Driving across New Zealand is magical, and I beg you to pardon the cliche. There really is no other word for it, though.

We decided to drive across New Zealand – both islands – for our honeymoon. It was an ambitious feat in the amount of time that we had, and that became apparent on the Southern Island. We took the ferry across after visiting Wellington, and continued our journey south. After a sling-shot around Christchurch, we started towards Queenstown. There was a moment during this part of the drive that I had an almost out-of-body experience. The terrain was hilly, there were sheep everywhere, and you could see the looming mountains in front of us and to the right. It was a moody, cloudy day and it felt like we were on the edge of the world and in the middle of it at the same time. I felt like I could sense my soul on a new level.

There were houses dotting the land, but it also felt like nobody was around. I’m not generally a fan of isolation, but there was something in the air that felt calming and welcoming. I understood why people often hiked across this country, the land was inviting you to do so. I felt like somehow enveloping myself in the beauty around me.

We had a brief stay in Queenstown (unfortunately) and then continued our trek across the Southern Alps. More cliches come to mind: breathtaking, awe-inspiring, beautiful. We were there in mid-December, the very end of Spring, and the mountains seemed to be alive. Small roads twisted and turned across the landscapes and every kilometer we would see waterfalls gushing from the skies. At the first one we stopped to marvel at how incredible it was, but after the first half-dozen or so we merely admired them as we drove.

While the mountains were incredible, there was something about the lakes that caused me to feel things that defied explanation. They’re incredibly mystical. The color of the water seemed to be from another world. They seemed to be the lifeblood of an ancient, familiar order. It felt as if you were sitting on top of the world and that the world was coming up and giving you an appreciative hug and kiss.

Being up in the Southern Alps made me feel like my soul was at peace. Having my new husband by my side made me feel like the future was wonderful and full of love and possibility. I’m not sure magic is real, but if it is, it comes from the mountains on the Southern island of New Zealand.