Sign of the Bellbird - Baby's First Backpacking Trip

I’ve been in New Zealand for nearly two months, and–wow, does time pass by quickly! It’s very easy for me to get lost in the moment and forget how little time I have here, which is why I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my experiences with you! Today I am going to share some of my thoughts on backpacking; which, if you’re going to study abroad in New Zealand, is one of the easiest ways to get out and see the natural beauty this country has to offer. As you can tell from the title, I am by no means an expert on backpacking, nor will I be sharing the top secret tips to have the perfect backpacking trip; instead, I am just going to share my story as a beginner backpacker.

I borrowed a bunch of gear from the University of Canterbury’s tramping club, including a tent, sleeping pad, and backpacking pack. I had to pay a small fee and put down a deposit, but I got the latter back when I returned my gear, so this was a great option as someone who wasn’t going to be backpacking frequently over the semester and just wanted to try it out for a change. The backpacking pack was super helpful to fitting all of my necessities, especially since I overpack for trips. I made sure to fill my pack with clothes, food, water, sunscreen… and then we were off!

My group had eleven people, which is pretty big for a backpacking trip, but as a beginner I think I felt safer with a larger group. The university’s tramping club goes out with large groups, too, which provides an alternative option for any beginners to see New Zealand without planning or leading a trip. 

Back to my group. We were heading up to Sign of the Bellbird, which is a small campsite in the Port Hills. We took the bus to Cashmere and followed a walking path up to Sign of the Kiwi, a small cafe which marked the starting point to our final destination. I loved the small pit stop because it made the trip less intimidating (and it gave me something to look forward to on the way back!) We took a break at the cafe and then headed out to Sign of the Bellbird.

One thing about backpacking trips–something will always go wrong. About half an hour into our tramp, we realized we were going the wrong way and had to turn around; however, this was one of those happy accidents, as we got some great views along the way and extended our tramp another hour! After we realized our mistake, we turned around, passed by the cafe again, and found the actual trail leading us to Sign of the Bellbird.

I think the best thing about New Zealand is stopping and realizing where you are. Every time we came to a resting point during the trip, the view fascinated me. It’s not often that I get out into nature, but now that I’m here, nature is everywhere, and it makes me really appreciate not only this experience but the planet we inhabit. 

I wasn’t even that upset when we got to the campsite and were informed that there was a rave happening that night next to where we were sleeping (side-note: okay, I was a little bothered, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin the trip). When things go wrong, you have two decisions: let it ruin your day or don’t. I chose to focus on the positives: I was on my first backpacking trip, the view was spectacular, and I was with good company. 

I didn’t sleep particularly well, but when morning came, that was the last thing on my thoughts because I got to watch the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen in my life. My friends and I all gathered at a peak nearby Sign of the Bellbird and sat there as the colors danced across the sky. From where we were, we could see the town of Lyttelton waking up for the day and a cruise ship coming into harbour. I think there’s something special about the sunrise, about watching everything come alive, and I was grateful to experience that in New Zealand.

Overall, backpacking was a lot easier than I’d expected, with a few bumps along the way. Now–I’m saying this after doing a very easy trail. A lot of my friends have gone out and done 9 miles or more in a day, where I think I did maybe 4 or 5, if that. Just make sure that you do your research ahead of time and tell someone where you’re going. If I had any real tips to give, those would be the first.