There is a traveller living inside all of us. For centuries humans have walked, sailed, crossed mountains and oceans just to discover what lies beyond. That instinct never really disappears. It was always in me too, quiet but constant. I would dream of faraway places, but reality kept me busy with “life”. The idea of travelling solo both excited and frightened me. For a long time I avoided it… until one day, fear felt smaller than my desire to live my own story!
New Zealand wasn’t just a destination, it was my beginning...!
I never imagined I’d travel alone. The idea of flying across the world, 19 hours by myself, felt too much. Honestly, I thought it wasn’t something I could ever do. I used to feel awkward even ordering food alone in a restaurant. So solo travel? That sounded impossible!
Then one day, randomly, my brother said, “Why don’t you visit New Zealand? Our cousin is there.” I reacted with disbelief at first, because it sounded too big and too sudden. But that thought stayed in my mind. Out of sheer curiosity, I looked up New Zealand’s pictures. I scrolled and scrolled, losing myself in the scenery : Lakes that looked unreal, snowy mountains touching the clouds, glowworm caves shining like stars, black beaches and colourful little towns. I was amazed. It was in that instant, without giving it another thought, that I booked my ticket!
When I landed in Auckland after a long 19-hour journey, I was tired and nervous but also relieved to see my cousin. The first few days were easy with familiar food, short walks and long naps. But the real turning point came when my cousin went to work and I found myself alone in the house. I remember sitting quietly and thinking, “So now what?”
Little steps…!
I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know where to start. So I just walked around the city. I stopped for an ice cream, sat on a bench and watched people passing by. I figured out bus routes and slowly got comfortable finding my way around. Then one day, I took a ferry to a nearby island and that tiny step felt like a personal achievement. After that confidence boost, I booked a day trip to the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, a small town on the North Island where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies were filmed. I had always wanted to see it because the movies fascinated me. Walking through the rolling green hills, the little hobbit houses and the round colourful doors felt surreal. The place didn’t feel like a film set. It felt like a magical living village. I kept touching the fences and the tiny props just to make sure it was real.
My first major adventure came after that: Rangitoto Island. It is a volcanic island near Auckland with rugged trails and natural lava caves. I went alone because I wanted to experience something wild, something I had only read about. I had studied volcanoes in school, but walking on real black volcanic rock and crawling through lava tunnels felt like stepping into a textbook that had suddenly come alive. Parts of the trail looked as if the earth had paused mid explosion. The hike was not easy, the sun was strong and the path was uneven, but with every step I felt more in control of myself. When I finally reached the summit and sat quietly with the view in front of me, I felt something, a shift inside. I climbed an active volcano by myself. For the first time, I thought, “I can actually do this!”
As I explored more, I started talking to more travellers. Some suggested I visit the South Island. The idea of flying again by myself felt like a huge leap. I was still figuring things out. But something in me said yes. So I booked the flight.
At first, I was planning to book hotel rooms because I didn’t know how hostels worked. The thought of sharing a room with strangers was intimidating.
But my cousin encouraged me to try staying at backpacker hostels. I was unsure, but I gave it a shot.
It was one of the best choices I made!
At the hostel, I met people from all over the world. Some of them were solo travellers too. We cooked together, shared stories, made random plans. I learned more about travel just by listening. I got tips, learned bus routes, figured out what to do next. I found myself casually chatting with people from completely different cultures. It was eye-opening.
I started noticing the changes in me, the confidence I felt around strangers, the way I carried myself, and the things that genuinely made me happy. I had always been someone who felt most at ease in my own circle, but this trip showed me a different side of myself. I wasn’t just comfortable, I was thriving!
I liked connecting with people, I liked the freedom of deciding what to do next, of saying yes to unplanned adventures.
One night in Queenstown, I met a group of travellers who were also winging it with no plans. We ended up camping on a hill under the stars. No tents. Just sleeping bags. The sky was unbelievably clear. We whispered stories, laughed, and watched the stars in silence. That night felt like magic. I didn’t feel like a tourist. I felt part of something!
Another time, in Glenorchy, I realised I had only booked a one-way bus ticket. I was stranded twenty miles outside the town with no transportation. I started walking, hoping someone would give me a lift. Luckily, a friend I had met earlier joined me. We hitchhiked back, walking beside stunning mountains and crystal-clear lakes until some kind strangers from the UK picked us up. That moment reminded me how generous people can be!
Milford Sound was completely different from everything I had seen before. The mountains looked ancient, dark, and powerful, and the water felt almost unreal. It poured the entire day, but the rain made the waterfalls look wild and alive. The whole place felt untouched, like nature doing whatever it wanted without apology.
I sat with travellers from all around the world. We had different lives and different stories, but somehow, we were united by the same curiosity for the world. Surrounded by mist, rain, and waterfalls crashing down from impossible heights, I realised that travelling isn’t just about ticking off places. It’s about the people we meet, the stories we exchange, and the moments we share with people we may never see again but somehow never forget!
Some days, I simply got on random buses, got off at some quiet town, explored for a few hours, and got back on the same bus later. I didn’t have a plan. I just followed what felt right. Waterfalls, hills, beaches, silent lakes. New Zealand kept surprising me!
What New Zealand Gave Me..!
I learnt so much about myself out there, far from everything familiar. I was stronger, more curious, and more independent than I had ever imagined! I stopped being scared of being alone. I actually started enjoying it!
Solo doesn’t mean lonely. It means giving yourself a chance to grow. It means making friends from everywhere, even if just for a day. It means listening to your own rhythm and choosing your own story. Travelling solo taught me that. And once I experienced it, I couldn’t stop. Something in me had changed forever.
And that’s how someone who once felt nervous about eating alone in a restaurant ended up discovering the joy of her own company and fell in love with who she was becoming!
