People ask me all the time, “Where’s your favorite place you have ever been” or “What’s your favorite thing you have ever done?” So, I thought I would take the time to share some of the things I love about one of my favorite places in the world, New Zealand. A little secret…. The last thing on this list is my favorite thing I have ever done on a vacation.
I’ll admit I probably travel more than the typical American. I love to get off the plane in a new country and take it all in. I enjoy trying new foods, meeting new people, and most of all exploring new cities all around the world. My life has taken me on an interesting journey thus far and I look forward to many more adventures along the way.
In my early 20’s I would pick up my backpack, go just about anywhere, and for that matter, sleep just about anywhere. As I creep into my mid thirties, the excitement for sleeping in a dorm room full of bunk beds and backpackers has lost some of its luster, but my passion for seeing the world is still as strong as ever.
I have had the pleasure of going to New Zealand 3 times over the past couple of years and have enjoyed every single minute of if my trips. Many people say if you are going to the South Pacific, you need to take two trips. Spend a few weeks in Australia and go back for a second trip to New Zealand for two more weeks. But, is that realistic for busy working Americans with only two weeks of vacation a year? Most people I know say when they go to the South Pacific, they will probably only go once in their life. Without a doubt if you do have the time and money, definitely take two trips, or one long trip to explore as much as possible. With that being said, I could not imagine flying all the way across the globe and not seeing the beautiful country of New Zealand. Honestly, if you are flying that far, New Zealand is a must.
Glad I got that out of the way…
First are foremost, if there is one place you need go it in New Zealand, its Queenstown. To give you a quick visual, imagine picking up Alaska and dropping it on Lake Tahoe. That’s the beauty of Queenstown and I get excited just thinking about it. For adventure seekers the fun never ends; from bungee jumping & skydiving, to luging and jet boating. For those that are a less adventurous, Queenstown has some of the most incredible views and scenery that I have ever seen, which is why the filmed part of the movie Lord of The Rings there, and walking the quaint small town is just flat out charming. If you miss going to Queenstown, New Zealand you will regret it.
Secondly, if you are a wine lover like my wife and me, you need to spend the day on Waiheke Island. Auckland gets a bad rap at times, as some people think all big cities are the same. The thing is Auckland is great, and you will most likely fly in or out of Auckland on your trip, so exploring Waiheke Island is easy to do, and it’s a quick ferry ride from the waterfront. There are 2 things that I like most about Waiheke. First you get some of the most amazing views of Auckland. Second, their wine (and I’ve had my fair share of wine in my life) is on the top of my list. The MudBrick winery has been featured on several television shows and they have my favorite wine in the world. So, when you go you need to stop at Mudbrick for a glass of their Shiraz and lunch.
Not superimposed, this picture is real!
Finally, let me tell you about my favorite thing I have ever done on vacation. We have already talked about Queenstown, but the one thing you must do in Queenstown is take a helicopter ride from Queenstown to the Milford Sound. I can honestly say it’s the most incredibly beautiful experience I have ever had the fortune of seeing. My jaw was dropped the entire time. The views of Queenstown you get from a helicopter are unmatchable, the awe of the Milford Sound from up above is breathtaking, and when you land for your lunch and champagne on a glacier, you know that you have just experienced something most people never will. It does cost more than driving to Milford, but this is truly a once in a lifetime ride. If you can find a way to save a few shekels for this, its something you will never forget.
In one word, "AMAZING"!
Here’s to Queenstown, Waiheke Island, and my friends at The Helicopter line that took me on the trip of a lifetime.
For frequently asked questions about New Zealand please go to: http://duatravel.com/faqs/destination/new_zealand
Jason
