E, as it turns out nowhere in New Zealand begins with this pesky letter. (Ok…
![Lessons from Christchurch](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/cimg7080-470x140.jpg)
The first time I went to Christchurch, like many tourists, I completely wrote it off. I arrived the day after the one year anniversary of the…
![#12 Walk on New Zealand's Franz Josef glacier](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ice-470x140.jpg)
The night before I went on the Franz Josef glacier I saw a couple shivering over the hot soup offered by the hostel. “Have you…
![#11 Swim with dolphins](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dolphins-470x140.jpg)
Imagine for a minute you’re a dolphin (just go with me on this one people). You’re merrily swimming along with about 400 of your mates…
![#10 Do a skydive in New Zealand](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/skydive-470x140.jpg)
Ok, first of all I have a confession to make. Despite asking people for ideas for my 30b430 list, I really did not want to…
![Waitangi Day in New Zealand](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/teraowaitangi-lg-470x140.jpg)
One of the things I love most about travelling is seeing different cultures. I’m a nosy person at the best of times so I love…
![#9 Do something which terrifies me](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/9-320x140.jpg)
Once upon a time there was a girl who loved to dive. Until one night when her buddy left her. Alone. In the dark. And despite…
![Teething troubles in New Zealand.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/themes/oxygen/images/archive-thumbnail-placeholder.gif)
The dentist was still talking but to be honest I’d stopped listening after the words “root canal”. It seems that while I had embraced South…
![A shock to the system](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_470,h_140/https://thegrown-upgapyear.com/wp-content/themes/oxygen/images/archive-thumbnail-placeholder.gif)
The first thing that’s struck me since arriving in New Zealand is how easy everything is. As soon as I arrived at the airport there…