New Zealand
A trip to New Zealand offers something for everyone; rugged coastlines with black and white sand beaches, stunning rainforests, snow capped mountains, green rolling hills dotted with grazing sheep, geothermal mud pools, an abundance of campsites, delicious fresh seafood and award winning wineries. It's too diverse to cover in one post, so here I'll focus on New Zealand's North Island.
GETTING THERE
Most people fly into New Zealand via Auckland Airport AKL or Wellington Airport WLG. There are direct flights from most major cities along the Pacific Rim, and also from Australia. Once inside New Zealand, it's easy to travel from town to town by plane, train, Intercity Bus, or rental car. One of the best ways to see the countryside is the fabulous Northern Explorer Train Route which travels from Auckland to Wellington and points in between.
Auckland was a large, waterfront city with the Tasman Sea on one side, the Pacific Ocean on the other, rainforest in the hills, mountains beyond that. Volcanic islands dotted the water and it's quite beautiful to see. Auckland had an easy and efficient bus and ferry system, incredible seafood restaurants, a giant Tower with a vertical zipline, and many options for accommodations, even big name hotel chains were reasonably priced.
AMAZING EXCURSIONS
I took a ferry trip from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island. It was easy to explore using its 'on off' bus. I traveled through the entire island, visiting many of the vineyards, wineries, olive groves, and secluded beaches. It offered a breathtaking view of the setting sun over the grapevines. I could have easily spent a week here but I had to move on.
I also ventured north of Auckland, to the Bay of Islands, a popular sailing, fishing, and vacation destination. Several communities dotted the Intercity Bus route, so it was easy to travel from place to place. Ferries and water taxis also connected islands and towns. Bay of Islands was also home to Waitangi Treaty Grounds historic landmark and museums to learn about the native Maori culture. Many honey farms were sprinkled along the countryside, offering New Zealand's famous Manuka Honey, used by the Maori people for generations for various health benefits.
Farther north was 90 Mile Beach, with its sand dunes, and the ability to drive on the packed ocean sand during low tide, but be careful the tide rose back quickly and I heard stories about people getting stuck!
I took a several day excursion to New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula. It's a few hours drive east from Auckland, and I visited a place called Hot Sand Beach. I used a shovel to dig a hole in the beach, then it filled up with hot geothermal water from underground. It got very very hot so I also created an extra opening in the hole for cold seawater to come in.
Nearby, I hiked into a Kiwi Bird Reserve, up a muddy mountain then down into a magnificent hidden bay to swim. I also visited Pauanui, an exclusive scenic town and popular holiday spot for New Zealanders. The location was impressive, on the mouth of the Tairua River, with wonderful walkways along the water. From here at night, I also saw the Milky Way in all its splendor, beaming through the darkness.
Other excursions from Auckland included Lake Taupo, which was the caldera of a volcano, where travelers enjoyed swimming, cycling, skydiving, hiking, fishing and more. Another fun spot was Rotorua, with its hot mud pools and spa destinations. Also, the Waitomo Caves where people could take a boat ride through a grotto filled with glowworms and nearby there were popular tours of the Hobbiton movie set, where "The Lord of the Rings" movies were made.
It's common to combine a North Island visit with a trip to the South Island. It has majestic mountain ranges, fjordlands, spectacular rivers, and miles of unspoiled beaches. It's inexpensive and easy to reach via plane or ferry.
A trip to New Zealand has something for everyone, and many budget friendly options. Don't miss out on the islands, the beaches, the wineries, the seafood, and the extreme beauty of this paradise in the South Pacific.
