The land that resembles Middle-earth is so much more than just the scenery from The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies.

It’s an awesome blend of Maori culture, nature, and extreme sports. You can hike up a mountain one day and go surfing on a charming beach the next.

Watch the All Blacks do the haka before a big match and search for the elusive kiwi bird the same night, and yes you can still visit the impressive Hobbiton.

I spent almost 2 years in New Zealand truly living a nomadic life. I went on multiple roadtrips, seeing all kinds of amazing things from the top of the country down to the bottom. I worked a dozen different jobs, spent months living from a tent, and hitching rides became somewhat of a norm.

In the end, it was one of the few places I’ve been that I feel I could call home.