THE BACHELORETTE'S LESINA THE SHOW HELPED ME FIND LOVE'

The reality star's magical weekend reveals she's finally found her prince

- Hayley Barnett

Four years on from her time on The Bachelorette New Zealand, Dr Lesina Nakhid-Schuster might have found her "forever person" in new beau Tom Brodie.

After breaking from tradition by deciding not to choose anyone on the popular reality show, Lesina, 36, kept her standards high. And just 10 months ago, she met Tom, 38, on a dating app, and their whirlwind romance has seen the ear, nose and throat doctor finally swept off her feet.

Recently, Christchurch bloke Tom, a building project developer, invited Lesina down from her home in Palmerston North for a magical mystery weekend.

"He surprised me for my birthday," smiles Lesina. "It was so sweet. He didn't tell me anything. He just booked my flights to Christchurch, then picked me up from the airport. He had bought all my favourite foods to take along".

A couple of hours later, they ended up at a lakeside hotel in Lake Tekapo.

"We got up early the next day and went to Mount Cook. I'd never been before. It's one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand. We went for a walk and he just had all these surprises in store."

Coincidentally, it was the same weekend the aurora australis could be seen in the sky and Lake Tekapo just happens to be home to the Southern Hemisphere's largest Dark Sky Reserve. It was the perfect time and location for some seriously romantic night-sky viewing!

"Tom had booked a stargazing tour and the whole night was just so weirdly... what's the word? Perfect!"