BigSkyWonder | What’s on Your Living List?

What’s on Your Living List?

Rethinking the Bucket List for Everyday Wonder (Especially Here in Aotearoa)

We often think of a “bucket list” as something grand — skydiving, safari trips, swimming with dolphins. But what if we reimagined it as a “living list” — a set of experiences, connections, and personal moments that help us feel more alive, more grounded, and more ourselves?

For many New Zealanders, especially those in Christchurch, living with intention doesn’t have to mean going far. It might be as simple as revisiting childhood places, trying something new, or spending meaningful time with the people we love.

Here are some living list ideas — big and small — inspired by Aotearoa and life around Ōtautahi:

✨ Nature & Adventure

Stargazing at Lake Tekapo or with a local astro guide near Christchurch
Taking one last sunrise walk on Sumner Beach
Visiting the penguins at the Antarctic Centre
Spending the night in a cabin on Banks Peninsula
Sailing on Akaroa Harbour with someone special
Finally ticking off that gondola ride with a view over Lyttelton

✨ Connection & Meaning

Writing letters to your children or mokopuna
Recording a voice message or video diary of your story
Organising a family picnic in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Having your favourite meal one more time at a local café
Making peace with someone from your past
Planting a tree in remembrance

✨ Creativity & Curiosity

Visiting the Canterbury Museum and reflecting on your personal history
Creating a photo book or memory box
Learning how to say a mihi or pepeha
Attending a local creative workshop
Sharing a poem or piece of writing with someone

The truth is, a living list doesn’t need to be dramatic — it just needs to be yours.

It can be shaped around health, energy, time, and what truly matters.
End-of-life consultants often help people reflect on these kinds of wishes — not as a final checklist, but as a celebration of life’s remaining moments, whether those are days or decades.

You don’t have to wait until you’re nearing the end to ask yourself: