Auckland Last Day & NZ Recap (February 25, 2026)
It’s hard to believe it’s been a month here in New Zealand. Well, to be clear, it’s the shortest month of the year, so we’re talking 28 days starting in Queenstown (see related post) on January 29th. Of all the places we’ve visited, New Zealand has been the most adrenaline filled adventure by far! Let’s see, in the past month we’ve:
We’ve also done a ton of:
Including water falls
Hot tubs (not to be confused with …)
Observed Fairy Penguins
And even saw glow worms in a cave.
And that doesn’t even include the time we spent in zoos, aquariums and nature preserves. And, to be fair, the month of February included Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl. And we even discovered the “World’s Coolest McDonald’s”! So, clearly, it was a busy month.
But, if you’ve been following my blog, you know that my favorite part of this world tour is meeting up with fellow coaches. And THAT is what we got to do today.
Yvonne McLean and Bill Carmody in Auckland
I’ve known Yvonne McLean for many years — virtually, of course. It was wonderful to finally meet here in her home town of Auckland. She was very encouraging and supportive throughout our journey through New Zealand, and I was glad we finally got to meet up in real life.
Yvonne also hosted a dinner party at her home with her husband, Ciaran, so that my family could meet a few more coaches in and around the Auckland area. This included Sharon Spence and Julia Phillpot.
This was the first time my entire family had an opportunity to sit down with fellow coaches and share a meal together. Yes, Violet and I have had this opportunity a few times and most recently, Will had his first picnic lunch with fellow coaches in Waiheke (see related post). But all four of us together at one table with coaches was a first.
And it was lovely. Sharon Spence had some wonderful advice for us as we head out to Fiji as well as a few new ideas when we revisit Japan in about a month’s time. Julia Phillpot likewise shared her life experience as both a coach and team member of a Fortune 100 company. And, of course, Yvonne McLean was a wonderful host alongside her husband Ciaran. It was wonderful to engage as well as witness my family interacting with everyone.
This is what this trip is all about for me. While Violet is loving her time with her brother Will and Elena is excited to have all of us together as we explore new parts of the world, meeting coaches all over the world is by far my favorite part of this adventure. Wherever life leads us from here, I’m leaving New Zealand feeling completely fulfilled.
