At the end of November 2025, after a long sea voyage, we reached the Bay of Islands—our first stop in New Zealand. The green landscape, dotted with countless bays and islands, welcomed us with fresh air and soft light. That very same day, we docked in Opua, completed all entry formalities with customs and the authorities, cleared our boat Katinka Enjoy, and had finally officially arrived in the country. We spent the first few days exploring the area, restocking supplies, and unwinding—after 1.5 weeks on the open Pacific, the sheltered waters of the Bay of Islands felt like a welcome home.
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| Bay of Islands, New Zealand |
After a week of settling in, we sailed further south along the coast until we reached Whangarei and moored at Okara Marina. That’s where we made our decision: we didn’t want to just travel by boat, but also explore the interior and the remote corners of New Zealand—so we bought a car. It was a big step, but exactly the right decision: Now we could be mobile, independent of tides and wind, and travel extensively across both islands while Katinka Enjoy remained safely in the harbor.
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| A car for traveling |
Our first major trip took us south from Whangarei by road—past green hills, small villages, and vast pastures—to Waiuku and Taupo, until we reached Wellington, the capital at the southern tip of the North Island. There, we took the ferry across the famous Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island. The crossing was impressive, passing the steep, forested slopes of the Marlborough Sounds—a first taste of the wilderness that awaited us there.
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| Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand |
Our grand tour began on the South Island: From Picton, we drove to Blenheim, known for its vineyards and sunny, arid landscape. We continued south to Christchurch, the “Garden City” with its British flair and wide boulevards. The journey took us further along the east coast via Oamaru, famous for its Victorian architecture and penguin colonies, until we reached Dunedin—a city with Scottish roots, surrounded by hills and steep coastlines.
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| Christchurch, New Zealand |
Our journey took us all the way south to Bluff, the southernmost point of our trip and the starting point for the drive to Milford Sound. The road there is one of the most beautiful in the world: past steep mountains, deep lakes, waterfalls, and dense rainforest vegetation. Milford Sound itself, with its sheer cliffs and countless waterfalls plunging from above, was one of the most impressive places we’ve ever seen.
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| Milford Sound, New Zealand |
On the way back, we reached Queenstown, the town of the rich and famous, and drove through the glacier region—Franz Josef and Fox Glacier—where we could see firsthand how the eternal ice extends right up to the edge of the rainforests. The historic town of Ross, where gold was once mined, made a deep impression on us. We made our way slowly north via Nelson until we arrived back in Picton and took the ferry back to Wellington, from where we drove back to Whangarei. This road trip was unforgettable: we saw the South Island in all its diversity—from the sunny wine region to the icy mountains, from the coast to the interior.
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| Ross, New Zealand |
Back on the North Island, we drove on to Hawke’s Bay. It was a wonderful stay in one of New Zealand’s most fertile regions, with vast orchards, vineyards, and a sunny climate. We spent a few relaxing weeks there, exploring the coast and the hinterland, and enjoying the local cuisine and the welcoming atmosphere.
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| Napier, New Zealand |
We then continued north to Wellsford, a small town between Whangarei and Auckland. There, we had a very special experience: we were able to stay on a farm and watch the sheep being tended. We were part of farm life and enjoyed our time there. We let our minds wander under the open sky, amidst the vast green pastures, and had conversations with the farmers, who welcomed us warmly. It was a time full of new impressions, rough weather, but also great contentment. We got to know the country and its people from a completely different perspective—not as tourists, but as part of life out here.
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By mid-April, our time on the farm had come to an end, and we returned to Whangarei to our Katinka Enjoy. Our time traveling had been wonderful, but now an important task lay ahead: the boat had to be prepared, serviced, and hauled out of the water for the duration of our absence. On May 1—a day we described in detail on the blog—the time had finally come. Before sunrise, at 6 a.m., in the rain and with almost no wind, I got everything ready. I stowed everything away, cast off the lines, and slowly made my way out of Okara Marina. Extra caution was required, as the channel isn’t fully dredged and shoals lurk at the edges—a challenge in the dark with poor visibility, but I knew the route exactly.
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| Whangarei, New Zealand |
I headed to Norsand, to the slipway there. There, we finally took the Katinka Enjoy out of the water and stowed her safely.
As soon as everything was taken care of, I made my way back to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city and known as the “City of Sails.” Gaby was already waiting for me. We’ll be spending a few more days here—reflecting on the past six months, taking care of final organizational matters, and saying goodbye to friends and the country that has given us so much.
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| Auckland, New Zealand |
From the Bay of Islands to our cross-country road trip across both islands, our time on the farm near Wellsford, and our work on the boat, our time in New Zealand was richer, more varied, and more beautiful than we could ever have imagined. We got to know the country not only from the water but also from the road and the countryside; we experienced and immersed ourselves in nature and shared many unforgettable moments.
Now we’re getting ready for the journey back to Germany. New Zealand will remain in our memories as one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries, and Katinka Enjoy is already waiting for the next adventure when we return one day. Until then, fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.
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