Kia Ora!
I'm Jessie, a travelling wahine from rural New Zealand - I am a relentless seeker of waterfalls, chaser of sunsets, dedicated treehugger and amateur adventurer - I drink my coffee black, my scotch on the rocks and my tea green.

Whilst being a full-time nomad, I am also a freelance writer & travel blogger!
Instgram: @thegreenrucksack
*new website coming soon*

I am a passionate advocate for indigenous cultures and traditional ways of life, and hold the natural environment as our most valuable resource and highest source of beauty, with a burning passion for the native forests, birds and fresh water of my homeland Aotearoa New Zeland - In saying this I am a born bred rural gal and love knocking back a cold one after a day in the woodshed or sitting on the tailgate watching the local saturday arvo rugby game.

Travelling allows me to embrace cultures from across the world, to learn about the issues they face and have faced, to learn new ways of life, and to explore the diversity of our natural world across continents.

Having previously wandered through South-East Asia in 2012 then delving into the theories & practices of environmental sustainability and anthropology, I have now hit the road again - currently on walkabout in Australia!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love learning about cultures, different ways of life, and exploring new environments! I am a firm believer in the magic of local knowledge and direction when exploring new areas - being able to spend evening talking with hosts about the local region, and perhaps even having people to explore with for a while is what I love about couchsurfing.

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING:

As a HOST: I really enjoy showing the best of Aotearoa & my home area to like-minded travellers - I am so fortunate to live in an area surrounded by pristine native bush & endless walking tracks, be right next to our sacred Whanganui River, be only an afternoon drive away from the famous Whangamomona Pub & beautiful Tangarakau Gorge - and of course have the Mountains & Lake Taupo right in my backyard! There is no place I would rather call home!

As a GUEST: Couchsurfing has played an incredible important role in my own travels thus far - I have met wonderful hosts whose homes I have left having made lifelong friends (and can't wait to return the c/s favour in New Zealand), and being hosted by local people means not only have I yes, travelled cheaply without extensive accomodation costs, but I have been immersed within local cultures, languages, and family life - not to mention the countless insider tips and exploring buddies I have gained along the way - There is no other way I would rather travel!

Interests

Culture, coffee, anthropology, international development, environmental sustainability, off the grid living, travel, markets, second hand book shopping, outdoors, swimming in nature, tramping, snowboarding, wakeboarding, kayaking, cliff jumping, exploring national parks!

• culture
• writing
• books
• environment
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• kayaking
• wakeboarding
• cliff jumping
• rugby
• swimming
• parks
• lakes
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

Country, NZ roots, reggae, blues, rock, jazz, love it all!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spent the humpback whale migration season in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga - swimming daily observing these majestic mamas with their calves.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am passionate about the environment, and share all that is magical about Aotearoa NZ - if its somewhere you want to I would love to help you plan your trip or give you all those local secret gems! I share Maori culture and language, and am learning Spanish, so am always looking to babble on with others also learning or fluent in this language.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love sharing laughter over ridiculous life stories, participating in discussions about the world, our home countries & the environment - and love a great sheep shagging joke about the Kiwis. I'll always cook some choice Kai, shout hosts to fresh ground coffee in a local cafe, and have been known to inspire great leaps off cliffs and tree branches into lakes and rivers!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, Singapore, Tonga, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, New Zealand