I have come a long way.
I sit inside the premium lounge on the newest Interislander ferry, eat the complementary breakfast, get free coffee from the Jura fully automated coffee machine, charge all my devices with my dearly held multisockets, around me only older, quieter people and I am all good with myself and the world.

In which way could the 8th and last crossing between the islands look better? Maybe if I could have shared the luxury with Elvis, but there was only one coupon to my Nautical-Miles-Card. That one I only own for saving one to two dollars at the ferry…
Well, even best friends need a break from each other from time to time. 🙂

I am convinced that no other backpacker takes the ferry a crazy eight times from one island to the other. But it had to go this way. One time for a almost magical weekend with the best au pairs in the world, one time for an unknown future, one time with my parents and one time with Elvis. That’s how I traveled the South Island. My readers are in the know. 😉 And I always came back content and happy. And I always look forward to see beloved Wellington again.There it all began and there it all will end…

The last days on the South Island were filled with pondering about this ‘last time’, as expected. And we made the most out of these last times!

After the farewell visit in Dunedin, we made our way up north to Queenstown. One adventure after the other was awaiting us!

Part of the adventure was the food! As you know, in Queenstown you find the Ferg chain and enjoys its legendary status. For one last time we ate the unbeatable burger, some incomparable ice-cream and one inimitable meat pie there!

Instead we were being attracted towards a rugged canyon in the outer areas…
The same, with its depth of 134m, is home to the highest bungy in New Zealand.

Not from utter fear, but from pure anticipation my heart beat fast. The own decision when to jump, which I missed at the skydive, would be in my hands now.

Without any thought about going back I jump. Free for a few seconds, only the sensation of the fall and the increasing noise of wind in my ears, I rush towards the ground. The bungy cord gets me and lets me bounce up and down for a few times.
Awesome! And if it were not for the pretty high cost and the scheduled departure, I would have done it again right away!

So, we worked ourselves up to the north of the South Island. All the closer to the area that I saw first of this wondrous island…

Thus, the chapter is concluded. The last path I take off the South Island is the same we took onto it back in the days…

And I sit here and think about the time. The time to come and the time that lies behind us all. And what effect it had on us.
And we can all be but happy about this grand opportunity. And the times to come shall be not less great as those we look back at in satisfaction!

Initially, I would have wanted to select the pictures of the trip and use them to illustrate the last days. But you have seen the areas we went through already.
Plus, I would write too little then about the last days’ happenings. And even though there is limited time to deal with the computer, you should still stay informed…

Where am I right now?
I am sitting on the couch in Dunedin, the same one I have been sitting on for the 3 months I lived here. It is all the same, only that this is the last time sitting here in my time in New Zealand. Also, Elvis is here. That is equally crazy as having had my parents in this place.

It is time to say goodbye. I have already done so to my workmates at the last major station here in Dunedin. Now, it is my last flat’s turn.
Until a few days ago, I told the people everywhere that I will come around again. But now it is serious, there is no going back.
Also, to the most magnificent latte in New Zealand I had to say goodbye.

We are camping with Elvis. And I can say but one thing: You won’t be the same after having eaten baked beans from a gas cooker in the wild and crouched into the tent for the night afterwards.
At least you don’t have to book those campsites beforehand these days. That makes for some liberty, as time allows of course.
Though we haven’t traveled as ‘campers’ for long, every other night has its own adventure!

There is not an unlimited amount of time at our hands and many goodbyes shall take place in the time to come. Thus, you have to pick very carefully who to grace with your visits. In Dunedin, it is the Mexican Iced Coffee at the cafe Kiki Beware for sure. Many more of those ‘last times’ should follow!

Do you remember as back in the day, before departing from Germany, I wrote a lot about goodbyes? Back then I didn’t know anything about how many of those I would have to go through in the future. A journey in itself is parting. From people and places that became precious to you. From circumstances and environments that you get used to much too easily.

Today I look at goodbyes the same way I looked at them back then: Happily looking forward. Only that you don’t know at all, when and if you will see those people and places ever again.

But still I am just as hopeful as I was in the past. Because I know that these acquaintances and experiences are just that and that they indeed stay forever. Memories, ages from which you learn beyond measure.
And you should always look in the forward direction. To the things to come and to the things you take away from past times. And isn’t both wonderful and valuable??