I have dreamed of exploring New Zealand since I was 11 years old. Now, thirty-four years later, I’ve brought that dream to life.

Deesha Dyer is the co-founder and executive director of beGirl.world Global Scholars, an initiative that empowers teenage girls through education and travel. BeGirl collaborates with Dinogo Planet to promote their passport-equity project and to further its mission. In this personal narrative, Dyer recounts how she turned her dream of traveling to New Zealand into reality, demonstrating that sometimes, manifesting your travel aspirations truly works.

I've always loved science, especially during middle school, when my curious and imaginative nature began to grasp the connections within the world around me.

In 1990, during a lesson about plants, my amazing teacher Ms. Moser asked us to open our textbooks. Instantly, I was captivated by an image of a vast, vibrant field adorned with a rainbow of flowers, rolling up a hill and stretching endlessly.

What was the name of this enchanting place?

I looked down at the page to see the small italicized text: New Zealand. I dog-eared the corner so I could revisit it whenever I wanted.

A long-distance romance

This ignited a passion for this stunning nation nestled in the Pacific Ocean. But as a kid from Philadelphia, New Zealand felt incredibly distant. For me, traveling meant heading to the Jersey Shore or visiting relatives in Queens, New York—definitely not boarding a plane to cross an ocean and leave the country.

In seventh grade, I had a spinning globe in my room—the inexpensive kind with plastic sections that slowly peeled away over time, secured with scotch tape (cheaper than replacing it). I always faced North America toward me; if I had to turn the globe to see another country, it felt like a reminder that I couldn’t afford to visit. New Zealand seemed like it was on another planet, requiring a fortune and a rocket to reach.

But I had neither.

As I matured, graduated from high school in 1995, and discovered more about traveling, I came to understand that while I didn’t require a fortune to explore, I definitely needed to carve out a different path to see the world—because I still couldn’t afford it. I half-jokingly (and seriously) prayed for a job that would let me travel. In the early 2000s, I watched Travel Channel host Samantha Brown, who seemed to have the dream job: eating, drinking, and adventuring around the globe. Someone, please hire me for this! I thought.

This led me to brief opportunities with American Airlines and the Omni Netherland Plaza hotels, where I could fly and stay in places at significant discounts. However, I never managed to use those perks for international travel.

Yes, we can (travel internationally)

In 2007, at the age of 29, after a variety of professional roles (from hip-hop journalist to peer counselor, secretary, and retail worker), I chose to return to school part-time at the Community College of Philadelphia. By this time, I had moved on from the airline and hotel industries, using my time off to explore international destinations on a budget, including Mexico, Bermuda, France, and England. My understanding of what was possible and how far I could venture began to expand. Then, in 2009, I secured an opportunity that actually paid me to travel: I interned at the White House for President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

I was assigned to the Department of Scheduling and Advance, responsible for organizing and managing the president’s daily agenda and coordinating travel and event logistics for the first couple. This required a team to travel ahead of the events (hence the term “advancing”). For domestic events, we would leave seven days in advance; for international trips (known as OCONUS – outside the continental United States), we would depart two weeks prior.

I traveled extensively around the globe with the White House and absolutely loved it. In 2011, the president was preparing for an official visit to Australia, and I was part of the advance team, working and enjoying cities like Canberra and Sydney. Although this was the closest I had been to New Zealand, I was unable to visit. On my way home, I craned my neck by the window, hoping for a glimpse of it from above. Perhaps it was silly—but still hopeful.

Traveling to new destinations

Fast forward 11 years to 2022, when I was organizing my wedding. I told my now-husband Wes that the only place I wanted to visit was New Zealand. Cost was irrelevant; we were going. I had never forgotten the exhilaration I felt at 10 years old when I first opened that page in science class.

We set a budget, put our wedding expenses on a credit card to earn points (which we paid off immediately), and began planning our trip. Since Obama, my former boss, had a speaking engagement in Australia a few months after our wedding, I took the opportunity to “advance” our trip through the former president to get to that region. This meant we only needed to cover Wes’ flights and accommodations, among other expenses.

So, in March 2023, I finally set foot on New Zealand soil.

The trip began on a shaky note when Wes’ eagerly awaited scuba diving trip was canceled due to poor visibility. (This is quite common; if scuba diving is on your New Zealand itinerary, always have a backup plan.) Arriving late made it tough to find food on the outskirts of Auckland. Fortunately, we stumbled upon Sakebar Nippon Epsom, which satisfied our cravings with fresh sushi and beer. The following morning, we drove to Taupō. During the journey, we were surrounded by endless green fields and blooming trees and flowers—a truly emotional and reflective experience.

I had made it.

A thirst for adventure

On our way to Taupō, we enjoyed a tasty meal at a roadside diner, Kaiaua Fisheries, before heading to the pristine shores of Waihi Beach. The fall season brought fewer crowds and a bit of chill, but it was still perfect for swimming, strolling, fishing, lounging, and people-watching.

As we continued our journey, we passed more farms and noticed the distinctive scent of sulfur, marking our arrival in the land of hot springs, which hold sacred significance for the Māori and the Indigenous people who first inhabited the area. (A tip for anyone embarking on a New Zealand road trip: refuel whenever and wherever you can; gas stations are sparse and often closed.)

Before I proceed, it’s essential to acknowledge that, like many places globally, New Zealand experienced colonization in a detrimental manner. While the presence of the Māori people is felt, seen, and heard throughout the island in the form of everyday interactions, music, and street names, the impacts of land confiscations and the suppression of language, traditions, and culture are equally evident.

We took a break from our drive in Auckland to visit a community flea market in the quaint town of Pōkeno, where we indulged in delicious homemade treats. We also popped into Countdown, a grocery chain, to stock up on supplies for the week before reaching the renowned Whakarewarewa Forest. There, we embarked on a nighttime walking-bridge tour among the trees, which was a bit thrilling yet beautifully illuminated, and discovered that these redwoods, the only ones outside North America, were brought over and planted in the early 1900s. While it was somewhat touristy, it also provided a fantastic venue for outdoor activities like running and biking.

Finding paradise in and around Taupō

We checked into The Village Resort, conveniently located near downtown eateries and scenic walking paths by Lake Taupo. The next five days of our journey were pure magic. We immersed ourselves in Hell’s Gate, an active geothermal spa situated in the Bay of Plenty between Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti. (Another tip: rent a swimsuit and wear clothes you won’t mind tossing afterward; ours reeked of sulfur for weeks, and we eventually discarded them). The mud was surprisingly soothing, and my skin felt amazing afterward.

We explored several stunning waterfalls, including Okere, Owharoa, Ketetahi, and Tawhai (also known as Gollum’s Pool) in Tongariro National Park. The park boasts countless trails suitable for both beginners like me and seasoned hikers. My husband, who enjoys lawn bowling, participated in a game at the quaint Rotorua East Lawn Bowling Club. Back in Taupō, he unwound at the Otumuheke Stream, while I treated myself to a relaxing massage at Thai Healing Concepts.

Best-laid plans…

Our last day in New Zealand was the one we had been eagerly anticipating, as we were set to take a ferry to Waiheke Island. Everyone we spoke with highly recommended this destination. The photos made it look like a paradise. I dressed up, excited for the amazing pictures we would capture on the island... but nature had other ideas.

A relentless six-hour downpour completely derailed our plans.

We pressed on, hoping the rain would eventually ease. It did not. Amid the chaos of donning our rain gear, dashing through puddles, and enduring the 45-minute ferry ride alongside a crowd of soaking wet travelers, we did our best to make the most of the situation.

We savored a meal at Fenice, a delightful Italian restaurant, finishing off with drinks and dessert at the breathtaking (though wet) Mudbrick Vineyard. Later, we strolled down the town street until our squishy shoes couldn’t take it anymore. We boarded the ferry back, sharing laughter. What a perfect way to conclude our adventure!

Since we booked our trip on separate tickets, Wes and I had to fly home on different flights. This gave me an extra day alone to reflect on this journey that started back in seventh grade. There wasn’t enough time to see everything, which only means I must return. In New Zealand, the beauty of the landscape seems endless. It’s a place where the sky embraces the mountains and meets the sea in harmony.

Views that surely represent a lifetime of experiences.