Shortly after arriving at Stafford UniLodge, I found it easy to make friends with other exchange students. There were quiet a few events just for International students to gather both through VUW and Staffford. Before I knew it, I had a friend group consisting of other students from all over the world. We planned a trip to explore some of the North Island together by renting a car and purchasing tickets for “The Trilogy Experience”. This experience involved two cave tours (one was a glow worm cave!), a tour of Hobbiton, a tour of a natural geothermal park, and a Maori welcoming ceremony. We all had an amazing time and I’m so glad I was able to see these cool places and learn more about the Maori culture. I highly suggest looking into taking “The Trilogy Experience” as a weekend trip with friends while in New Zealand!