Day 4 – Thursday

Arrival in Auckland

We arrived in Auckland on time. Unfortunately, in New Zealand, you have to collect all your luggage upon entry and re-check it for any connecting flights. Immigration and baggage inspection, including sniffer dogs, went smoothly and quickly. New Zealand is very strict about the import of plants and food to protect its unique flora and fauna.

We quickly found the counter for re-checking our luggage and decided to walk to the domestic terminal instead of taking the shuttle bus—after a 12-hour flight, some movement felt good. There was construction going on at the airport, so we had to take a small detour.

Flight to Wellington

Our onward flight to Wellington also departed on time, and we were excited to finally see Tristan again. The approach to Wellington was extremely turbulent due to strong winds. Wellington is known as the “Windy City,” and it certainly lived up to its name. Even for us, who have experienced some stormy landings in Hamburg, this one was intense. Later we learned that many flights to Wellington are often aborted due to the wind conditions.

After landing, a few members of our group felt a bit queasy. In Wellington, we were scheduled to pick up our rental car for the North Island. In New Zealand, this requires an international driver’s license (or a certified translation, which must be issued within New Zealand). Some rental companies now also ask if you’re familiar with local driving rules and confident with left-hand traffic, and require written confirmation.

Meeting Tristan

After picking up the rental car, we headed to our hotel in the city center. We planned to meet Tristan at his school in the early afternoon. Unfortunately, we couldn’t check into our rooms right away and had to wait in the lobby, but the hotel staff worked quickly to get us settled.

We then made our way to Wellington High School, where Tristan had spent the past 12 months. At that moment, all of our eSIMs stopped working, so we couldn’t coordinate with Tristan on where to meet. We went to the school’s front office, and they kindly directed us to the International Center. There, we finally reunited with Tristan—what a joyful moment!

We also had the chance to meet the coordinators of the school’s international program, who were genuinely happy to see us.

Farewell ceremony and evening in Wellington

That afternoon, the farewell ceremony for the exchange students took place in the school library. Each student received a short speech highlighting their personal journey and achievements. It was a truly touching gesture, and we couldn’t have been prouder as parents.

After coffee and cake, Tristan gave us a small tour of the school, which is both spacious and full of hidden corners. His host family lives not far from the school, so we visited them before heading to dinner at “Willis Lane”, a cozy underground food court in downtown Wellington with a great atmosphere.

After dinner, we parted ways—Tristan wanted to shop for breakfast at school the next morning, and we were ready for bed.

It was a very impressive, intense, and emotional day.