Hitching a ride: it’s how you get around in NZ!
I woke up on a Saturday morning in the north island of New Zealand and decided to bolt. 8 hrs later, I was on the interisland ferry heading to the famous south island. 
I perched myself at a large table, gazed at the water for a moment, then spread out my map, and set the trap. My prey: fellow ferry patrons ready to burn rubber through the south island. With my nose in a “Lonely Planet: Tramping New Zealand” book, and my eyes peeking over the top of the page, I watched and waited for people to saunter through…
On the ferry
A couple taking pictures of eachother? “Oh, hey! Why don’t you let me get a picture of yall together? Oh, yes I just said yall – I’m from Texas, what about you? Oh, you’re just traveling around? And going west! What a coincidence (points to map), so am I!” And on it went from there. I must have talked to 15 people on the ferry, but not a one was heading in the same direction, or on the same time schedule.
Not all was lost, however. Just as the ferry docked and I folded my map, a French girl walked up – beer in hand – and we got to talking about hiking and Paris, and she’s going west… tomorrow (!!) – perfect match? Ah, no! She’s got this “travel friend” occupying the extra seat in her campervan (but it’s not really working out); regardless, she writes her number on my map next to the town of Nelson, where we can meet up for lunch the next day if I can find a way there. I exited the ferry in good spirits – with a bus schedule to Nelson in hand – and began the hunt for a hostel full of future travel partners.
I settled into a hostel, checked-out the message board, and found an exact match! I read it again to double-check: French guy named Emile… with campervan and an extra seat… heading to Nelson and beyond, tomorrow! I called the number immediately and a sleepy French voice answers (I didn’t even realize it was after 11PM), “ah-lo?”
And so it began. Emile and I chatted a bit to make sure it was a good match – I could tell he had some initial reservations about traveling with an American – and we met the next morning to discuss the route over coffee. Little did I know at the time, but I had just snagged the golden goose of traveling partners: a PROFESSIONAL FRENCH CHEF! (campfire recipes that will blow your mind later)
We hit the road, and the expected panic of “what the hell are we gonna talk about for 5 hours (or 5 days)?” didn’t even enter the picture. We sped off west toward Nelson as I texted Victoire (from the ferry): “Hey Vic, I’ve found a Frenchman and we’re heading your way. Lunch on the beach?” 
Her response? “Hey Ryan, lunch and then further west? I bought my traveling friend a bus ticket, so there’s a free seat!”
And that’s how you find a ride in New Zealand (or in this case, two rides).
A relaxing sunset on the beach to finish the day!
