MY MOMMY AND SISTER ARE HERE!!

  There's a recurring theme here: it takes me way too long to release my blogs. Honestly, I’m just a busy girl! But you all certainly will not let me forget about them, so here we are.

I am currently in the airport coming back from an exciting trip which will be documented in the blog after this one. But for now, it is time to put my head down and grind this out.

Today's blog is special because it has two really important guests. I am so thankful for my mom and sister, Abby, who flew all the way across the world to come visit me. It had been too long since I’d seen them, and I needed to introduce them to the land of beautiful, tan, and pilates-bodied people that is Sydney. 

However, before I could show them that paradise, we explored something new together: New Zealand! We only got to do the northern island together because I had to go to class🙄, but do not fret because my personal journey with the southern island is being planned as we speak. Anywho, the reunion was awesome! I obviously went flying into my mom’s arms when we all came together in the Auckland airport, and the giggles with Abby started shortly after that. 

We picked up our super awesome orange Nissan rental, and were on our way! We had a couple stops along the northern island but I am just going to go over the highlights.

On our first morning we went on an absolutely stunning hike that definitely got the blood pumping. It was so good to be back with some family, and the tea that got dropped on this hike was PIPING hot. 

Something about NZ is they love a good cultural experience, and so we decided to take them up on it. We learned all about aboriginal culture in Whakarewarewa (try saying that 10 times fast) while discovering exploding geothermals and seeing real Kiwis! Kiwis are the NZ national bird and they are absolutely obsessed with them. They’re very rare and hard to find, but not for the Turner girls. 

Then, we went to the coolest spa ever. It was an experience of saunas and different water activities (which all came directly from geothermals). It was so lovely and rejuvenating. The best part was the mud mask that we finished off with. We covered ourselves in this anti-aging magic and took a wonderful nap on some heated chairs before washing it all off, heading back to the hotel, and enjoying some takeout Indian food for dinner. An absolutely fantastic day.

The next day, bright and early, we headed to a cave adventure. It was unreal. The cave was MASSIVE and so beautiful. I really loved it. Then, way too many of us crowded into a small tin rowboat within the cave to look at glow worms. It was a really special experience and I am so glad we got to do it.

Then, we spent our last full NZ day at the wineries! There is an island off the main land that is full of gorgeous scenery and delicious wine. We walked around there sampling all different types and nibbling on yummy snacks before heading back to Auckland for our flight the next day.

Now, time for the big event: mom and Abby in Sydney! Yay! It was so awesome for me to show them the city I’ve come to love so much. I felt like I was seeing it all again for the first time through their eyes. While I had school again, I had to let them explore a bit on their own ugh. 

But, when we did meet up, it was so great. We walked around Manly, took a sunset ferry ride, and explored all of the famous sites. Then, the next few days were really just about showing them all of my favorite things. We did the Bondi to Coogee walk, shopped around a little, and had dinner at all of the (expensive) places I have been wanting to try hehe. 

I apologize for the lack of detail with some of these activities, but that's what happens when you wait two weeks to write a blog! Overall, this visit from mom and Abby was so fun and so needed– especially because I was able to use their Airbnb to do all the laundry I had been saving up. I cannot express how thankful I am that they made the trip– I know it’s not a quick journey. I love you guys❤️

Also, I promise to be better about the blogs for the rest of my time abroad. There are some super exciting things coming up, so stay tuned!