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13. May 2026When you think of New Zealand, breathtaking landscapes, sheep, and adventure often come to mind right away. That’s certainly how I felt before I spent a year living there. But New Zealand has so much more to offer than just beautiful nature. During my year abroad, I got to experience the culture, the people, and everyday life up close—and much of it even exceeded my expectations.
Here are four things that, in my opinion, make New Zealand so special and unique.
When you think of New Zealand, breathtaking landscapes, sheep, and adventure often come to mind right away. That’s certainly how I felt before I spent a year living there. But New Zealand has so much more to offer than just beautiful nature. During my year abroad, I got to experience the culture, the people, and everyday life up close—and much of it even exceeded my expectations.
Here are four things that, in my opinion, make New Zealand so special and unique.
A Love of Nature
New Zealand is known worldwide for its breathtaking natural beauty. To be honest, before my trip I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect—but once I got there, my expectations were still exceeded.
I was particularly impressed by the landscapes in the north of the country, especially Northland, the northernmost part of New Zealand. Another highlight was my two-week road trip across the South Island. Whether beaches, mountains, or endless green landscapes—nature often seems almost unreal in its beauty.
The cities, on the other hand, I personally found less appealing. For me, nature is clearly the highlight of New Zealand.

A spirit of adventure is part of the experience
New Zealand is also a paradise for active people who love adventure. Weekend hikes with friends or my host family were a regular occurrence and somehow became part of everyday life.
My host children were also involved in many extracurricular activities—from dancing and jiu-jitsu to soccer. In general, I got the impression that physical activity and hobbies play a major role in daily life.
Of course, I wanted to try a few things out myself: I went skydiving, kayaking, and even surfing—experiences I won’t forget anytime soon.

Friendliness and the laid-back lifestyle
What really struck me was how open people are. Small talk is a natural part of everyday life in New Zealand. Strangers greet you, pay you compliments, or just strike up a conversation—often in a much more casual way than I was used to in Germany. You hear the word “mate” all the time, and it’s used for just about everyone.
I was also impressed by the laid-back “no worries” mentality. Many people walk around barefoot—even in the supermarket. At first, this might seem unusual, but somehow it fits perfectly with this relaxed lifestyle.
I also experienced this laid-back attitude with my host family. Especially when it came to parenting, I noticed how calmly and openly many things were handled.
Rugby – More Than Just a Sport
Rugby is everywhere in New Zealand. The national team, the All Blacks, is held in extremely high regard and is almost revered by many.
I myself had the opportunity to experience a rugby match live. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible—even though it wasn’t easy at first to really understand the rules and the game. Still, you quickly realized how important rugby is to the people there and how much it brings them together.
My thoughts after this year
My year in New Zealand was absolutely wonderful and had a profound impact on me personally. I learned so much, gained new perspectives, and made memories that I will never forget.
To me, “typical New Zealand” means: breathtaking nature, an active lifestyle, a laid-back attitude, and incredibly friendly people. It’s exactly this combination that makes the country so special to me.
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