Travel true. Be you!
Travel true. Be you!
On family holidays, my sister and I would sit in the back of our baking-hot car, encouraged by Dad to endure the journey by counting down until we saw the ocean. On the way back, when we were told, “That’s the last time you’re seeing the ocean,” we’d be glued to the car window, tears in our eyes. I think that’s where my love for the sea began. Mum introduced us to the mountains and forests. Some of my happiest childhood memories were created on those trips.
My aunt inspired me with her travel pictures, and when I was 11, I told my mum I would travel the world by myself one day. She was terrified at the time—but I had just discovered my truth. For me, travelling is a way to be fully myself, to connect with people and places, and to embrace the full breadth of experiences life has to offer.
I was born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, but discovered New Zealand on a trip to improve my surfing in the early 2000s. Within the first two days of landing in Aotearoa, I knew I had to immigrate. It was love at first sight—and that feeling has never changed for me.
I rearranged my life and found every excuse to return to New Zealand. I was so obsessed that my friends at university in Germany didn’t want to hear about it anymore. But for me, it was a no-brainer—it simply felt like the right place to call home. So, in late 2009, I moved here by myself.
Living 20,000 km away from the people who’ve always known you isn’t always easy, especially in a culture different from the one you grew up in. But it’s also a chance to make new friends and learn a lot about yourself and others by stepping outside your comfort zone. Once I’d discovered my new home, there was no ‘unseeing’ that truth.
When I’m in New Zealand, I miss my family and German friends. When I’m in Germany, I miss my life in New Zealand and the beautiful landscapes here. I bridge that gap by travelling to Europe every year and adding new destinations along the way to visit my loved ones.
Discover how finding peace in solo travel enriches your experiences. Embrace the freedom to explore at your own pace. Be 100% yourself.
Learn how stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to unexpected insights, empowering you to trust your instincts and form deeper connections with the people you meet.
When you travel solo, you can truly be yourself and connect more deeply with the people you meet. It’s often easier to build genuine connections with locals when you’re on your own, as you’ll naturally approach interactions differently than when you’re part of a couple or group.