A 'different' kind of Christmas for travellers

CHRISTMAS ABROAD: Backpackers (clockwise from bottom left) Aleksi Vaisanen, Rebecca Kuehner, Tatjana Woaf and Sebastian Birx enjoyed a kiwi Christmas yesterday. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

The summer temperature and festive celebrations were quite foreign for the tourists enjoying a "different" Christmas at the Harbourside City Backpackers in Tauranga today.

An international Christmas dinner was planned for the few travellers staying for the holiday and a trip to the Mount with a possible surf was on the afternoon menu.

Aleksi Vaisanen from Finland said it was a very different experience to the Christmas he was used to at home.

"It's so different, I don't feel like Christmas. I'm used to snow and darkness.

"I need to find a place where I can find some salmon so at least I have some Christmas food," he said.

Rebecca Kuehner from Germany went to church on Christmas Eve but said the big day felt like any other without the celebrations at home.

"We celebrate Christmas Eve and we spend time with family, cook together and on the 25th the whole family comes and we have presents under the tree.

"We eat a potato salad with a German dish called maultaschen, which is like a giant tortellini."

Sebastian Birx and Tatjana Woaf from Germany said there was not much of a Christmas feeling but they were still enjoying their time in Tauranga.

"It's completely different because we've always known since we were children it's always winter, but it's an experience. The day is different because we do Christmas on the 24th and here it's the 25th," Mr Birx said.

They hoped to go to Mount Maunganui for a picnic if the weather stayed fine.