It Took Me 15 Years to Take This Trip

Liz Barry
4 days ago
3 min read

I’ve just returned from a New Zealand history tour I’ve been wanting to do for nearly 15 years.

I still can’t quite believe it took me until my late 40s to finally visit Waitangi.

To stand where early settlers arrived.

To learn more deeply about the resilience, wisdom and whakapapa of Māori.

To better understand the Treaty of Waitangi and its ongoing significance in shaping who we are as a country.

It was an extraordinary trip. A whistle-stop 5-day trip.

We ate at the award-winning Schnapper Rock restaurant in Tutukaka.

We biked the rail trail from Kaikohe to Opua, stopping at the famous Hundertwasser toilets along the way.

We visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, and spent time learning what that document has meant — and continues to mean — for Aotearoa.

We cruised the Bay of Islands to the Hole in the Rock, hearing stories of Captain Cook’s arrival.

We stayed at the iconic Duke of Marlborough in Russell and walked up Flagstaff Hill, where Hōne Heke cut down the British flagpole not once, not twice, but three times.

We travelled by bus to Cape Reinga, driving along Ninety Mile Beach, with commentary from the driver that brought the Far North’s cultural and historical significance vividly to life.

We sandboarded the dunes.

We rode horses along 90 Mile Beach at Ahipara.

One of the most moving experiences was walking through Waipoua Forest, in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Standing beneath Tāne Mahuta — named after the Māori god of the forest — and the other towering kauri giants, some of the oldest and largest trees in the world, who have stood quietly for thousands of years.

A local Māori guide led us through the forest. He sang waiata, chanted, and shared stories passed down through generations — stories of the atua (spiritual guardians), the healing traditions of rongoā, and the deep, living relationship between people and the land. It was incredible.

We finished with Kupe. Learning about his journey from Hawaiki to Aotearoa NZ over 800 years ago, and being welcomed by his descendants, as well as the spirits of those who came before.

And yet, when we reflected on what we enjoyed most, it wasn’t just the places.

It was the people.

The guides.

The tourism operators.

The accommodation staff.

The café and restaurant workers.

Friendly. Knowledgeable. Proud of where they come from.

People doing work they genuinely love.

And seeing that never fails to move me.

Because one of the greatest joys in my life is witnessing someone who has found a path that fits them. When people are doing work that feels aligned, you can feel it. Their energy changes. Their presence shifts. Their contribution lands differently.

Finding your path is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

And it’s also a gift to the world around you.

When you’re on a path that fits, everyone you touch feels it.

This trip was a reminder that some journeys are worth waiting for. And that listening to what’s been quietly calling you — even if it takes time — is never wasted.

It also reminded me why, next year, I’ll be opening up Become Your Own Pathfinder again.

In February, I’ll be inviting a small group of people into that work — to slow down, tune in, and find a path that feels right for them, rather than forcing themselves down one that doesn’t fit anymore.

If this resonates, keep an eye out. I’ll share more early next year.

xo Liz

Moments from a journey through the Far North of Aotearoa — reminders of how land, history, and people shape the paths we walk.

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