This is the tale of a little toy dog, a New Zealand forest, and the power of Kiwi kindness.

Once, a Traveler took a journey through New Zealand. While traveling south by train, she visited Ohakune.

Why Ohakune? asked a man from A Big City. The Traveler wasn’t sure. She only knew it would break up the 12-hour rail journey.

It’s the wrong season, said City Man. Ohakune is a ski town. Do you ski?

Accompanying the Traveler was a little toy dog that mature types might call a “travel mascot.” The Traveler called him Bedford.

Ohakune is New Zealand’s leading producer of carrots, said City Man. Do you like carrots?

They have this statue, “The Big Carrot.” It’s a statue of a big carrot, City Man explained.

At the station, City Man chuckled without smiling. Well, see the Big Carrot anyway, he said.

A Sign of Things to Come

It was April—autumn in New Zealand. Green grasses and red-gold trees sprang from volcanic alpine soil. Wildflowers fringed the footpaths. Fields chorused with birds. A-frame houses dotted the landscape, their picture windows gleaming gold.

Rugged and magnificent, Mount Ruapehu towered over it all. So this was Ohakune. The Traveler and Bedford stared in silent wonder and joy.

Every day the Traveler went for scenic walks, with Bedford riding along in her backpack. Every evening they returned to the house called Ti Kouka to read by the fire and watch the stars.

She made the acquaintance of native trees and birds. She listened to stories that only the wind knew how to tell.

Where Oh Where

Oh no, oh no, oh no, went the heartbeat of the Traveler. She ran down the hill, eyes wild, looking left and right. No Bedford. She raced back to the forest and forced herself to slowly, safely retrace her steps. No Bedford. Next morning, she looked again, asking every natural thing where Bedford could be.

Gone, said the bare path. Missing, said the chill wind. So sorry, said the rustling leaves.

The Traveler felt miserable. She had to leave, and it would be weeks before she passed this way again. It was the first time in her travels that she had ever felt alone.

As the train headed south, the Traveler wrote to Ohakune’s visitor center. But with so many Big Problems in the world, would anyone care about a little toy dog?

Reminders Everywhere

At the visitor center, Barbara and Nina read the Traveler’s message and sent encouraging replies. Barbara put up posters all over town. Neighbors told neighbors. Ohakune Facebook groups did, too.

People began looking for Bedford on their walks. Eileen and Stu, who owned Ti Kouka, searched the forest. Others searched the Old Coach Road. Even teams training for search-and-rescue missions kept an eye out for a little toy dog.

What our imaginations make real through time, love, and happy memories is powerful, wrote the Traveler. Barbara agreed. She told the Traveler about her daughter’s travel buddy, a toy penguin, who joined the family in South America.

On sunny days, the Traveler felt hopeful. On rainy days, she worried. To ease her mind, the Traveler read books about New Zealand—history and literature, flora and fauna. She wanted to learn everything about this place that Bedford had decided to explore.

By now the Traveler was “south of South Island.” She’d seen beautiful places but missed her travel buddy.

Waiting and Wondering

Weeks passed. The Traveler prepared to return north. She’d fly to Wellington, catch the train to Ohakune and resume searching. But it was nearly winter. Would she get there before the snow?

One morning, The Traveler received a message from the visitor center. Perhaps it would say Nothing more can be done. After all, it had been 36 days and there were Bigger Problems in the world.

Guess what? wrote Nina, Bedford has been found!!!! He is a little dirty and is being looked after by the couple who found him.

Sue and Paul had seen the poster at Ohakune’s Sweet Pea Café. They had travel buddies of their own and understood how the Traveler felt. They talked about this as they hiked through the forest.

Sue and Paul owned a business looking after dogs in distress. They lovingly cared for Bedford and introduced him to their travel buddies, Winnie and Gracie.

Then Sue and Paul brought Bedford to Barbara at the visitor center. Barbara took him home to recuperate.

There Bedford met Coco, a little toy dog that Barbara had had since she was two years old. The dogs stared at each other in wordless surprise. Their resemblance said it all. They were cousins!

Kiwi Kindness

Sue and Paul were sorry not to meet the Traveler, but they had to return to Wellington.

The Traveler hugged Sue and Paul and thanked them for their kindness. By the time the Traveler left Wellington, she had friends there.

Then the Traveler caught the train to Ohakune. Thank you, thank you, thank you went her heartbeat.

By now, everyone in town knew of the little toy dog who’d gone walkabout in the woods. The Ruapehu Bulletin reported Bedford’s safe return. The Sweet Pea Café updated their poster: FOUND! People in town took photos with Bedford.

The Traveler met wonderful people in Ohakune and attended a fundraiser. There she learned that several locals, including dogs, are everyday heroes. As members of RARO, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organization, they risk their lives to save people who are lost or injured in Tongariro National Forest.

New Favorite Color: Ohakune Orange

The Traveler and Bedford visited the Big Carrot. They had fun at nearby Carrot Park, a whimsical playground accessed by a meandering walkway through beautiful native bush. Numerous people in the community had worked together for years to create it.

As the Traveler got to know people in Ohakune, she understood why Bedford had lingered. People in Ohakune were hardworking, creative, brave, witty, and kind. Elsewhere, people might have rolled their eyes at a Traveler who lost a little toy dog. But in Ohakune, even the busiest people made time to help.

As the train pulled out of the station, the Traveler considered all the good that had come from Bedford’s travel adventure. It had prompted her to read more deeply about New Zealand. It had shown her the power of Kiwi kindness. It had led her to friends she would love for life.