All the Way South: Backpacking From North to South Island New Zealand

On Orcas Island, theres a period of winter after the holidays where everything seems to stop, and the island stands frozen in time. Businesses close for a much needed rest during the winter before the island picks up again in the spring. Many people choose to flock south for the promise of warmer weather to escape the brutal winter on the island. My coffee shop closed down, and my friend/coworker Madison and I booked cheap tickets to New Zealand. We had no solid plans, just a ticket and a hostel booked for when we arrived. What followed was a month and a half of a life-changing adventure with someone who is now one of my most cherished friends.