If you want to see every post I’ve written, starting with the most recent, this is the place to start!
I’ve been traveling the globe solo, and many of my posts share thoughts and resources specifically for other solo travelers. If you’re a fellow solo traveler, or you’re thinking about solo travel, this is a collection you will find of interest.
If you’re looking to read blog posts about specific destinations, click the country of your interest below to go to it’s blog page and get country-specific reviews and thoughts.
Sometimes I write posts where I give insider information on certain cities I’ve visited, which may be more along the lines of places to go, how to save money, etc. If that’s your main interest, check out this compilation of posts.
In 2020, I was traveling in New Zealand as the coronavirus pandemic brewed, and, got stuck there. If you want to read about what this time was like and traveling during this time, check out this page.
At the heart of international travel is learning about the many different cultures and ways of being around the world. The posts compiled on this page speak, specifically, about the cultural observations I’ve had.
Many of my blog posts are about things I’ve discovered about myself or about being, while I’ve traveled. If you’d like to focus on posts that only have self-discovery themes, click the button below.
13 Quirky Facts About New Zealand
Heather Markel, Writer, Speaker, Photographer, Traveler, Business Strategist
My New Zealand trip has allowed me to get well-aquainted with the local customs.
From New Zealand trip to living in New Zealand since March, I’ve had ample time to see sides of life here that the average tourist might not. It’s been fun learning about another way of life. Here are a few surprising discoveries I’ve made
On the Bay Of Islands.
Copyright, 2020. Heather Markel.
1. There Are Lots Of Bare Feet
I’m not sure if New Zealanders have rougher feet than the rest of us, but I’m amazed at how frequently I see Kiwis and Maori walking about with no shoes. This has nothing to do with financial status. Whether walking through town, or out and about, I constantly see people walking without shoes. While I’m afraid they might step on glass, they walk along happy and merry with no seeming concern for the well-being of their feet.
2. They Have An “Honesty Box” Culture
An honesty box is a box to collect your money when you decide to take the fruit, flowers, or whatever is being offered. It’s typically by the side of the road. Nobody is watching. You simply take what you want, and replace it with cash. Coming from New York City, where I can only imagine “dishonesty” boxes, it’s a beautiful sign of how trustworthy Kiwis are.
3. Kiwis Are Confusing
The word “kiwi” refers to the citizens of New Zealand, and the national bird, and the national fruit! So, it can be confusing to know which one a person is referring to. Coming from America, I thought kiwi fruit was green. It turns out, kiwi fruit can also be gold or red! Red is the sweetest and very delicious but only available for roughly two months of the year. I found out they’re about a year away from being able to distribute preserved red kiwi fruit around the country. Until then, you can only find it in March and April.
4. Don’t Ask For the Check, Just Pay The Bill
It’s expected that you know you should place your order at the till, then take a seat. My first few weeks here I kept sitting first and awaiting a server, which doesn’t happen at a cafe. Even if you eat at a restaurant with sit-down service, you’re expected to walk to the till when you’re ready to leave and pay your bill. This actually saves paper (no need to print or write out the bill) and allows you to sit until you’re done.
The Stone Store near my cottage. Copyright 2020, Heather Markel.
5. There’s No Tipping
There is no tipping required in New Zealand. Not at restaurants, and not even at the hair salon! You can try, but, it may be refused, except perhaps at finer touristy restaurants where, exceptionally, you may be asked if you want to add a tip. Here’s a novel way to treat your staff – pay them well so they don’t make most of their money from tips, and consumers don’t have to pay their wage! If you do tip, it’s nice to know it will go towards exceptional service, not their salary.
6. Tattoos Have Different Meaning Than The Rest Of The World
I’m always fascinated by tattoos because I know they represent a story for the person who has them. Traveling the world, I’ve learned many ways people represent things that are important to them. In New Zealand, part of Maori culture is the importance of tattoos. However, for them, it is very much about where they come from and family. It’s about their heritage and tribe, and pride and the tattoos are beautiful and unique.
7. Food Is Not Imported
New Zealand grows all the produce you’ll find in supermarkets here. While it’s wonderful to know everything we’re eating is supporting local, I’m sad that I can no longer find berries, because they’re out of season, and they won’t be brought in from anyplace else.
8. Healthcare is Virtually Free For Kiwis
If you’re a New Zealand resident, you get free medical care. With much of healthcare subsidized by the government, it’s like being in a bizarre parallel universe. Even though I’m a non-resident, my doctor visits cost $90 NZD, roughly $60, compared to initial consult fees of up to $450 USD in New York City!
9. They Have Surpisingly Dirty Mouths (And Great Expressions!)
I knew that Australians cursed a lot, but had no idea that Kiwis do too! Coming from a place where dropping the “s” or “f” bomb can get you dirty looks, I still chuckle when I do a double-take at the foul language around me. My 70-ish year old B&B owner, a lovely woman, excitedly told me a story in which she described someone as “dick mad.” I had to stop her and say, “wait, did you just say dick?” I couldn’t believe such a dainty woman said such a hillariously dirty thing! On another occasion, a bunch of young guys passed me on mountain bikes in Queenstown, and one muttered, “I’ve already got my balls in my stomach.” I love learning random naughty expressions, and that I can freely curse even with strangers!
The kerukeru or Wood Pigeon. Copyright 2020, Heather Markel.
10. Kiwis Are Exceptionally Nice…Except When Driving Or Waiting In Line For The Bus
Kiwis are surprisngly nice, except for their fairly aggressive driving reputation. Don’t try crossing a street outside a crosswalk without first catching the eye of the driver and seeing them wave you onwards or they might not stop. Also, if you’re lining up for something like a bus, expect people to arrive after you and stand anyplace they want. There’s no sense of line or who was there first, which can be strange if you’re from a culture where lines are important.
11. You Can Just Pick Up The Phone And Call
In America I sometimes feel we’ve forgotten how to be polite in business. We’ve been conditioned to use email because we expect everyone to be too busy to use the phone. Nine times out of ten, we don’t receive a reply to our emails…well it’s the exact opposite in New Zealand. If you want to contact someone you don’t know, use the phone or text message! And, prepare to be shocked when the phone is answered and they are happy to listen to you and attempt to help! If you do use email, you will actually get a response! I pitched a local newspaper here by email and received a reply in less than 24 hours!
A rainbow on Milford Sound. Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved by Heather Markel.
12. Work Life Balance Is A Thing
It seems like Kiwis have the perfect blend of working hard, but not overworking. In New York, it was “work, work work.” You’re considered normal if you’ve got so much work you need medication or imposed medical leave to manage stress. In New Zealand, coffee shops in small towns close by 3 or 4pm, and they don’t open at the crack of dawn. Pre-pandemic, families valued time together and enjoying their lives outside the office. Kiwis tend to be very athletic – with miles and miles of land to hike, and all the hills going UP, it’s no surprise to find them hiking any chance they get.
13. You Can Finish Your Sentence
I’ve grown used to what is, at least, New York culture; we interrupt one another in conversation. It’s very rude, but it’s also very normal. So, I’ve been happily surprised to listen and participate in conversations with people who let you reach the last word you have to express before beginning a response. Even small children get to finish their sentences.
The Inspired Nomads podcast
Have you watched or listened to the latest edition of “The Inspired Nomads” podcast?
![Could taking time away from work be one of the smartest decisions you make for your career and your life?
In this episode of How to Travel Full-Time, I explore why intentional time away, including a career break, sabbatical, or travel reset, may become an important part of the future of work.
Inspired by the Harvard Business School Managing the Future of Work episode, "Why Time Away May Be the Future of Work," this conversation looks at how longer careers, workplace burnout, artificial intelligence, and rapid professional change are challenging the traditional idea that we should work continuously until retirement.
But taking time away is not only about recovering from burnout.
A well-planned travel reset can give you the space to reconnect with yourself, reconsider what you want from your career, and decide what your next chapter should look like.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why the traditional 40-year career model is beginning to crack • How burnout can be information, not personal failure • Why vacations often do not solve deeper dissatisfaction • How travel creates distance, perspective, and clarity • Why taking time away does not have to damage your career • How a travel reset differs from a vacation or permanent full-time travel • What keeps accomplished professionals from taking extended time off • Why time away could become part of a long-term career strategy
If your life looks successful from the outside but no longer feels aligned with the person you have become, this episode is for you.
🎧 Subscribe to this podcast for more conversations about travel resets, extended travel, burnout recovery, career reinvention, midlife transformation, and using travel as a catalyst for personal change.
🌍 Sign up for my upcoming free webinar (https://heatherbegins.com/future-webinar-interest/) , How To Use Travel To Transform Your Life, Even With A Busy Career [https://heatherbegins.com/future-webinar-interest/]
Link to HBR podcast: Click here (https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/podcast/why-time-away-may-be-the-future-of-work)
💬 Question for you: Have you ever considered taking one to six months away from work? What's the biggest thing stopping you?
#TravelReset #CareerBreak #FutureOfWork](https://heatherbegins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png)
I love learning new Thomas about places and really seeing what makes somewhere tick. This is a great insight into New Zealand. I went a long time ago and the people were so nice so I agree with a lot of these but also learned some things I didn’t know. I had no idea about the kiwis. Fruit that is!
Yes the kiwi fruit was a shocker to me. I feel like they could generate travel just on the red kiwi fruit alone!
I am hoping New Zealand and Australia open up a travel bubble, so we can get over to New Zealand! Thanks for all the tips and quirky facts!
I am hoping the same, so I can see friends in Australia! Please be safe over there, and hopefully ditch crossing will happen soon.
I love reading fun facts and the majority of these I didn’t know, so thank you for sharing them!
Thanks for reading them!
I wanted to go on a working holiday to New Zealand when I was younger. You’ve sparked that desire up again! Thanks
I’ve met some lovely people here on that visa. Do it!
Love this. It brought back so many memories for me from we first came to New Zealand. Now so much of it is commonplace for me that I sometimes forget my life wasn’t always like this.
I’m still learning expressions. Shoot I forgot the one i learned today but our was a good one!
I like ‘you can just pick up the phone and call’. I like to think Aussies are the same too…
Love that quality here!
This brought back great memories of my times in NZ. And there were several I didn’t know so I’ll be ready for next time.
Glad you have fond memories, and I’m sure you’ll make more great ones when you return. 🙂
It always makes me giggle that when we refer to ourselves as kiwis while abroad, that people first think of the fruit 🙂
Me too! And i really wasn’t too familiar with the bird before coming here!
It’s so interesting to hear your impressions of New Zealand based on how it compares with where you’re from. I’ve never actually been to New York, but I did grow up in the US, although I left there more than 20 years ago and never looked back.
Some of your frames of references I recognize as being typically American, and others seem to be more specific to New York. Based on the things you describe as being normal there, it’s certainly not a place I would want to live. New Zealand is much more my style!
Hi Wendy! Yes definitely my framework is New York which is, in some ways, like its own country! Indeed it’s very different living in a city of over 7 million people vs a country with 5 million. Very much appreciate it here!
What a fun post! I’ve only seen green kiwi fruit. And I love that so many people go with bare feet. I take off my shoes every chance I get!
It just cracks me up! A little kid with his mom was barefoot in the supermarket yesterday while his younger sister wore shoes. I’m terrified to walk barefoot lol
I love this – I always love hearing about different cultural practices or customs int he places I travel. New Zealand is high on my list so thanks for this!
Thanks for reading!
This is such a fun post!! Love the kiwi meme haha. I really love that food isn’t imported – how it should be in my opinion – and I didn’t know about the tipping! Interesting facts!!
Thanks for reading! Yeah the kiwi thing cracks me up.
Such interesting facts! I’d love to visit New Zealand some day. There are also a lot of honesty boxes in the Midwest and I’ve always loved them!
Oh that’s so nice! I didn’t know anyplace in the US has honesty boxes. Such a beautiful slice of life.
These facts are delightful. I’ve always wanted to move to Ireland, even after living there previously, but these facts have me interested in moving to NZ instead!
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places in the world I think!
It certainly is top of the list! ?
Can people go into shops barefoot? It’s fun quirky thing to see in NZ!
Yes!!!! It’s quite cool.
NZ and Australia are so alike its quite funny.
Really? Except Oz has so many animals and insects that can kill you! ?
Thank you for this amazing piece on New Zealand; I love your writing style and feel every line of your writing.
Thanks for reading ! New Zealand is a truly amazing and unique country.