Let me tell you a funny story about my journey into becoming a rugby fan. Rugby, if you’re not familiar, is a game where players run into each other with such intensity that it feels like they’re trying to take each other out. There’s a ball somewhere in there and some kind of scoring system, but the real thrill is in the collisions. And when it comes to rugby, there’s one team that stands above the rest: the All Blacks, New Zealand’s national team. Picture a group of guys as big as small cars, ready to cause you physical harm. Your only defense? Your will to live and a few teammates who’ve practiced some drills with you.
Before the game starts, the All Blacks perform the haka, a Maori tradition that loosely translates to "We’ve been practicing tackling while you were reading the rulebook. This won’t end well for you." It’s an incredible sight, especially when performed against teams like the French, who seem to be holding hands in fear.
I had the chance to watch the All Blacks play against Australia on August 24th in Wellington, but due to my lack of planning, I was on a plane over the Pacific while the game was happening. Major fail on my part.
When I finally arrived in Auckland, I was either hit by a chair by celebrating All Blacks fans or calmly welcomed to New Zealand. I picked up my luggage and started looking for my rental car agency, which I eventually found out was off-site. I called Ace Rentals, a great low-cost option in New Zealand, and they picked me up in their shuttle.
Driving in New Zealand was an adventure. The steering wheel was on the other side, and the turn signal was on the right side of the wheel, which led to some hilarious moments of turning on the windshield wipers instead of the signal.
I had a whole day to get to my destination, the Hilton Lake Taupo, and I decided to take a scenic route through the Coromandel Peninsula. The lush, green scenery reminded me of Scotland or rural Norway. I got a bit motion sick from the winding roads, but the views were worth it.
After a quick lunch and fuel stop in the town of Coromandel, I headed straight towards Taupo. The four-hour drive was fueled by Red Bull and the anticipation of reaching my destination.
When I finally arrived at the Hilton Lake Taupo (which isn’t exactly on the lake), I was given a complimentary upgrade to a suite. I unpacked, fell into bed, and slept off my jetlag. The next day, I woke up ready to explore New Zealand.
And that’s the story of my first few days in New Zealand, a journey filled with rugby, scenic drives, and a bit of motion sickness.
