New Zealand 14-Day Honeymoon Diary 1｜Auckland Highlights & Lessons

Waiting for my flight to the South Island in Wellington, so here’s Part 1 of our NZ honeymoon recap! Originally, we lazily booked a group tour , but it got canceled due to low sign-ups. Ended up DIY-ing a 14-day NZ itinerary—and it turned out amazing! Sharing the deets below. ✈️ Flight Experience: Southern Airlines = Surprise Win! Chose them for the discounted fare, but the service was top-notch! Entertainment system = loaded with movies 🎬 Free amenity kit (toothbrush, toothpaste—nice touch!) 📍 Auckland Review: 4.5/5 🍽️ FOOD: Depot Eatery (5/5 MUST-GO!) Landed at 4:30 PM, didn’t explore much (Auckland’s vibe is meh for sightseeing). Dinner at Depot Eatery? LEGENDARY. We had: Oysters 🦪 Steak 🥩 Cod Fish Burger (I hate burgers, but theirs? Buttery-soft bun = game-changer!) Missed the sashimi—next time! Cost: ~$40 NZD per person. 🏃♀️ ACTIVITIES: InterCity Glowworm Caves + Hobbiton Tour (4.5/5) Panic moment: Saw two green InterCity buses drive off—thought we missed ours! 😱 Actual bus: A black GreatSights coach (phew!). Driver/Guide Tod = MVP! Hilarious + taught us Māori phrases + gave us team stickers (forehead placement = chaotic 😂). 🌌 Glowworm Caves: DO NOT wear white dresses! The boats are grubby—RIP my outfit. 💔 No photos allowed, but the glowing worms in pitch dark = magical. 🏡 Hobbiton: Exactly like the movies—tiny houses, unreal green hills. A must for LOTR fans! ⏭️ Next Up: Rotorua (Our FAVE North Island Spot!) To be continued... #TravelDiaries #NewZealand #AucklandEats #Hobbiton #HoneymoonVibes