Ka kite anō, New Zealand! (Day 7)

The last day went exactly as planned (at least time-wise).

The English Cherry Tree Manor

It started with breakfast at the English Cherry Tree Manor. This time it was served in the house's dining room, together with our hosts and a couple of other guests. It was a full English breakfast that also included fruit picked from the manor trees. It might not have been as big as some of the other breakfasts we had during the trip, but it was excellent and more than enough.

During breakfast, we ended up chatting with everyone at the table. It was a relaxed conversation in which we learned more about life in New Zealand and its everyday idiosyncrasies. We stayed a bit longer than intended, but it was worth it.

Afterward, we had time to walk around the manor's gardens, which were beautiful even in their off-season state. Also, we were able to feed the alpacas in the meadow behind the house. The kids especially enjoyed this part, of course.

Last Minute Shopping and Drive to Auckland

We probably could have also visited the Hamilton Gardens, but instead we spent that time buying souvenirs and a replacement suitcase. One of our carry-ons had broken, and our larger luggage was already full. After all, we were still tourists, and between a broken suitcase and a few last-minute requests from family back home, souvenir shopping suddenly felt less optional and more "urgent."

The drive from Hamilton to Auckland Airport took a little over an hour and a half, partly due to traffic as we approached the city and partly because we stopped to refuel before returning the rental car.

Returning the car and entering the airport went considerably more smoothly than our arrival six days earlier. There was less traffic and fewer queues. So we found ourselves at the terminal with about three hours to go through check-in and security and have some time to spare. Exactly as planned.

Soon after, we were on our Air New Zealand flight back to Sydney. The flight was smooth and uneventful, with no turbulence at all. I was also lucky enough to have an empty seat next to me, which made the journey even more comfortable (some of us have long legs.)

End of Trip Reflections

Looking back from the plane, I couldn't help but feel a slight regret that we hadn't had more time in New Zealand. We had already adjusted our plans along the way due to weather and logistics, and we never made it to the East Coast, which had been part of the original idea.

With more time, we could have added many extra stops and experiences. That was essentially the same trade-off I had been thinking about back when I first planned the trip: trying to fit in as much as possible while still keeping it realistic with kids, driving distances (in an unknown country), and energy levels. I wanted this to be a fun trip, not one where we spent most of our time in the car.

In the end, we didn't see everything we could have seen or do everything we had initially imagined. But the trip felt complete in its own way, and everyone had enough energy to enjoy everything we did.

And for me, that's what makes a good trip.

Kids' Verdict

Score: 7.5/10
Favorite Activity: Feeding the alpacas and seeing the baby alpaca
Biggest Surprise: At breakfast, the bread tasted like curry
Complaint of the Day: There was not much to do this day. Not enough time in New Zealand
Driving Time: Good. We didn't do much driving

This is the end of our New Zealand adventure. It's one of those trips we'll look back on with nostalgia. The kind that becomes a happy family memory. And the kids were at the perfect ages to remember parts of it as they grow older. Hopefully, it will always bring a smile to their faces.

If you missed any of the days or want to read more about what we did, you can find our whole trip in these articles:

Let me know what you think about our short trip, and leave a comment with your New Zealand stories. I really loved our time there and would go back... and it wouldn't take much convincing for my wife and kids to accept.