By Liam Baldwin Jankiewicz, 11 September 2025
On a breezy evening, nine people signed up for a chill coastal walk along Wellington's infamous Red Rocks. I was late to my own weeknight walkie, missing the 29 bus that is crucial to get me there on time! I ran along Owhirio Bay in my big boots, a big puffy jacket, and a heavy bag, passing a few runners to reach the Te Kopahou Visitor Centre, the meeting spot. Once I got there, it was 5:20, and only two other people there. I felt disappointed that the five other individuals didn't show up, this was a late conservation week walkie! How could you miss such an epic trip? It was I, Daniel and Willow who were destined to experience this epic trip.
As we trekked along the Red Rock coastline, we were in awe of the beauty. The cliffs, rocks and beaches were hyponotising me in their divine shape and structure, and how they all combine together to create a beautiful picture. What was really beautiful is seeing the South Island and the sunset from the coastline, almost like an Bob Ross painting. The colours contrast nicely, seeing the purple skies collide with the orange glow of the falling sun, along with the mountainous terrain of New Zealand's biggest island. The jagged and sharp rocks also complented the scenery greatly.
For me personally, what I loved most were the baches scattered along the coastline. They seem so far away from civilization, like an isolated get-away from all the troubles of modern life, however, they are only a few kilometres away from the suburbs. I peered inside a few of these baches, analysing the interior of these cool buildings, the layout and furniture looked so nice! There was apparently an bach along here for sale for 400K! Oh... I wish I was born earlier and already established in a decent-paying career to purchase an bach here to live in, or had a rich daddy to buy the bach for me. I could've adopted a few seals and make friends with them, they could become my best friends. Much of the vegetation along Red Rock's coastline is also open scrub, tussock, and dune vegetation, but it was historically soaked in lowland forest. I want to bring an community together to restore these old forests through mass planting. It would make the Red Rocks resilient to storms and sea sprays, absorb carbon dioxide and control erosion along the coast. I could invite the community over for a BBQ at my Red Rocks bach, and they can pet and cuddle my pet seals, with their blubber offering plenty of warmth and affection for the residents of Wellington. If I had a wife I could love and care for, living together in a Red Rock Bach, doing conservation work along the Red Rocks and bringing a community of people together every so often, I would be living in heaven.
When I am snooping around someone's bach at the Red Rocks, my lingering feelings of guilt, regret, self judgement and sadness vanish entirely. Modern life promises convenience, connection, and endless choice, yet it feels so empty. Traditional societies, while lacking in the materialism of modern life, had shared rituals, collective work, community and interdepedence. It doesn't distract us from what actually nourishes us: connection, creativity and care for the world around us. The human-made baches also remind us that even in the most rugged places, people try to carve out a corner of belonging.
When walking back, the three of us discussed what happens after we die? It is a fascinating question that the human consciousness cannot comphrend. A majority came to the conclusion that the universe is conscious, we are the universe experiencing itself. Our human brains and the complex neuroglocial networks in it are like an radio that picks up and shapes the universe's signals, giving us consciousness. Walking back was dark and eerie, as we had our phone lights on and tried to traverse back to Te Kopahou Visitor Centre. A few vehicles drove past us, their headlights beaming our rear ends, with one vehicle containing a group of youthful men who said good night to us. We don't know them but we appreciated them for wishing us good night. We of course said goodnight back, hoping their night is good too.
At the end of the trip, Daniel from the kindness of his heart offered to drive the rest of us, and we were droven along and dropped off at our necessary destinations. We all returned home, safe and sound.
That day, September 11th, was an beautiful and magical day, and we'll never forget it.