One thing I didn’t fully expect when signing up to study abroad in Australia and New Zealand? Just how much hiking I’d be doing, and how many stairs that would involve.
From the moment we set foot in these two stunning countries, I fell in love with nature. The mountains, coastlines, and waterfalls were unreal. Every day felt like stepping into a travel magazine. But jeez louise, let me just say, those hills and stairs do not mess around.
At first, it didn’t seem so bad. A few steps here, a small incline there. But then came the excursions that had us hiking what felt like vertical trails with 1.5 km of stairs. It was in those moments, somewhere between breathless and borderline dramatic, that I realized why everyone here is so fit. You can’t live in these landscapes and not have quads of steel.
There were definitely times when I asked myself, “Why did I choose this again?” Usually halfway up a steep hill, clutching my water bottle like it was a lifeline huffing and puffing. But every single time, the view at the top reminded me exactly why.
I was reminded of how beautiful this earth is and how lucky I was to experience it. The hikes challenged me, but they also gave me some of the most unforgettable moments of the entire trip.
10 out of 10, would hike (and suffer) again.
