The Suitcase Backpacker

A broken suitcase, life reflections, and head-turning new sights

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Aotearoa New Zealand

4 min read

It was lashing with rain monsoon style when I arrived in Auckland..and surprisingly I didn’t actually mind. It felt like a baptism, and the beginning of something new (…or a washing away of the UK). Having to run through this monsoon after I hopped off the shuttle bus to reach the hostel I was staying at was not fun though, not to mention that my suitcase had sort of broken a bit (oops). The top strap was loose and had torn whilst I was struggling to get it off the security conveyor belt at the airport, where all luggage had to be scanned on arrival. Having to lift my luggage up steps or into vehicles made me nervous…I should have just stuck with my lightweight Primark case! I was absolutely regretting buying a more expensive case, thinking it would be more durable, and it was already quite weighty when empty, so it was really hard to keep it light. Packing for long term travel proved tricky (I also should have invested in a Kindle!) Unfortunately the classic backpacker bag wasn’t really an option for me because I can’t carry a lot of weight on my back, and hence the name of my blog! Travelling with a suitcase is always risky…one might be more inclined to keep adding things to it!

I had arrived in Auckland from Perth 3 days before the BUNAC orientation week, so I had a couple of days free to explore and chill. The first thing I noticed about Auckland was the hilliness. I wasn’t expecting that at all…and I was somewhat exhausted by the time I reached the cinema complex during the morning of my second day. I was about to watch the new Black Panther film and could not wait to see it (clearly, because I was the first person in the cinema.) This was also my first IMAX experience, and hopefully not my last, it was incredible.

Part of me was still in disbelief at the fact that I was actually here in New Zealand…after 2 years of waiting, and delays from the global pandemic. I had initially wanted to travel here in 2020 to reset and reorientate myself in a new place after reaching a point in my life where I felt stagnant, and like I needed change – a lot of it. So here I was, walking down Bowen Avenue, with shiny skyscraper buildings on the horizon, and palm trees to my left and right. I simply could not believe my eyes..I was actually here, I’d made it! I took a minute, or two, to soak up the atmosphere and appreciate these new surroundings.

Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau in Te Reo Maori) is a bustling multi-cultural, vibrant, diverse city, and the largest in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is also a harbour city, with ferries to seaside towns and neighbouring islands. Despite not being the capital, this city tends to be the main hub and gateway in and out of this beautiful country. One thing I especially love about Auckland is the subtle, yet eye-catching amalgamation of urban city and natural beauty. During my third day here when I was out and about exploring, I found myself wandering up steep steps, surrounded by towering trees and leafy green curtains; I had discovered Albert Park. It was absolutely gorgeous, and part of a dormant volcano as I bewilderingly found out a few weeks later. Which explains why everything is so hilly here…volcanoes everywhere! There are approximately 53 dormant volcanoes around Auckland, with Rangitoto Island being the most recently active 600 years ago. Can’t quite believe I’ve been walking on volcanoes…as you do!

It was nearing the end of the week and the following day I was due to check out of my respite hostel and into the group hostel organised by BUNAC. I had been stressing and mulling over what to do about the suitcase situation..I didn’t like the idea of carrying a somewhat broken one around with me for what could be an entire year of travelling, and it potentially getting more broken. I was not happy at all with the European website I had purchased it from, and annoyed that the brand was being marketed as durable, which it clearly wasn’t. I thought about getting in touch with my insurance provider. Anyway, after a good half hour of google searching, I hopped on a bus and ended up buying a replacement suitcase from a store called Briscoes. I took the suitcase I’d settled on to the till point and was soOoO happy to find out it was on sale, thank goodness! Love my new Voyager wheelie.