Posts Tagged stewart island
National Parks of New Zealand
Undoubtedly, among the things you should come to New Zealand for are its national parks, which occupy the country’s one third. New Zealand’s stunning mountains, forests, rivers, lakes and waterfalls are something you aren’t used to seeing while traveling around Europe and Asia. It is no wonder why director of the world famous “Lord of the Rings” chose this country to shoot his film here – its islands do really look like a wonder land, inhabited with fabulous creatures. There are 14 national parks in New Zealand, but I’ll list only the ones I find most interesting.
Let’s start with the south. The most interesting park of New Zealand, compared to no others is, without any doubts, Fiordland National Park. Its boundless and truly wild territory is full of wonderful gorges and rocks, unusual animals and birds, beautiful and astonishing plants. You can get to the Fiordland by its Milford Road running from Te Anau. The only park that could compete with Fiordland is Kahurangi National Park in the island’s north. The park is an excellent place to get yourself acquainted with wildlife – here you will see impetuous rivers, huge platens, mountain flowers and coastal forests. But don’t be afraid to get lost, since the park is equipped with numerous footpaths and roads which will make your walks safe. Another park in the island’s north is Abel Tasman National Park, with mild climate all year round. The park attracts those fond of beach resorts, as it is famous for its sandy beaches and intricate granite rocks. A travel path on the park’s coast will make your walks easy and pleasant.
If you prefer active rest in the mountains, go to the Southern Alps and walk around the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, located in the island’s centre. Another spectacular place here is Arthur’s Pass National Park located north from the Mount Cook and lying on a historic path, connecting Canterbury (in the east) and the wild Western shore. Magnificent mountains with steep rocky slopes won’t leave you untouched. Westland/Tai Poutini National Park stretches from the highest peaks of the Southern Alps to the remote western beaches. In the south of the Southern Alps, not far from the coast by the Fiordland border there is a Mount Aspiring National Park. If you want to see the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand, Nelson Lakes National Park stretched along a 102 thousand hectare territory is waiting for you. In addition to various large and small lakes, the park will meet you with its beechwoods, rocky mountains and mountain streams. If you are making a visit to Greumouth or Westport, don’t forget about the Paparoa National Park lying between them. The park presents almost all the ecosystems of New Zealand, from mountain peaks to the coast.
North Island. Egmont national park is easy to reach, that is why this is one of the most visited parks of New Zealand. It is located in the west coast not far from New Plymouth, Inglewood and Opunake. The largest park in the North Island is Te Urewera National Park, located far from the built-up areas. It is huge and difficult to traverse, but still it attracts the most active tourists. Wonderful lakes and forests are filled with the ancient history. Tongariro National Park offers most interesting spots – active volcanos, deserted mountain plateaus and calm lakes. South from the mainland there is a small Stewart Island, 85 % of which is occupied with Rakiura National Park.
Tags: mount cook, new zealand, north island, resort, resorts, stewart island, travelRelated posts
Why You Should Use New Zealand Travel Agents to Book Your Holiday
Travelling to New Zealand is an exciting venture; from the top of the North Island through to the South Island and onto Stewart Island there are many sights to see and different experiences to enjoy. In order to get the best out of your holiday to the ‘Long White Cloud’ you need to find a travel agent that not only can share their personal experiences with you, but also share your enthusiasm for travel. By doing this you can be assured that you are going to get the vacation that is right for you.
If you are travelling from a foreign country to New Zealand, you may find that many of the travel agents you come across don’t have a broad range of experience with NZ vacations. You are therefore provided with options of package holidays which many other people have enjoyed before you, but perhaps are not personalised to your needs specifically. Working with New Zealand travel agents, provides a solution to this problem; they are based in the country which you wish to visit, and can therefore offer you the best advice on the opportunities you are seeking.
Many people do book their own holidays online nowadays, however this option often isn’t always the best in terms of getting the most out of your stay. If you haven’t visited NZ before you can often lose track of distances between one city / town and another and therefore try to squeeze too many sights and attractions into one day. New Zealand travel agents can assist you to get the best experiences possible, by asking where and what it is that you wish to visit and then help you to compile a suitable itinerary which meets your requirements. They will also be able to offer suggestions of activities or locations for example, which may be of interest to you, but which you might not have been aware of.
A travel agent’s job shouldn’t just stop once you have booked your trip, you want ongoing support should you need further advice on accommodation or transport for instance, whilst away from home. The beauty of using a New Zealand travel agent for your holiday there, is that not only are you in the same timezone & therefore don’t have to wait until ‘business hours’ (which are most likely going to be untimely for you) to call your travel agent back home but because of their knowledge and contacts, they will be able to assist you straight away.
Look for a New Zealand travel agent for your holiday in NZ today!
Tags: accommodation, attractions, holiday, holidays, new zealand, new zealand travel, north island, south island, stewart island, travel, travelling to new zealand, vacationRelated posts
New Zealand’s South Island
Natural, untouched beauty! That’s what New Zealand’s South Island is all about. The South Island is home to the Southern Alps and some great skiing and snow boarding opportunities.
Christchurch is the busiest city in the South Island and also offers an international airport, with flights connecting directly to a lot of overseas destinations. The Sumner Beach, Gondola, Avon river and Cashmere hills are the main attractions in Chistchurch. The city centre is always busy with trams running frequently making it a great place to hang out!
Dunedin with it’s Cadbury’s factory and Queenstown with it’s adventure attractions are the other two cities that can’t be missed in the South Island. Queenstown also has bungee jumping opportunities, jet boats and ski dive opportunities. Milford sound tours also leave from Queenstown, and are highly recommended. Stewart island can also be visited by ferries leaving Invercargill.
Most cities in the South Island are well connected by Trans Rail and that’s perhaps the most convenient way to travel. Alternately, rental cars can also be booked and a drive along the West Coast is highly recommended. Getting to the South Island from the North Island is possible by either catching the Interislander ferry from Wellington or a Sounds Air flight from Wellington airport. Domestic flights run by Air New Zealand and other airlines also connect most other cities in the South Island to Wellington.
Tags: attractions, flights, milford sound, new zealand, north island, queenstown, rental cars, skiing, south island, stewart island, tours, travel, wellingtonRelated posts