Everyone has a story. Mine is that I always wanted to visit New Zealand, but two days before the flight, I changed my mind.

It was a childhood dream to visit this far-far-away land, and even when I bought my one-way ticket, I felt confident in my decision. I tried to figure out what went wrong for weeks. Probably the most annoying airport check-in (thank you, Gold Coast crew, for this unforgettable memory), the awkward 3 hours sobbing on the plane (I can’t explain it), and the super exhausted midnight landing in Auckland didn’t help much on the case. Oh, and the sweet cherry on top, when my host (who picked me up at the airport) made this revelation after 5 minutes of chatting: We don’t always get what we want. The context was different, but the sentence did hit hard.

After this bold arrival, I spent the first two 2 weeks in a really bad cold, feeling lost, tired, lonely, but most of all, stagnant. Then it finally clicked: the reason things went wrong was.. because of me (surprise). I was like a stubborn child; I was lying, and hiding, and trying to force a path and connections, but in reality, I was off track. Deep inside, I knew I had to do the dirty work and that everything would be alright in the end.. but the talk still had to be walked, and of course, that’s uncomfortable – I instinctively tried to avoid it (I’m sure you feel me). But hey, show me a better place to sit down and get your shit together than at the end of the world.

Looking back, I didn’t do much touristy in my 3 weeks in Auckland. There’s a saying in the city: If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes. Few things in life are so accurate. During my stay, I experienced 3 seasons almost every day. The weather can change every 10-20 minutes, and this hectic climate is exhausting for my biorhythm, annoying for my mind, and leaves a massive bomb of frustration at the end of the day. I never thought I would talk about the weather this much; still, here I am. And this is not an icebreaker small talk; this is the reality.

However, despite all the subtropical climate annoyances, there is something worth arriving during the holiday season: the pohutukawa tree. I always imagined visiting NZ in blooming time, and it just happened without planning. Even if I hated to be here, the sight of these trees made up for everything.

But I wouldn’t say that Auckland is as bad as people usually describe it. It has everything a capital offers.. just in a compact size; lots of galleries, parties, concerts, events keep you entertained, and it’s strong in Asian food (yass!). Actually, New Zealand feels like little China. I love conspiracy theories, so one of my favourite Sunday evening activities was to have a bottle of wine and Jungle on the turntable in the background and discuss how money flows around the world and how that gives some countries the privilege of new colonization.

Now let me walk you around the city a bit:

Lorne Street is the Asian heart of the city, with the best food. Viaduct Harbour, Wynyard Quarter, and Ponsonby Road are full of nice restaurants, bars, and shops, and you can find cool street art on the walls.

During the holidays, Franklin Road is a must-see. It’s the dedicated Christmas street, but honestly, I could have been more impressed. I loved all the lights, but it looks like people put only the bare minimum effort into ideas. We can call it laid back or easygoing.. or just too basic.

K Road (Karangahape Road) is the real deal, with a strong 90s European vibe. The crazy thrift stores, Caluzzi, and, in my opinion, the excellent Asian supermarket make it mandatory. Here’s also the Symonds Street Cemetery, which – strange or not – has a very calm ambiance and is a perfect spot for a relaxing walk.

By the way, good news for my smoker people: contrary to the police state Australia, New Zealand has a pretty loose smoking policy, meaning you can smoke on the street, and smoking terraces are everywhere (Australia – New Zealand 0:1).

If you’re done with the city and need some nature without getting in the car, walk up to Mount Eden. It can be very windy, but the summit of the volcano and the view are superb.

And if you want even more nature around you, there are plenty of islands, beaches, and day trip destinations around Auckland – the city is for living, the surrounding area is for leisure. Of course, only when the weather allows it. I could only visit Muriwai because whenever we planned to go to the beach, it started raining.

Finally, a very handy thing: Bookme. As soon as you land, start scrolling. Since this is the most expensive country I’ve visited so far (Australia – New Zealand 1:1), you can save a lot with the deals on the site. In Auckland, I only went to the Odyssey Sensory Maze; don’t expect too much (I think this starts to be a Kiwi thing), but it’s fun for a rainy day.

Retrospectively, I can appreciate the time I spent here – I was in the perfect place to deal with my personal struggles – but the vibe (= weather) didn’t sell the city to stay longer.. I was happy to get out and explore something else.