Day 2: Auckland → Rotorua

Despite the long journey, I chose to wake up early for a run on our first morning in Auckland — to soak in the local scenery and running vibe. Our hotel was not far from the airport. After breakfast, our driver-guide took us around the city. 🏙️ Auckland – “City of Sails” First stop: the waterfront. Auckland is NZ’s largest city, with about 1.6 million people — the only city here with over a million residents. They say on average, every 3 people own 1 sailboat here ⛵️. Besides boats, what stood out was how many people were running or cycling along the coast — from my morning run to our sightseeing, a steady stream of active locals passed by. Our guide said this reflects New Zealand's laid-back culture: “Today’s work can be done tomorrow, and tomorrow’s work might not need doing at all.” No overtime here — bosses might even tell you to leave early. Everyone has time to do what they love, which is why you see so many people outdoors exercising. It’s a true chill-out nation — “lying flat” is the accepted life attitude here 😌. Why so relaxed? Small population (only ~5 million nationwide), constant labor shortages, so little job pressure. Plus, the “high income, high tax, high welfare” policy keeps wealth gaps small — the more you earn, the higher your tax rate. So “grinding” isn’t worth it here. ⛲️ Next: Michael Joseph Savage Memorial This honors the former PM who introduced that “three-highs” policy. We recreated a shot here inspired by the film “Only Clouds Know.” ☔️ Rainy Noon & Hobbiton Bound Heavy rain at midday, so we set off for Hobbiton — about 2+ hours’ drive through endless green fields dotted with sheep and cows 🐑🌿. Fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit will love this place — the movie set is preserved just as it was in the films. 🌋 Evening: Arrived in Rotorua Dinner at a Chinese restaurant — unexpectedly delicious! No photo or words can truly capture the beauty I saw — this is just a glimpse. #Travel #NewZealand #Auckland #Rotorua #Hobbiton #SlowLiving #CityOfSails #TravelDiaries