New Zealand is open for travel

Maggie, your localie from New Zealand

Greetings from winter Christchurch! Yes, that's how winter in New Zealand looks like!

I'm a Canadian who moved to the UK for work and stayed longer than planned because I met a Russian there. We ended up in Aotearoa New Zealand because it was the most beautiful place that we could easily move together! For my day job I work in student support at Te Kura, the online school. It's a combo of mentoring and career support, which I love.

I love to draw and paint, and I sell pet portraits as a little side hustle 🐈‍⬛ 🐕. I also love hiking, skiing, swimming (hot springs are my favourite!), cycling around the city, and playing basketball. I'm also passionate about food - eating it and cooking it! I grow veggies in my garden and make cider from our apple and pear trees.

Now let's move to the point! 🕺

Why you should go to New Zealand

🇳🇿 Soon it will finally be possible! The NZ border has been closed to international tourists since the start of the pandemic and it finally opens again on the 1st of August. However, you must be vaccinated and take two rapid antigen tests after arriving. For more information, you can visit this site. covid19.govt.nz 🇳🇿 It's not that hard and expensive as you might think it is. I suggest you to rent a van and camp in it, rather than renting a car and separate accommodation. This is because you can camp for free nearly anywhere as long as your vehicle contains a toilet. And this is the service where you get a free rental van as long as you drive it to a certain place by a certain time. transfercar

🇳🇿 It's the ultimate road trip destination. The roads in the South Island are so scenic that driving is an activity all by itself. Moreover, you can ski in the mountains in the morning and be on the beach by sunset. The long shape of the South Island means that you are never more than an hour or two from the ocean. 🇳🇿 Witness a strong indigenous culture - Māori are the first people of New Zealand and visitors can learn a lot from their culture's philosophical way of looking at the world.

🇳🇿 It's a paradise for rock climbers, mountain bikers, hikers and outdoor adventurers of any kind. 🇳🇿 Witness a unique natural environment- New Zealand has its own climate with birds, plants and a dinosaur-like lizard (the tuatara) that exist nowhere else in the world. There are plenty of nature reserves where you can see unusual creatures in the wild as well as stunning forests, waterfalls and more.

Why you should explore NZ with me and Localie platform

💰 I'll listen to what you're looking for and plan something that suits your interests and budget. 👭 I already host friends frequently and am used to showing people with different tastes and priorities around the city and area. 🍜 I also love a good snack and know where to find delicious treats and street food all over the city. 🚗 I can pick you up at the airport or drive you to an experience out of town. ❤️ Localie is an easy-to-use and safe platform for the travellers who are eager to explore new places from the perspective of locals. Our client service will help you if anything goes wrong.

One more secret tip for you 🤫 Did you know that NZ border is slow to cross because of "biosecurity" — the natural environment here is unique and fragile, you can't bring in any plant matter or dirt? However, if you fly into Christchurch (where I live) rather than Auckland, the border crossing is much faster because the airport is smaller. And van rentals are cheaper here! Now I hope you are inspired enough and ready to explore New Zealand! Please contact me via my profile on the Localie platform by simply pressing the button "Contact the localie".