But I think it is time to show you WHY I want to be in here and why YOU definitely should come and visit this gorgeous country.

First of all, quite obvious and hard to miss: MOUNTAINS! You can’t talk about New Zealand without mentioning the mountains. About 60% of the South Island is covered by mountain ranges with peaks over 1.500 metres high!! The most famous one is Mount Cook, with its 3.754 meter the highest in New Zealand. But on the North Island there are a lot of impressive ones as well, like Tongariro (famous of the Tongariro Crossing) and Mount Ruapehu. Anyways, I think you get the point: there are a lot of mountains to conquer over here!

A bit closer to the ground are the lakes. Also hard to miss. New Zealand has 3.820 lakes with a surface area larger than one hectare! So if you don’t like lakes, don’t bother coming to New Zealand (but hey, who doesn’t like lakes?).

If you have a soft spot for animals, like me, you definitely won’t regret visiting New Zealand! You probably wouldn’t think so, but New Zealand has penguins, seals, dolphins, whales, sea lions, kiwis, heaps of other big birds that don’t know how to fly, deer, llama’s and lots of sheep. I love visiting the cute little seals around Kaikoura. They’re cheeky and adorable. Before I knew it, I had taken 220 photos… They’re just so damn cute.

Are you already dreaming about New Zealand? Good! Don’t forget though, it is an expensive country. My eyes still pop out of my head now and then. I realise now how cheap Europe is.  When you decide to go on a Working Holiday Visa or just a holiday, you will spend quite some money. Flights are expensive and the daily life is that too. But what you get in return is SO worth the money!

Another thing that makes New Zealand an awesome place are the outdoor activities. So many options, like hiking, mountain biking, surfing, climbing, running, kayaking, and all of those in beautiful surroundings!

New Zealand is not close, it’s seriously the other side of the world. I can’t just jump on a plane for a couple of hours to visit my family and friends for the weekend, which is a bummer. Just being on the plane back and forth already takes an entire weekend. Those cosy evenings at the fire with my dad, those dinners with my mom, baking with my little brother, I have to put a hold on that. But all the beauty (and Skype) helps a lot to live so far away.

Every day again I realise how beautiful this country is. I wish there were more synonyms to describe it. Even just by looking out of the window, I’m stunned. We live on the hills in Christchurch, looking outside I see the city in front of me and the mountains covered with snow in the back. Add some rays of light with different layers of colours and you get a spectacle.

But the sunrise and sunset aren’t only awesome from the balcony, in the nature it’s that tiny bit better. Don’t you think so?

I hope at this point you’re as mesmerised by its beauty as me. I also hope you’ll start booking those plane tickets! My dear friends, family and readers, no more excuses, I’m giving you a preview how beautiful it is here and I promise you it is even better in real life!!

Would you like to visit New Zealand? Or have you already been here? What excites you the most about New Zealand?

The post THIS is why you have to visit New Zealand! appeared first on The World is a Circus.

I take a few breaths, get that heart under control and call back. A friendly lady answers: “Hi Lieselot, can you come to Immigration today with your passport, so I can put the label in it?” I’m like: yes, of course, I can come by… And then I realise what she said! “Sooo… I have the visa?”. I hear her smile and say “Yes, I gave you the work visa”.

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO After a little happy dance in bed, I told her that I’ve never had such a good-news-call that early in the morning! * Smile again *

I can stay in New Zealand. I can stay in New Zealand! I CAN STAY IN NEW ZEALAND!

No need to pack my bag in 3 weeks, no need to find a new country, no need to say good bye to these massive mountains. No need to post more about my uncertain situation. I can’t believe it! I can’t wait to start my day tomorrow, waking up without any stress about my current situation. Time to start planning some more adventures in New Zealand! This country has so many hidden treasures, ready for me to explore!

I wouldn’t have been here without Stephen though, the man at the counter at Immigration Christchurch. He’s the one that gives all the advice to people. He sits there all by himself, has non-stop people coming over with tons of questions and he’s ALWAYS smiling, giving you courage and happy to help. He’s the one that mentioned I could still apply for a partnership visa, although we didn’t tick all the boxes. He’s the one that encouraged me to apply and because of him I won’t have to leave New Zealand. Is it obvious I’m super grateful?

I wanted to share my happiness and of course thank him, so I went to give him some Belgian chocolates. He recognised me when I walked in (I’ve been there so many times) and with a friendly face he asks what he can do. I tell him I’m coming to thank him, ’cause I wouldn’t still be here without him (hence the last paragraph). He was super happy with my visit, but wasn’t allowed to accept any gifts..

So now, I’m celebrating my new visa with some Belgian chocolates. To you Stephen!

Do you have any visa stories, with a happy or bad ending? Let me know!

The post My New Zealand Visa is approved! Happy dance! appeared first on The World is a Circus.

You would like to see a geyser erupt? Check!
You’d like to see hot steam escaping out of gardens and cracks in the road? Check!
You love the penetrating smell of sulphur in your nostrils? Check!

These are all awesome (and smelly) things to experience, but there is so much more around!

When you visit Rotorua, try to look further than the typical Rotorua to do-list and check these other awesome options out:

1. Okere Falls

The Okere Falls Scenic Reserve is a little drive from Rotorua (21 km). Through some easy walks you discover the Kaituna river with several impressive waterfalls, embedded in a rich green forest.

I’m always impressed by the power of waterfalls and with these ones the same story. The sound, the movement, the waves, it always makes my heart pump a bit faster, although I’m standing safe and sound on the side.

And it’s not only beauty here, this place also has a rich Maori history. Many wars were fought here and there are caves where women and children were hidden from invading tribes. You can still see some of the caves. It was by the way already a ‘popular spot’ in the 1900s. A photographer was present every day to take pictures of the ladies in their nice dresses and the gents in their suits in front of the waterfalls.

Afterwards I discovered that you can also raft here! The waterfalls are so loud, super strong and look dangerous. I would love to raft there, but it would definitely be with a TINY heart… We’ll see what the future brings.

2. The Redwood Forest

I didn’t expect a lot of ‘yet another forest’, but this is actually a really cool one! The trees are huge and there are plenty! I felt so small walking around there. And always having been the tallest in primary and high school, that’s a great feeling for a change (I especially remember a school dance at age 13 where I was a head taller than all the boys… still processing that trauma)

Anyways. The Redwood Forest! It is right at the edge of Rotorua, super accessible. Over 5600 hectares of forest gives you an awesome place to walk and play around, mountain bike or go for a run. Walking there with a fresh nose made me feel alive and healthy. It’s a great spot and just makes you feel good. Go!

3. Tarawera Lake

What I love about Rotorua is the amount of lakes. Lakes have something calming over them, and they are big over here! There are 16 lakes in Rotorua, we visited 3 of them. You have the obvious one, Lake Rotorua, which is huge (79,8km²) and at the border of the city. But as you can imagine, we like to discover the hidden, less obvious gems! And Lake Tarawera was definitely one of those.

I have to admit, it is still a big lake (41km²) and there is civilisation around, but it is so photogenic and with the sunset we had, it becomes an incredible beautiful place.

4. Canyon in Whirinaki Forest

With a 1,5h drive, this canyon is a bit further away from Rotorua, but if you like rainforests and a scenic canyon, it’s very worth the while!

Be careful though, if you leave Rotorua without having breakfast, like we did, you’re in trouble! There are no cafés around. None! We were lucky to bump into a little shop in some kind of shed. Bananas and a yoghurt it is!

The canyon is located in the Whirinaki Rainforest. There are small walks, big hiking routes and huts to spend the night. When Nico and I drove down there it had been raining the night before, so everything was fresh and super green! I felt in a fairylike environment, with the reflections of the sun trying to breach through the layers of trees and leafs.

We only stayed a couple of hours, but being there made me want to do one of the longer walks and stay overnight. I think I got excited because two ladies were leaving on a 2 day hike!

5. Lake Okataina

This lake is more hidden and cuter with its 10,8km². You follow a little windy road – Lake Okataina Road – until you reach the lake. And then there is almost nothing around, only the calmness of the lake! Hills are surrounding the lake, making it well protected and covered. Interesting spot to take some photos! And no tourists!

I hope these 5 options make you want to discover Rotorua a bit more! And if not, I hope you enjoy the Spas! ‘Cause I have to admit, that’s awesome too…

[Pics by my partner in crime Nico Babot]

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Why? Because of the threat of deportation. Ok, that’s a bit too dramatic, but I have to face the facts. In a month I have to leave New Zealand. My visa expires, the nightmare of every traveller who doesn’t want to leave yet.

New Zealand is the perfect spot for travellers who want a bit more than a vacation. It is SUPER easy to get a Working Holiday Visa. And you definitely should go for it. I don’t think I’ve met anyone that doesn’t like this country. So, if you can, apply for a Working Holiday Visa. This means you can live and work for an entire year in this gorgeous country, conquer some mountains and mingle with sheep.

But what if you want to stay longer? 

Although I promised my parents I would never ever fall in love on the other side of the world – I couldn’t help it. Sorry mom, sorry dad.

I was at the end of 2 months travelling through New Zealand, when I met my boyfriend. At that moment I had a working holiday visa of Australia (also very easy to get), but I decided to mess those plans up – all in the name of love. I applied for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa and started living and working there.

One year and a half later I am still in New Zealand. Unfortunately my Working Holiday visa has expired. A week (!) before the expiration date I got an extra visitors visa approved. Yay! Happy dance! I don’t have to leave – yet.

The plan was to find a job via a sponsorship, so I could stay in the country. Easier said than done. Being a journalist and editor, it’s not convenient to find long-term contracts, which as you can predict I needed for a sponsorship. On top of that you have to prove that there is no New Zealander that can do the job. Long story short: no job (yet).

It is the strangest feeling to fight for your stay in a country. I never had to deal with that before. Being European, I have the luxury of working and living everywhere in Europe. New Zealand is definitely not included. So my boyfriend and I were preparing ourselves to leave the country.

I went one last time to Immigration to prolong my visitors visa a little bit more. Do you notice we weren’t really ready to leave yet? The guy at the Christchurch Immigration counter is the happiest, helpful man ever. So I also asked a bit more about a partnership visa (we had already informed ourselves intensely on that subject, without luck). Suddenly he says we are allowed to apply for a different kind of partnership visa. My heart jumped like crazy. Is it possible? Will we be able to stay in New Zealand?

So at the moment you can find me at my table surrounded by papers, papers and papers. I am not ready to give up this country yet. And I definitely won’t go down without a fight. Will we still be in New Zealand next month? Will we have to leave? Life isn’t exactly boring at the moment, that’s the least I can say!

Next week I’m handing in our huge dossier and then I’m asking for all your crossed fingers and thumbs high up in the air! So I can stay to do a bit more of this:

and this

and this

and this

and this

and this

How about you? Did you ever have to leave a country when you didn’t want to? Have you had some visa stress as well? Let me know what you think!

Do you like these pictures? They’re by my boyfriend Nico Babot, see more of him on Instagram: @thekiwifrog. And my profile you can find under @theworldisacircus.

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“I am happy. I don’t know if it’s Robyn that’s singing in my ears or the calm wobbly rhythm of the train. When I look back to the me of a couple of years ago, I’ve grown so much. Not literally of course. I am much more confident and I just feel better in my skin.”

I’ve always had a thing for writing a couple of sentences here and there. In this case, I lost/forgot about it and after years my mom found it in a forgotten ’empty’ notebook that I had put in one of her drawers.

And I am happy she did. It made me smile and brought back the me of 4 years ago. It’s interesting how much can change in a few years. How a person can change. For example, the note said as well: “I love the life I have now […] I want to have fun and then when I am 28 I’ll have kids.

Oops. Sorry to disappoint you ‘past me’, I am 28 and not quite there yet. There are no kids on the horizon and none in my belly. That’s for later. It is funny how perspectives change over the years.

But the happiness stayed.

In general I am a happy person, but I’m also very emotional. My boyfriend calls it my emotion elevator. When I get excited, I’m immediately SUPER excited. I take the elevator all the way up to the highest floor of the ‘Happy Building’. And then when something doesn’t come through, my elevator crashes all the way down to the basement.

Travelling makes me super happy. But seriously, I’m often going up and down that elevator. I don’t know if people realise it, but travelling means dealing with a lot of ups and downs and A LOT OF emotions. To begin with there’s the departure. Leaving the people you love behind, to do what you want (right?). You have to learn to be alone, try to figure things out, you sometimes are or feel lost, you’re out of money or you miss your friends.

But then you suddenly find yourself flying above Hoover Dam in a tiny plane, discovering the Arizona desert or swimming in the most beautiful bay you’ve ever seen. You realize how lucky and spoiled you are. Travelling is like being on a roller coaster.

I love my roller coaster, with all its emotions. I wouldn’t want to delete the bad or sad moments, they help you shape into the person you are now. I know it is cliché, but it is true. You can only personally grow from living all those intense emotions, the highs and the lows.

Let’s applaud the happy moments and embrace the sad ones. And being able to share those stories on this blog, makes me even happier.

I didn’t start blogging that long ago – for real let’s say. In the beginning it was me sharing my travel tales to friends and family back home. But then I noticed how much I liked travelling, writing, taking pictures and meeting people. So I’m definitely going all the way for it now. I have to admit I find myself sometimes struggling with HOW much I should share with everyone. We often read happy, inspiring stories online, but posts where people reveal themselves are a bit rarer.

From realising that you don’t fit in well on a road trip, what once happened to me in New Zealand to admitting that it’s not always easy to leave everything and everyone behind. Sometimes when I write I think about that stupid girl who didn’t like me at Uni or that guy I had a fling with and what they would think. Well, screw them. I do what I want, but of course no one is never without doubts.

But then I read the Young Adventuress blog, I just love her easy, straightforward and honest style. She obviously doesn’t care what other people think and even dedicated one of her posts to all the hate mail she got. I love the way she tackles the mean people out there. And she’s right!

Travelling isn’t always pretty and fabulous, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It is an unforgettable and addictive feeling to have the world surprise you, by its beauty and by its generous people. (note: it is possible I lost my sense of reality by being in New Zealand, people are just the sweetest here).

Do you want to join me on my roller coaster? You would make me really happy (oops, here I go again to the top floor in my elevator..).

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Do you ever feel lonely while travelling? What do you do against it? And what are your unforgettable happiest moments on the road? I’m curious to hear about them!

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They can be convenient though. Those nights you’re having dinner with a big group, there won’t be any problem. No discussions which restaurant it is going to be tonight. Italian? Mexican? Malaysian? In a foodcourt you have it all. Or those times while travelling and you just have enough money left for a cheap bad burger. But still, they’re ugly.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have the best of both worlds? The conveniency of a food court combined with the charming atmosphere of a nice restaurant. 

Well, apparently that is possible! Think of all the pros of a food court, minus the annoying fluorescent lights, sticky tables and heart attacks on a plate. Doesn’t exist you think? Think again! This is what I found in Auckland.

1. Elliott Stables

My personal favourite is this one, the Elliott Stables. The first time I walked in here I couldn’t believe my eyes. My boyfriend had told me he would take me to a foodcourt. I wasn’t all too enthusiastic, but I went along. When I walked through those huge doors of the Stables a new world opened.

This is definitely not a regular foodcourt I thought. This is a cool one! +1 for the boyfriend.

The floor is paved with little stones, like a real cute street. The tables are in wood and stone, the lights soft and the flowers fresh. It is a really popular place, so there are still a lot of people around. But the number of people doesn’t take away the cosiness. This place manages to be big and cute at the same time.

What I love is that you can sit anywhere you want and eat everything you want. Do you feel like having tapas as an entrée, an Italian pizza as a main and a French crêpe as dessert? That’s perfectly possible. But at the same time you still feel like in a cosy restaurant.

The average price of a meal is more than in a regular food court, but there are so many options. You don’t have to choose the fancy sirloin steak or sushi, you can also go for a German sausage (16NZD) or some French crêpes (5,90NZD).

For the phone-addicts among us: there is free wifi and a spot where you can charge iPhones, iPads and other mobile phones – the cables are provided.

2. Ponsonby Central

I love the design of Ponsonby Central. It is not the regular food court (of course not, otherwise it wouldn’t end up in this article), this place looks more like an indoor market with different restaurants hidden left and right. A lot of light pours through the large windows. Ponsonby Central is very neat, stylish and there is a large offer of food.

This secretly cool place is located in Ponsonby, also known as “Auckland’s hippest strip”. Ponsonby Central is a trendy spot, with a lovely little outside area (that has quirky fake green grass). And when you’re done eating, check out the cool stores and pop-up shops!

I’ve only found two nice food courts in Auckland. Do you know some more, in Auckland or another city? Or will you never ever step inside a food court? 

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Wanaka is a little magical place in New Zealand. You probably think: damn, another place to add to that long list of what to do in New Zealand. Well, I don’t care how long your list is, you have to go here. And otherwise, just scratch Hobbiton off your list and replace it with Wanaka. Bang, done!

Why you should visit Wanaka in New Zealand! 

Wanaka is a cute little village of around 7000 people. It is a touristy place, but not in a way that it’s TOO much. Due to the tourists there are some nice little bars and cafes, which can’t be said of other little towns in this country.

But enough about the town, it is the nature around that is mind blowing. The first time I went to Wanaka I felt such a calmness coming over me. You are surrounded by mountains and mountains. It is an impressive view and the huge lake only adds up to that. It makes you feel so little and you are reminded (again) that the world is a beautiful place.

Wanaka is also known for its ‘lone tree’. A tree that stands by itself in the lake… It is possibly the most photographed tree of New Zealand. I’ve seen some nice pics of it (check google), but in real life I found the whole magic around it way too overrated.

Walks 

There are a lot of walks around. Some easy accessible ones are Rob Roy’s track and Roy’s peak. The Rob Roy’s Glacier Track brings you through a forest super close to a glacier. Once there you’ll blink twice with your eyes, because it almost doesn’t look real.

Another one, of which I’ve been sharing quite some photos is Roys Peak. It’s a nice couple of hours up to the top, but the views are just insane. You can find more technical details on the NZ DOC site. Try to do it in winter, so much better with the snow around.

Find all the info you need to visit Roys Peak here: Roys Peak Guide.

It was the second time my boyfriend and I walked up there. The first time we left a bit too late, so it was too dark to enjoy the surroundings. The second time we had enough daylight left to play around! As we’re both a bit goofy, we wanted to try something else and I needed some new pictures for my About-page. So I came up with the idea of taking balloons. Easier said than done, the wind was so strong it stole a couple of balloons, it was super cold and I had to change shoes (I was wearing bad ass hiking shoes, not perfect for the pic I had in mind). We still had fun though and I quite like the result!

Skiing 

In winter Wanaka is packed with passionate skiers and snowboarders. And they have a good reason. Wanaka is voted by National Geographic as one of world’s 25 best Ski Towns. Cardrona Alpine Resort is great for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, Treble Cone Ski Area offers long uncrowded slopes and a legendary off-piste terrain and for cross-country ski you should be at Wanaka’s Snow Farm.

And if you want a day inside, go to the Puzzling world (sounds stupid, but is secretly really cool) or go to the shooting range. Rifles, arrows and my favourite: clay shooting!

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