Day 20: The Saddest Farewell

Update:

Today was my last full day in New Zealand. We used our limited time to the fullest, having another day of outdoor adventure. We travelled to Abel Tasman National Park, named after a Dutchman who had never actually set foot on land after being chased away by a pugnacious Maori tribe. The park is made of a series of very small bays protected by numerous headlands. Each bay contains a small beach of fine sand that quickly disappears when the tide comes in. There are many birds that roost around the shoreline, especially wekas and shags. We split into two groups of eight and divided how we spent our time. My group chose to kayak to our lunch spot, and we spent about two hours in the water. We went into multiple dark and spooky caves, which was creepy but really cool in a double kayak! Once we reached the lunch beach, our guide, Nicole, unpacked a very impressive picnic spread. We feasted on the beautiful oceanside, then hiked 12 km back to our starting location. After being in the mountains in Mahu Whenua, a two hour hike through a flat, shady forest felt like nothing!

Once back in Nelson, we readied for our group farewell dinner. It took place at a fancy seafood restaurant called The Cod and Lobster, and we spent almost three hours appreciating our last night in this wonderful place. I really hope I will someday get the opportunity to return! There’s always grad school…

 

How the US could learn from NZ:

The biggest take away for me from this trip is the importance of environmental preservation. I wish the United States would adopt some of the measures New Zealand has in place to protect its natural resources. It takes drastic action to protect itself: it eliminates unnaturally introduced predators and sets up ecosanctuaries for endangered species, it uses sustainable energy whenever possible, it has a large focus on recycling and minimizing waste by cutting out plastic supermarket bags and charging extra for plastic tubs of condiments, and it made conservation such a cultural focus that no one complains about the inconvenience of environmentally-friendly practices. If the United States focused on preserving its own natural landscapes, they would become more beautiful and house healthier ecosystems. By supporting biodiversity and sustainability, the United States could perhaps become famous for its beautiful countryside one day. At very least, it ensures that future generations will have Nature to appreciate.