Yesterday me, my backpack and my surfboard landed in the mountains of the South Island, my new home; Queenstown. Riding into town I couldn’t help but feel I was far away from New Zealand, in my old home, the UK. The purple-ish mountains, tall pines and old stone buildings would not look out of place in the Scottish highlands or the Lake District. But no, I’m a little further afield than that; pretty much on the opposite side of the Earth. Arriving here with the last of my travel funds, on the hunt for a job and a home, I can’t help but feel a bit nervous.

I’m staying in a hostel so on waking to my alarm early this morning, I was back on the old awkward tip-toe-phone-torch situation to locate my running necessities without disturbing my bunk-mates. I finally smoked out my sports bra and donned my shorts and vest. Stepping out the door there was another similarity to the motherland, and stark difference to my recent whereabouts. The 37 degrees I endured on the Gold Coast seemed a world away here in the chilly mountains of NZ. With a deep breath, and my nipples pointing the way, I cantered towards town hoping to get the blood pumping and warm myself up.

I was out and about early, but so, it seemed was much of the town. A boat sped up across the lake, lifting a parasailor into the sky, and little people floated down on parachutes from the surrounding summits. The golden sun was creeping up over the majestic mountains and I was slowly heating up. Before long I’d passed through the tiny town and was in Queenstown Gardens; a pretty lakeside park with voluptuous views around the valley. I passed these pretty stone stacks which I’m sure someone had a thoroughly spiritual session erecting.

I’m not sure if it was the procrastination before my job search duties for the day ensued, which motivated me to make three laps of the park. But it was apathy for another repetition which lead me back to the hostel. Passing by the lake beach a stunted rainbow was reaching from the dark waters. I was happy to see I’d been out for an hour on my return, and I’d been going at a fair pace too. Maybe these cooler climes are better suited to my Geordie bod after all.