"Kia ora", a "warm welcome" in the Maori language, is how New Zealand seemed to greet photojournalist Heiko Beyer on his arrival in Auckland.

He took six months, a break from everyday life, a dream time at the most beautiful end of the world. He let himself drift through the overwhelming natural landscapes, past icy glaciers and smoking volcanoes. How unforgettable they were, the nights in tents on lonely beaches and the hikes through lush rainforests, past romantic lakes and dramatic cliffs.

Many things here are simply crazier, weirder, just different from home. It is the land where the inhabitants are used to the earth swaying, where funny little hobbits have been living in earth dwellings since "Lord of the Rings". In his live report, Heiko tells us about fishing with the indigenous people, about the Maori, a funny group of coffin-mining senior citizens, how a small, round, flightless bird became a national symbol and is protected with great effort. And about the long trekking tour through wind and water that ends at Milford Sound, the most magical place in the country.

In this country, Heiko Beyer experienced six months of freedom, a freedom that is only possible in New Zealand, these two islands at the most beautiful end of the world.

Photos: © Heiko Beyer