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All The World Wants To Travel To New Zealand
Is it any wonder? Since Hollywood launched New Zealand big time onto the world’s cinema screens with epic block busters such as Lord of The Rings, King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia, everyone wants to visit.
In fact, New Zealand is one of the most popular travel search destinations, with almost two million online searches for information each year, even beating out firm favorites such as Hong Kong and London.
New Zealand consists of two main islands, North and South about the size of Colorado. With a population of around 4 million and English as the main language, you can expect a warm welcome and a fantastic vacation experience. There is also strong, vibrant Maori culture reflected in the easy going attitude of the people and pride in their heritage.
From the West Coast of the United States, a direct flight to New Zealand is a bearable 12 hours. Close to the Australian continent, New Zealand shares the Australian love for sport and having a good time.
Think Hawaii meets Switzerland.
Where else can you find so many different types of scenery and breathtaking landscapes in one country! From towering mountain peaks and glaciers to volcanoes and bubbling mud springs. And then there’s the surprise. It’s so very English too. The lush green fields and rolling hills reminiscent of the English countryside and village life never seem that far away.
Major highlights and attractions.
The Bay of Islands on the North Island.
An absolute must-see on your trip. A magnificent natural treasure for anyone who enjoys getting out on the water. Catch a ferry or charter boat and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere. Paddle a sea kayak in and out of island nooks and inlets. If you have always wanted to swim with dolphins, do it here. Many operators in the region offer excellent trips to spectacular Cape Brett and the ‘Hole in the Rock’ on Piercy Island.
The townships of this historical bay are alive with memories of the area’s colorful past. Take time out to see the well-preserved relics both Maori and European, in romantic Russell, Paihia, Waitangi or Kerikeri.
Rotorua. What’s bubbling you?
Known for its amazing geothermal earth forces, this fascinating region offers you more than natural beauty, it’s also a very spiritual place. “Manaakitanga” is a deep-rooted concept in Maori culture. It’s a local challenge to offer visitors the best experience possible.
Voted New Zealand’s Most Beautiful City three times, Rotorua’s gardens, cobbled streets and diverse mix of Maori and English Tudor architecture, give the city a significant point of difference. Beyond the urban centre, a backdrop of geothermal steam, volcanic mountains and huge crater lakes remind you that this region rests immediately above the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Incidentally, Rotarua’s Hell’s Gate Reserve was where the “Black Gate of Morodor” was filmed for The Lord of The Rings Trilogy.
Let off some steam. Steam escapes from crevices in the ground, gardens bloom alongside bubbling craters and geysers shoot for the sky.
Spa therapy. A good wrap. 160 years after the first Europeans arrived to ‘spa’ in Rotorua, today’s visitors are still enjoying the therapeutic properties of the geothermal resources. Mineral pools, mud wraps and massage will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready for more.
The thrill of chilling out in Glacier Country.
Nowhere in the world’s temperate zones are glaciers so accessible. On the West Coast of The South Island, remnants of the ice age cascade from the vast snowfields of the Southern Alps to valley floors, almost 1,000 feet above sea level.
You can enjoy guided excursions exploring stunning ice formations. Or take off on a scenic flight and land amidst New Zealand’s highest peaks overlooking the glaciers. The two most famous villages are Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, good bases from which to plan your days exploring the glaciers.
Milford Sound. Your eighth wonder of the world?
Legendary writer Rudyard Kipling was a well traveled man. He called Milford Sound the “eighth wonder of the world.”
Still down South, Milford Sound lies at the heart of Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage area. Cruising the clear, still waters of the Fiord you’ll encounter magnificent sights, such as the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls.
With the highest rainfall in New Zealand (think feet not inches!) so expect rain when you visit. However, when it pours, the water falls that appear all around are simply amazing.
Keep a lookout for wildlife such as dolphins, penguins and seals often seen in their natural habitat. Go on a scenic cruise and gasp at the moody majesty of the Fiord in your Milford Sound Red Boat. Another worthwhile attraction is the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory Option. Descend 30 feet below the surface and marvel at spectacular marine life, with anemones, sponges, fish and rare red and black coral in their natural habitat.
Discover Middle Earth.
According to Oscar winner Peter Jackson, New Zealand was the only landscape on the planet that could have provided the sensational locations for Tolkien’s Middle Earth. You can set off on your voyage of discovery and visit the key areas featured in the films such as The Southern Alps and Queenstown. Make sure you stop at Matamata, near Hamilton (a couple of hours drive south of Auckland) and marvel at how the landscape was transformed into the peaceful hobbit village of Hobbiton.
Auckland. The largest city.
Wellington is actually the capital, but Auckland is where many visitors first set foot in New Zealand.
Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanting holiday islands, that’s Auckland.
It’s located on the North Island and called the City of Sails. Know why? It has more boats per capita than any other city in the world. Almost entirely surrounded by water and covered with volcanic hills, the city boasts a superb harbor and a population of 1.3 million people. Add a background rhythm of Polynesian culture, a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping – and you’ll want to stay.
Auckland has a pleasant subtropical climate with mild winters (June, July and August) and warm, humid summers (December, January and February). Remember the seasons down here are reversed, so plan your vacation accordingly.
Accommodation to suit every taste.
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Accommodation in New Zealand
New Zealand’s accommodation is as varied as its beautiful scenery. In New Zealand you can camp for free in your tent or campervan or stay in the finest luxury lodges where Hollywood stars pay large amounts of money for world-class accommodation, isolation and Lord of the Rings scenery.
In general all levels of accommodation are of a high quality on a world standard eg; If you were to stay at a campground all the campgrounds will have kitchens and good shower and toilet facilities. Most will have outdoor barbeques and also facilities to keep the children occupied.
New Zealand is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination during the northern hemisphere winter so the summers in New Zealand are becoming more populated.
Booking is encouraged during the peak summer season 1st December until the end of February. November and March are also very busy with these months in the shoulder seasons. Prices are not as high during these two months.
If you really want to stay anywhere, when ever you want you will find 1st May until the end of September quiet, with great deals for accommodation, vehicles, and activities. The middle of this period is New Zealand’s winter with the ski areas around New Zealand open for business.
Winter can be cold in the south but no colder than the UK or somewhere like San Francisco, if you holiday at the top of the North Island you will have warmer weather with temperatures around the same as a winter in Sydney.
Whenever you travel to New Zealand you will find accommodation that your holiday deserves.
Tags: accommodation, campervan, holiday, lodge, lodges, new zealand, north island, travel, travel to, travel to new zealand, weatherRelated posts
New Zealand Holiday Homes
Even if I highly recommend that if you travel to New Zealand you take the majority of the trip on a campervan discovering the country on the road and getting to everywhere, it is a good idea to finalize a long trip after driving during probably 3 or 4 weeks in a nice holiday home by the lake or next to a wonderful city like Auckland. I’ll take a look then at New Zealand holiday homes possibilities.
First of all, and even if it looks like a stupid question, you should know what are you looking for. Relax by the beach? To be next to a lake in mountain cottage? To be close to an important city in order to explore it deeply and have the house as a base for operations? Up to you, but don’t start looking at different stuff if you are not clear on that point.
Once you know where you should be, you’ll find many pages with listings of homes. I have some recommendations but as I don’t want to make publicity of other people I’ll keep them for the ones who ask me. Of course you should look at many of this websites but soon you’ll realize that there are some pages that offer very complete information with good structure and other simply don’t. Having an accessible map pointing where every house is placed is very important. Remember that everybody likes to say their house is centric. But you know, “centric” sometimes means lots of things, and usually it is not what you are thinking about.
Many New Zealand Holiday Homes have a price per night. Normally this is the best option in case you are going there with your family. There are very good houses with 3-4 rooms which you can find for a very good nightly rate. Of course if you are staying for 1 week or more you’ll find discounted prices.
If discounted prices are not offered, don’t hesitate about it. Ask for them! People who offer the house to you do not have the power. You have the power, you are the buyer. If you like a house let the seller understand that you will take it only if the price goes down by a certain amount. Make sure you mention some other houses from competitors when you get in touch with the seller and the deal should be yours.
Many times you are going to have all the communication simply by e-mail and you want to make sure that the person over there is reliable. The best you can do before committing yourself is to agree with the other person to write a simple contract with the main parts of the agreement for rental. Sign it, and make the other person sign it. Once you and the seller have the document, then you can proceed with the payment in the way you have agreed. Of course there is still some risk involved but you are minimizing it with just some easy steps.
In any case, a travel planning help company that does not get commission from sellers can be a good guiding tool you can use in order to make sure you are dealing with real people who are offering a true bargain and so you avoid all the possible pain from such a rental. Also, your travel planning assistant can help you negotiate the price for your accommodation with more experience and get a better deal in New Zealand holiday homes.
Tags: accommodation, auckland, campervan, holiday, new zealand, new zealand holiday, travel, travel to, travel to new zealandRelated posts