First Impressions of New Zealand: From Misery to Magic

When I first touched down in New Zealand, I hated it. Auckland greeted me with cold rain and a dismal grey sky that matched my mood perfectly. The hostel I checked into felt like it was cobbled together from old wooden pallets. It was draughty, lacked any form of heating, and I was stuck sharing a room with four strangers on what can only be described as a prison mattress.

Having just spent two glorious months soaking up the sun and luxury in Thailand, the contrast was brutal. I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — an acronym that’s both accurate and cringeworthy — and going from the dreary British winter to paradise only to end up in another wet, cold environment was soul-crushing. It felt like escaping pirates only to be eaten by sharks.

But then something changed. I reached out to an old mate I’d met in Brisbane, and he suggested we catch a gig on K-Road followed by drinks at a local rock club. That night, my entire perspective shifted.

Coming from a city where live music was dying (unless you count the resurgence of dance and drum and bass), I found myself in my element. There’s something electrifying about a group of people giving their all to rock a room with nothing but instruments and raw energy. You just can’t replicate that with a MacBook and a smoke machine.

That night wasn’t just about music. It was about finding my place. I made connections with people who I would go on to see again, people who were just as passionate about live music and good times. Suddenly, New Zealand didn’t seem so bleak. It felt like a place where I could belong, a place where I could build a life.

Finding My Tribe

They say the key to happiness in a new city is finding your tribe, and mine was right there on K-Road. It was grungy, loud, and a little rough around the edges — just the way I like it.

Looking back, my first impression of New Zealand was a bit dramatic (okay, a lot dramatic). But without that miserable start, I wouldn’t have appreciated the highs nearly as much. It was a rollercoaster introduction, but by the end of that night, I knew I’d found my place in Auckland.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little live music and a few pints to realize you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.