09/05/2024
🇳🇿 Kia ora e te whānau, 🇳🇿
👋Hello everyone.
Just a little update on my travels.
🇳🇿 Two weeks ago, I was starting my adventures in New Zealand. I was on a trip with other travel agents from the UK and Germany.
Here is a little bit of the itinerary.
Over the first few days, we explored Golden Bay in the Northwest of New Zealand's South Island.
We went for an early morning paddle with Golden Bay Kayaks, tasted some lovely local spirits at Kiwi Spirits Distillery, visited the new glamping spot Drift Off Grid and enjoyed an epic scenic flight with Golden Bay Air to Karamea on the West Coast.
After visiting Golden Bay, it was time to explore the South Island's wild West Coast.
We walked through the rainforest of Kahurangi National Park to the stunning Ōpārara Arches and explored the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and the Pororari River.
We visited Monteith's brewery for lunch before we hopped on the Tranzalpine railway from Greymouth in the new scenic plus carriage on our way to Christchurch.
After one night in Christchurch, we took another flight to Hamilton on the North Island, and Tom drove a four-hour distance to the remote Blue Duck Station.
We enjoyed their fine dining experience, "The Chef's Table," at the top of the world. Which overlooks the Whanganui National Park and the rainforest.
After checking in, we went on a safari, which ended at the restaurant. Eight courses accompanied by wine, where food becomes art. There are also three cabins, so staying near the restaurant is possible.
We went back after dinner, 4x4 off-road trekking in the dark. We saw fireflies and a fantastic moon. The following day, we explored the Whanganui River by jetboat and walked to the iconic Bridge to Nowhere.
After being in the middle of nowhere and feeling like the only people on the planet, we ended up in my new favourite place in the world.
LAKE TAUPO
It has everything: restaurants, shops, thermal baths, water sports (sailing, jetboat, jetski, fishing, kayaking, etc.), golf, riding trails, MTB/bike trails, and camping.
There's something for adventurous people, too, and that's how we started the day. Swing and/or Bungy at Taupo Swing. 44m free fall. Nice view 🙂
We took a two-hour catamaran ride across the lake. Afterwards, we visited the Wairakei Terraces and Thermal Health Spa. It has beautiful pools and different temperatures. No kids are allowed there. We had dinner at the Bantry, a short walk from the hotel.
On our final day in New Zealand, we flew back to Auckland.
Our activities for today were visiting Weta Workshop Unleashed, housed at the Skycity Complex. We briefly summarised the usual tour of making film equipment and figures there. Weta has movies like Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit.
After that, we went on a three-hour food walking tour, Visiting five different venues. Katherine, our guide, also told us a bit about the city.
I recommend that New Zealand be on everybody's bucket list. It is well worth a visit in the autumn, winter, or spring when the prices are cheaper.
If you would love to know more, please get in touch with me.
