Posts Tagged weather
New Zealand’s North Island – A Unique Holiday Experience
Travelers to New Zealand’s North Island can expect unique scenery and adventures beckoning around every corner.
The North and the South Island of New Zealand are very diverse regarding scenery and geographical makeup. The North Island is warm and with a scenery scope from sandy beaches, through rolling farmland to active volcanic peaks. It is home of about 73 percent of the nation’s population and is maybe best recognized for the unique volcanic plateau at its centre. The North Island (115000sq km) is home to Auckland, the nation’s largest city, and Rotorua, the current centre for the Maori culture.
Let’s have a look at two very famous areas of the North Island the Coromandel Peninsula and Rotorua.
The Coromandel Region of New Zealand is truly a special place, a short drive outside Auckland city. Coromandel is located east of Auckland, on the east coast of the North Island. This region is one of New Zealand’s leading coastal holiday destinations due to the wonderful white sandy beaches and sunny weather of the area. It is portrayed as rustic, relaxed, magnificent and unspoiled. On the arrival of the Europeans in New Zealand Coromandel Peninsula was covered in kauri forest, and many huge trees grew there. Coromandel is the name of a town and harbour on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula. The town of Coromandel is lovely and old. Coromandel stands for New Zealand’s intact beauty displaying natural world as it was meant to be.
Rotorua is located near the centre of New Zealand’s North Island. It sits on the shores of Lake Rotorua and several other lakes are nearby. You will find a great variety in Rotorua attractions, activities and culture which makes this place a very famous New Zealand tourist destination. Beside the geothermal wonders, there are also the more common water activities such as fishing and boating. Tourism is a key industry in Rotorua. Therefore the tourism services are well developed. This region is the centre of Maori Culture and thermal activity for New Zealand. We recommend exploring the geothermal wonders of Rotorua. Enjoy the natural spas, geysers, hot pools and bubbling mud pools Rotorua has to offer. It has the most energetic thermal activity in the country. Afterwards it might be interesting to take in a Maori hangi (a method of cooking in an outdoor pit oven) and concert.
Tags: attractions, auckland, holiday, new zealand, new zealand tour, north island, south island, tourism, travel, weatherRelated posts
How to Have a Cheap, Active, Fun, New Zealand Holiday
You can have a New Zealand holiday quite cheaply, if you are willing to forgo the luxury items, and plan a holiday around the huge range of wonderful activities enjoying nature in her more natural state! That is…sticking to activities that have no price tag! If you make it a policy to do as much as you can that is free…or almost free, you can still have an amazing New Zealand experience.
Consider these points :
Currency – If you are thinking of New Zealand as a holiday destination, it is a good time to be coming. The exchange rate should be working in your favour, as in these difficult times, our currency has dropped considerably in the last few weeks.
Sightseeing and Activities – Summer, and we are having plenty of sun, and good weather. Travellers can enjoy all the natural features that give us a plethora of >b>FREE activities to participate in.
New Zealand is surrounded by beautiful beaches. They offer a huge variety of activities that will cost you nothing! Swimming, boogyboarding, surfing, fishing, beachcombing…………….what a great way to spend a holiday!
Our bush is magnificent, and there are extensive networks of walking tracks. Whether you want to walk for an hour, a day, or a week, there are tracks you can enjoy. Note that some like the Milford track, are commercial, and relatively expensive experiences. But most, are completely free to use.
At this time of year there are regular free outdoor concerts held in parks around the cities.
Auckland has over 40 spread over the summer season.If you have children, there are a number of lovely play areas to enjoy, many right by beaches, bush areas, or in parks.Free or very cheap entrance fees to museums, and art and craft galleries make most very accessible, even on a small budget.
Parks and gardens are extensive, and give you a place to enjoy picnics, walks and where children can play. Look out for a What’s On brochure and you may well be able to take part in one of the many activities organised in city parks – e.g
- A Teddy Bear’s Picnic
- Kite Day
- Lantern Festival
- Free concert.
- When in Rotorua you could go and see the thermal activity at Kuriau Park without spending a cent, if your budget is very tight. I would suggest trying to go to at least one thermal park.
Accommodation – It is the perfect time to go camping. There are many DOC ( Department of Conservation) camping sites mostly in lovely beachside locations, where you can camp for a very small fee.( About $7 a night.) Facilities are basic – with no hot water……..but you get what you pay for! If you like warm water, use a solar shower to hang in the shower box. The remaining camping grounds, still offer very reasonably priced accommodation. They have communal kitchens and bathroom facilities, that enable you to be self sufficient, rather than having to eat in restaurants.
Transport – There are cheap buses that you can use to get around the country. Naked Buses start from a dollar! Bus passes are another cost effective option, especially if you are travelling solo.
Petrol has dropped considerably in price, and is now back to about $1.38 a litre. With the current climate – it could drop more! If you rent a car, you can still camp, or use the extensive range of hostels, B&B’s, cabins, motels, or other cheap accommodation.
If you want to spend time in each island, you can fly between cities at excellent discounted prices on Air New Zealand’s Grab a Seat, which changes daily. It is cheaper for one person to fly, than take a train, or even drive. A family would find it cheaper to drive.
Meals – Fruit and vegetables are plentiful and cheap at this time of year. You should have no trouble keeping the food bill to an acceptable level. New Zealand has many cheap restaurants ranging from International franchises such as McDonald’s, to Indian, Chinese, and other ethnic cuisine.
There are Farmer’s Markets held all over the country in the weekends. These are an experience travellers thoroughly enjoy, while sampling a range of wholesome, tasty, fresh local food, and arts and crafts.
Use Discount Vouchers Where you Can – Pick up the Tourism booklets at the airport. They will have some discount vouchers that will come in handy while you are here.
I hope this convinces you a cheap New Zealand holiday can still be exciting, and active. You will experience the people, the magnificent scenery, and enjoy a wide range of activities. This is a country that lends itself to travelling on the cheap, with such an abundance of free natural features to experience.
Tags: accommodation, auckland, cheap accommodation, experience travel, holiday, hostel, hostels, motel, motels, new zealand, new zealand holiday, tourism, travel, weatherRelated posts
Planning a New Zealand Wine Vacation – Tour Lesser Known Wineries
In recent years New Zealand has become a popular destination for the world’s wine buffs. The major wine regions of Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay, and the neighboring areas of Wairarapa and Wellington, enjoy thousands of visitors every year.
But with stunning wineries stretching from the northernmost tip to the bottom of the South Island, why not explore them? Tourists will enjoy some amazing wine experiences if they dare to venture off the beaten track.
New Zealand may be a relatively new wine destination, but its most popular ports can tend to get crowded. It may seem appealing to visit New Zealand’s largest wineries, but you may think twice when you’re bumping elbows with other tasters at the bar. Contrast this with the serenity and personalized service of smaller vineyards, and you may be tempted to try the path less traveled.
If you’re looking for this kind of relaxed wine vacation, there are a few New Zealand regions you may like to consider.
Northland is often overlooked by wine tourists. It’s the smallest of New Zealand’s wine regions, and its location on the northernmost tip of the North Island is a little out of the way. But it’s worth the effort to visit this picturesque region.
Croatian immigrants planted New Zealand’s first grape vines in Northland in 1819, but this region’s wine industry all but died out until recently. Thanks to current interest in New Zealand’s wines, the area has enjoyed a resurgence.
The beautiful coastal districts of Kaitaia, Bay of Islands, and Whagarei make up the Northland wine region. It enjoys New Zealand’s warmest weather which makes it the perfect place to grow cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and chardonnay grapes, and to attract sun loving travelers.
A journey on the Northland Food and Wine Trail is the perfect way for gastronomes to experience all this region has to offer. The 74 food and wine experiences on the trail are all clearly signposted to help travelers find their way. Many stops like Ake Ake Winery, Omata Estate, and Cottle Hill Winery combine excellent wine and fine food for a truly indulgent experience.
For the ultimate foodie’s delight, consider visiting Northland in September. Every year wineries and restaurant join together for The Northland Lunch, an annual degustation meal featuring amazing dishes created with fresh local produce and matched with the perfect Northland wines.
Central Otago is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing wine regions, but few international tourists ever make it far enough south to see it. It’s a shame, because this beautiful mountainous area is paradise for wine lovers.
Central Otago is famous for elegant pinot noirs, but it’s also worth sampling the chardonnays, sauvignon blancs, rieslings, pinot grigios, and gewürztraminers. You’ll find wonderful examples of these varieties at Felton Road Wines, Peregrine Wines, and Two Paddocks, the winery owned by movie star Sam Neill.
Central Otago is conveniently located near New Zealand’s adventure capital, Queenstown. Bungy jumping, skydiving, kayaking, and hang-gliding are huge industries here, and the perfect way to get the adrenalin pumping. Wine tasting in the nearby Gibbston Valley is the ideal complement to these heart-racing activities. Or venture further away from the city to explore vineyards at Wanaka, Alexandra, and the Cromwell Basin.
Central Otago’s food and wine is celebrated with an annual festival in February. Enjoy award-winning wines and tasty treats while soaking up the sounds of local jazz bands. The beautiful surroundings of the Queenstown Gardens make this festival a must see for locals and tourists alike.
New Zealand’s wine industry is thriving, from the north to the south. So don’t just focus on the big names in New Zealand’s heart. There are unexpected joys to experience by wine tourists that dare to be different.
Tags: new zealand, north island, queenstown, south island, travel, vacation, visit new zealand, wanaka, weather, wellingtonRelated posts