Bucket List Retirement Trip: The (Other) Land Down Under
Category: Bucket Lists
March 27, 2026 — People have many different reasons for choosing where they go on their retirement bucket list trips. But if outdoor adventures and amazing scenery make it to the top on your list, start planning your trip to New Zealand!
Topretirements just completed our long anticipated trip to the land of kiwis …and it was great!
New Zealand, Aotearoa in Maori, consists of three islands. The North and South Islands are by far the largest, with the much smaller Stewart Island to their south. New Zealand is very young when it comes to human habitation. It is considered to be the last land mass on earth to be discovered. Polynesians ventured west to settle here in the 1200 or 1300s. Europeans followed after Captain Cook’s “discovery” of the islands in 1769.
The country has tons of fun places to visit, with the the south having the more amazing scenic wonders. We started our trip in the North, landing in Auckland after a 15 hour flight from Dallas. Yes, it’s a long way to get there, but it’s worth it.
Comments on "Bucket List Retirement Trip: The (Other) Land Down Under"
Jocelyn Gorlin says:
Great summary John! We are now in Tasmania which has amazing national parks and also a must see! So nice to meet you and Roberta!
Admin says:
One side comment. One of the people on our trip slipped and broke a bone in her foot. She was treated at the emergency room, and what do you think the bill was? She had to pay the massive amount of around $100 for the crutches they gave her. That's it, and she was a tourist! She could have got the crutches money back if she had stayed in the country long enough to return them. What a contrast with America's crazy healthcare system.
Admin says:
For a different and highly readable travelogue on our New Zealand trip, read Lucy Burdette's post on JungleRedWriters. https://www.jungleredwriters.com/2026/03/new-zealand-few-fun-facts-and-idea.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=delicious_news_from_lucy_burdette&utm_term=2026-04-02