Recently I joined the couch surfing community with hope that it would urge me to break down my barriers, meet some awesome people and stop being so damn shy! I also wanted to try to add to the community eventually, to share my experiences with other new comers and help get them comfortable surfing it up.

To couch surf at all I had to take the first and obvious step, actually do it! And to be honest, I was a tad bit nervous about asking a complete stranger if I could crash at their place, but that was the reason I needed to get that part out-of-the-way.

Couch surfing has been around for a little over 8 years now, and was a non-profit for years but now offers members to get verified by a small donation. It is a community built by travelers for travelers, offering up “couches” or places to stay for nothing more than good company. You can provide your own couch as well, or even just state you can meet up for a coffee and a good ole’ chat. This site is pack with useful tips, groups for meet-ups and information about the people you are looking at staying with.

My first couch surf experience began before I landed in New Zealand. I heard from a couple of friends that couch surfing was pretty sweet, so I joined up and started checking out the groups. The site is a little confusing in the beginning, and frustrated me occasionally, but I started searching through available couches and exploring the hosts that are out there. And that is when I hit a wall.

I was being a total sissy, there, I said it! I was trapped in my comfort zone, and I didn’t know what to say or how to ask someone for a couch. Instead, I posted in a few Auckland groups where I was landing hoping someone would reach out to me so I didn’t have to do the work. I posted that I was landing a day before my birthday and asked if anyone would like to come for a drink.

Though I didn’t end up meeting anyone for a brew in Auckland on my birthday, someone did respond to my post, which eventually led to the end of any worries I had about couch surfing. There I was, sitting in my hostel at 10pm pulling out my hair because I had no clue where I wanted to go first. North or South? What will I do? Then I got an email from a couch surfer Jasmin, saying that she didn’t get a chance to make it out for my birthday but she was headed North if I needed a ride.

Couch surfing was back handing me across the face telling me to take a chance, so I took the lift. I am so happy I did. My first couch surf didn’t come from my effort, but it showed me just how easy it can be and what freakin’ awesome people I was missing out on chilling with.

In the car to Cape Rainga

After she scooped me in Takapuna Beach outside of Auckland, we headed North, no real plan, no destination, just driving. The first night we found a couch with a guy named Matt in Whangerai really really last-minute, around 8pm at night! He is a Logger Manager in the North and had some amazing stories, tips and information for us. We sat around for hours, all of us chatting over Mac’s Gold beers and getting to know eachother.


In the morning we packed up and headed out again, this time we linked up with Rob, another couch surfer who lives in Maungaturoto. He couldn’t host us for the night but he really wanted to show us around town and meet up since he just got back from two years abroad. Though the town is extremely small (I could probably throw a football over the town) he took us out for an epic time swinging on a rope swing in the bay, jumping off cliffs into a waterfall, and stumbling on a Hangi feast that the Maori were throwing for the re-opening of a church in town!

So, all in all, I got a lift up to the Northland with a couch surfer, found some gnarly things to do and met some sweet friends in less than two weeks. It has really helped me get out there and meet some new people and have experiences I may have not had otherwise. If you are nervous at all about couch surfing, give it a whirl, it is definitely worth it!

Gnarly rope swing!

The Couchsurfing community is filled with people just like you traveling the world, or people who would love to help you out. But just remember, it is a community. Some people may use Couchsurfing as a means for free accommodation, but it is so much more than that. Make sure to take some time to get to know your hosts or the people you meet up with, share your stories, experiences and tips with other surfers. Pick a host that may have similar beliefs and interests and meet a new friend, or pick a host that may have some things you would love to learn more about!

Now get out there and start surfin’ some couches!

(I’ll be posting more on the crazy adventures I had in the first couch surfs soon!)

email

Share on Tumblr

Did you enjoy it? Promote this post!