Faraway Fantasy Friday: Marquesa Islands

When I first came up with the idea to take six months off, the plan was to focus on Italy and walking the Camino de Santiago. But then I pushed my trip back from April (this month!!) to September, and everything kind of... changed. I decided (because of the time of year) to start with Australia and the South Pacific and then head over to Europe in the Spring...

And from there, everything has continued to morph and twist and change, and today, I'm not convinced that I'll make it out of the South Pacific at all!

So many amazing little plots of land and white sand and azure water to explore! So.Many! Fiji alone has something like 300 islands!

I mean, really... I may have to hop on a sailboat as a crewmember for a while to explore all of those places. I just may.

Today especially, I'm dreaming of the Marquesa Islands, one of the most remote places left on the planet. Exactly one passenger ship sails to most of it's 15 French Polynesian islands. (A container ship converted into a no-frills, 200-passenger ship, which also delivers supplies to those islands, talk about multi-tasking!)

The total population for those 15 islands hovers right around 8,000. 8,000! Sounds like heaven to me! (I really enjoy solitude.) This is pure polynesia, one of the last vestiges of unspoilt (mostly) culture on earth.

I'm kind of obsessed with the Marquesas lately. A little bit. Okay, a lot.

This photo of Nuku Hiva is courtesy of TripAdvisor 

This photo of Nuku Hiva is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: New Caledonia

Another of my upcoming destinations is New Caledonia. I'll be stopping at two different New Caledonian islands. Here's the funny thing, I'd only ever heard of New Caledonia in the past couple of years ago. Have you heard of New Caledonia? How about Lifou or Noumea? Okay, how about the Isle of Pines?

Well, if you're still not sure what I'm talking about, New Caledonia is the nearest set of islands to Australia and the Great Barrier reef. It's islands sit between Australia and Fiji. And the Isle of Pines is reportedly one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Today I'm practically salivating over that luscious bit of white, sandy earth and that gorgeous piece of barrier reef heaven!

I don't know about you, but I have a feeling that I'll have a hard time leaving this little haven:

Photo by Pierre-Alain Pantz, from www.isle-of-pines.com

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Galilee

In about a month I'll be traveling to the Holy Land. Today I'm thinking of a road trip from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee. I've heard from other travelers that Galilee is an amazingly peaceful, relaxing place.

Image from: http://holylandpilgrimage.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/loaves-and-fishes-and-more-food-for-thought/

Biblically, Galilee is where Jesus walked on water.

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Chiang Mai

Traditionally, I've not been a Southeast Asia kind of girl. I'm a Europhile, through and through. But as I follow the expat community more and more, I hear more and more about the merits of spending large amounts of time in places like Chiang Mai. It's a not-so-secret-secret. It's more like a staple of travelers everywhere.

I recently read an article by an expat who lives there. She lives quite well in a simple apartment sans kitchen. Her cost of living, monthly, including feeding a major coffee addiction (something I don't have) and a penchant for foot and back massages is around $500/month.

That's right. $500/month.

Before my car was paid off, I spent more than that on the monthly payment. (Of course, I paid it off in half the time of the loan...)

$500/month!

Chiang Mai's lush jungles and ancient civilization are calling me today, along with a $500/month budget.

Photo found here

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Sinkyone Wilderness

Around five hours north of my stomping grounds lies Fort Bragg, California and a California State Park that is under-utilized called Sinkyone Wilderness. It's named after the Sinkyone Indians, who lived in this area for thousands of years. Locally, the area is simply known as "Lost Coast."

Lost Coast is a camping/backpacking dream come true. Set in a verdant, cool (sometimes downright cold, so pack accordingly), climate on the Pacific coastline, Sinkyone Wilderness State Park offers a remote respite from all cares.

You might actually recognize certain locations as being used in the movie Jurassic Park 3. Yah, it's that gorgeous. Parts are covered in lush, green ferns and blankets of plant life.

Today I'm dreaming of a camping/backpacking trip to the Lost Cost, where I intend to get good and lost.  And not eaten by dinosaurs.

 

All images from:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/mediagallery/?page_id=429&m=brochures

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: The Farm!

If you've followed my blog for a while, you probably know that I've got a Grandmother in Virginia. She lives waaaaaaaay out in the country on a farm. I go there about once a year and dig my toes into the sand, do some planting and weeding and riding and relaxing and driving around country back roads in a little pickup with the windows rolled down. It's a little slice of heaven, or as my Grandfather used to call it, God's little green acres.

I'm headed out to the farm tomorrow and I've been daydreaming of being there for weeks. Back to the sweet, thick, southern heat and my people. Back home.

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Capri

Rome: Been. LOVE IT. Going back to live (next year).

Venice: Been. Stunning. Back again someday.

Milan: Been. Cool place.

The rest of Italy: I'm going. Y'all know that I'm moving abroad next spring and that at this point, most of my time abroad will be spent in Italia, primarily in Rome.

But there is SO much more to see... and I'm going to explore the boot.

Capri is high on my list of Italian Priorities. That gorgeous little island in the South. Historically Capri is where the wealthy Romans (of the ancient variety) vacationed in Summer to escape the heat.

Photo from: http://www.italianvisits.com/images/campagna-im/capri-im/capri-terrace.jpg

Today I'm daydreaming of visiting this island paradise, soaking up the sun from bougainvillea-covered terraces, swimming into the Blue Grotto with my camera in a dry-bag to snap photos and see the ancient statues and generally just, well, holiday.

Photo from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grotta_azzurra.jpg

By: Frédéric de Goldschmidt www.frederic.net

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Granada

In the Spanish Sierra Nevada mountain range, northeast of Morocco, lies an ancient city. Granada. It's roots are both European and Moorish and today I'm dreaming about wandering through it's colonnaded courtyards, the clip-clap of my sandals on the tiled floors. Crisp mountain air filled with exotic spices, tapas and maybe even some flamenco dancing.

 Photo from: http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20120214-granada-beyond-the-alhambra

 photo by ZEUS74 on Google Maps.

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Nepal

Today I'm thinking about Nepal.

I know. You're completely shocked, aren't you? You're saying: But Christy, you're not a mountain + snow + mountainous stuff loving kinda gal!

And I'm sitting here, hearing ya, saying: I KNOW!

But still, there it is. Nepal. With it's vertiginous terrain and exotic FAR away location and amazingly famously friendly people.

Nepal.


That is all.

Where do you want to be today?

Photo from: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/images/lake-at-gupa-pokhari-nepal$14364-12

by: Chris Bell

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Maldives Dhoni Tour

I've really been struggling of late, in picking the destination for my NBT. Nothing is really, really, really jumping out at me, saying "PICKMEPICKMEPICKME!" Sure, I want to go practically everywhere. But, usually there's one spot that stands out as the "IT" location of the trip, and I plan the rest of the trip around going to said IT spot.

But lately... funk.

I've narrowed it down to somewhere... tropical. Maybe. Or maybe not.

Ugh. You see?

Here's something that looks tempting, from G Adventures/ formerly GAP Tours, who I sailed around the Greek Isles with and had the time.of.my.life.


Maldives Dhoni Tour

The Maldives are pretty hot right now, as far as the travel scene goes. They're a group of islands off the Southernmost tip of India. Trips to the Maldives don't come cheap. Hotel rooms for BASIC accomodations run around $500 per night. That's right. $500 PER NIGHT. So if you've checked out the hefty pricetag on that Dhoni tour, relative to spending a week in a hotel on a Madivian island, the boat tour is CHEAP (and it includes meals...).

But where else to visit in the region? India? Dubai? Perhaps Sri Lanka, Kenya or Madagascar? With a stop in Spain on the way home?


Where would you go if you had two weeks to travel between the Maldives and San Francisco?


More about the Maldives:


The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making this one of the world's most dispersed countries. It lies between latitudes 1°S and 8°N, and longitudes 72° and 74°E. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometres (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldivian government organized these atolls into twenty one administrative divisions. The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives. In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef (collectively called Link Road) and the total length of the road is 14 km (9 mi).
The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), with the average being only 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, although in areas where construction exists, this has been increased to several metres. However, more than 80 per cent of the country's land is composed of coral islands that rise less than one metre above sea level.^[18]
The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands, set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean.^{[citation needed]}
A 15 centimetres (6 in) thick layer of humus forms the top layer of soil. Below the humus layer are 60 centimetres (2 ft) of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. Due to high levels of salt in the soil near the beach, vegetation is limited there to a few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants, and small hedges. In the interior of the islands, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the population.^{[citation needed]}
The limited vegetation and land wildlife is supplemented by the abundance of marine life. The waters around the Maldives are abundant in rare species of biological and commercial value. Tuna fisheries are one of the main commercial resources. The Maldives have an amazing diversity of sea life, with corals and over 2,000 species of fish, ranging from reef fish to reef sharks, moray eels, and a wide variety of rays: Manta rays, Stingray and Eagle ray. The Maldivian waters also host whale sharks and hawksbill and green sea turtles.

From Wikipedia

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Meteora

I remember watching the TV series Young Indiana Jones as a kid and falling so in love with the adventure of it all! Each episode took young Indy to a faraway, exotic location. During one episode, Indy and his Dad visited a monastery in Greece called Meteora. It is perched high above the valley floor on a bunch of high-rising cliffs.

During childhood I wondered how on earth the movies had made such a cool looking place. But just a little while ago, I discovered that it's real!

It sits high above a little town called Kalambaka, balanced across 24 natural stone pillars. Speculation begins construction on the buildings around the 9th century. The Monasteries are a long, 4-hour drive on windy roads from Athens, and well worth the effort.

Check them out:

(Photos from Wikipedia & Lonely Planet)

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Scotty's Castle

I am constantly on the lookout for new places to visit. I peruse Lonely Planet, Art of NonConformity and Nomadic Matt all the time! (Among others.)

Another great source for travel inspiration is bbc.co.uk. Scroll to the bottom of their homepage for a travel section. There are usually great resources listed there. Recently I read a feature called "Best 'Middle of Nowhere' Places." (found here) and was alerted to a California gem called Scotty's Castle.

Scotty's Castle is located way out of the way in Death Valley. It would take me 9 hours to drive there (and that's the only option for arriving there). Talk about "Middle of Nowhere!"

Pretty cool huh?

So the history of the place goes something like this: There was a guy named Death Valley Scotty. Well, that wasn't really his name, but it's what everyone called him. In the 20's he began selling stakes in his Gold mine in Death Valley, proclaiming far and near that there was gold in them thar hills!

Well. He lied.

And one of his investors began to suspect his shenanigans and set out for to see the mine himself. I'm not sure what ensued, but it ended with the investor and Scotty forming a fast friendship and the investor building a giant "vacation home" in Death Valley, Scotty's Castle.


Death Valley Scotty lived in the Castle year-round and told everyone that he built it from the profits from his gold mine. Sneaky little buzzard, wasn't he?


In any case, I want to go. There are tours of the castle offered year-round, for those of us who deign to drive that far out of the way to see it. It's a beautiful throwback to the heyday of the 1920's and 30's: The days of newspaper fortunes like those of the Vanderbilts and William Randolf Hearst.

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Moving On

In contemplating moving to "The City" (San Fran) I went through several emotions, dozens of times. I'm still going through that emotional cycle. This is a BIG change.

The process of getting me to consider this move has gone something like this:

Phase One:
-Oy vey, I'm bored.
-I need to change something.
-Maybe I'll pack up and move to New York, Florida, Rome, Fiji, Australia...
-I'm going to need a job.
-There aren't any jobs.
-What should I do.
-UGH.
-I'm bored.


Phase Two:
-If I move to San Francisco I can keep my job (which I love) and still be close to family (which is important to me for the first time in my life. Don't judge.)
-But I've never liked San Francisco. When I leave I feel like dipping my entire body in disinfectant (and I'm not a germaphobe).
-I'll ignore that inkling.
-It doesn't ignore me.
-Find amazing deal on an adorable apartment at random (? or was it?)
-Love the apartment.
-Think about making an offer on it, which leads me to this:

Current phase:
-Abject horror
-Queasy excitement
-Nervous stomach
-Scared to leave my current situation behind (Because it's good. It's really good. Except I'm bored.)
-Went ahead and made an offer and spent last night interviewing with the owner (which went exceptionally well, I'm happy to report.)
-Now I'm waiting to hear if I got the apartment.
-I shift back and forth between making lists of all of the addresses I'll have to change, the crap I'll have to get rid of and thinking to myself "It's not too late, you can just back out now and keep on keepin' on in your current place."

-And then I think: "I don't really want to do that. And since when am I a little chicken who would rather sit at home than go out and explore????? Wanderlust trumps comfort zone every time. I'm ready. It's time."

It's time to unpackage this neatly stifling little life I've created so carefully for myself over the last four years. It's time to mix it up and step out of the comfort zone; Throw caution to the wind and jump on the proverbial cruise ship to see where the winds will take me.

I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm really excited for this. And me, the suburban country travelaholic, is ready to shed those old portraits of self image and paint some new ones.

So maybe I'll get this apartment. Maybe not. All in all, this process has been good and important and I'll keep looking for the right situation to come along if this one doesn't work out.

Bring it on.

Faraway Fantasy Friday: The Ultimate!

PLEASE, Please go and vote! :)
http://apps.facebook.com/princess_bucketlist/entries/view/719

Thanks!

 ------

And now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging:

There is a small island chain off the coast of India called the Maldives. Perhaps you've heard of it? Maybe not.
It's rather exclusive.

And it's the stuff that dreams are made of. 

Literally. This is where your fantasy getaway in a tropical house on stilts issued forth from. Tiny white sandy sandy islands with resort bungalows perched atop coral reefs. Dazzling azure water and tropical weather.

It's the sort of place where you have to take a seaplane or small boat to get to.  There are around 100 resorts on the Maldivian island chain, and most resorts occupy their own private island.

These islands are considered to be one of the most heavenly places to vacation, and the median hotel stay is priced around $600 US per night. There isn't a room to be found in the island chain for under $125/night. (And at $125/night, that's what it is - a room. Call me crazy, but if I fly halfway around the world to get to an exotic island chain, I'm staying in an overwater bungalow, which the Maldives are famous for - the least expensive of those will run you nearly $310/night. Most expensive: upwards of $2250/night)

The words Maldives + Budget are simply not compatible.

So dream big, and mostly, save big. 
Because a seven night stay in the Maldives will run you around $5k for two people. (Plus airfare[~$2200/pp, Emirates], transfers, meals and spa services.)

One last thing - you've got to go soon. As in sometime in the next fifty years. Because apparently, the gorgeous island chain will have melted away into the ocean by then.

Photos from Cocoa Island Resort website: http://www.cocoaisland.como.bz


PS: The answer to the last Friday's Fun Fact Quiz is: ARUBA!

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Seven Sisters Waterfalls

The air was thick with Jungle humidity and smelled heavily of baking banana bread. But there we were, in the middle of the Grenadan rainforest, no ovens to be seen. Just lush tropical foilage everywhere. One of the local varieties of flora happened to be the Nutmeg tree. Passing through a private plantation, we also saw Cocoa and Banana trees. And that's where the perfume of spiced banana bread dripped from. It was intoxicating.

And that's why Grenada is known as the Spice Island. You can pick up nutmeg from the ground yourself - look for a bright red web wrapped around a giant walnut. It won't keep, but it's fun to see all the same.

That day, a friend and I had taken cab from town up into the mountain to go for a hike to "Seven Sisters." It is a series of seven waterfalls culminating in the purest, velvetiest, most gorgeous water I've ever beheld (or swam in).

Today I'm thinking about going for another hike and a swim in that pool. I'm thinking of getting caught in a Tropical rainstorm, enjoying the heat and the cooling rain and basking in the joys of nature.

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: A Haze of Pinks and Oranges

One afternoon while I was working aboard the MS Dawn Princess, I'd just finished teaching my afternoon classes. My Mother was sailing with me that cruise and she came to join me for Dinner. As we made for the elevator on the promenade deck, I noticed several people pouring out the door onto the deck, gawking. I looked out to the horizon above them and saw an impossible sight. The sea was perfectly calm and made of spun glass and the sun set all around us, thick, like a cloud of crystal sugar. Light pink and fluffy golden.

While we stood on the promenade deck of the MS Dawn Princess, awestruck by the event horizon happening all around us, my Mother asked me why I didn't run to go and get my camera. I replied that by the time I came back we would have sailed out of the anomaly. So I stayed put and looked and observed. It wasn't without regret. What I wouldn't give now to have a photo of that moment! I have never, never seen anything like it again.

I have touched the sky and kissed it’s intangibility. I have sailed a line through a world made of polished, mirrored sea, where the water met the air in a haze of pinks and oranges so thick that one could scoop streaks into them by simply reaching out to do it.

 Another Beautiful event at sea. 3am in the Baltic.

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Freyes Beach

I've spent years in the Caribbean. Well, not all at once. But add up all of the Caribbean Cruises I've worked and it's quite a chunk of time. And I loved it. I mean,  really, loved it. There is nowhere like the Caribbe! Sure, sure, there are other tropical places in the world, but the Caribbe has a special place in my heart.

Much as I love that region, not all of the islands are created equally. 

I have a list of faves.

And on that list is the beautiful little island of Antigua.

Pronouced Ann-teeg-uh (the British pronunciation stuck), Antigua is an island of perfect coral reefs and sea salinity and 365 white sandy beaches. And you know what that means:

A really great tan.

The last time I was on the island, I was told that every hotel there is 4+ stars. EVERY SINGLE HOTEL. It is a bit posh, n'est ces pas? There are entire developments of massive mansions that have as a requirement for residence: Minimum of 1 Million dollars liquid assets on hand at all times. Do you know how rich you'd have to be to keep 1Mil in cash just laying around? Sheesh.

Oprah has a house there. I've seen it. It's exquisite. It's got a loooooooooooong  walkway that leads from the house to a point overlooking the ocean with a sort of gazeebo at the end. A waterway runs the length of the walkway and spills out into the ocean from the gazeebo at the end. Wow.

And it's got a private beach.
So, make that 364 beaches to tan on.

Have I mentioned the perfect water salinity? What  I mean by that is the water is the perfect consistency for snorkeling. It's a little bit saltier than other places I've snorkeled and you just kind of bob around effortlessly. It's really cool. Be sure to try it when you go.

And my favorite place on the island is a lovely little beach, normally known only to locals (A fellow shippie and I pried the location out of a local after making friends one day), this place is a stretch of peaceful, white bliss. It's called Ffreyes beach. Yes, there are two F's in Ffreyes.

Shhhh. Don't tell anyone about it. Just go.

Crystal clear. You can see straight to the bottom in three feet of water.

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Izmir

Today is all about Izmir!

Izmir is located in Turkey, and I've had a Turkish fascination for the past year or so. Izmir has a rich and ancient history and can trace it's human population back over 3,500 years. How cool is that?

Let's go to Izmir, people!



Here's what Wiki has to say: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izmir)
"İzmir, historically Smyrna, is a large metropolis in western Anatolia and the capital of the İzmir Province in Turkey. It is Turkey's third most populous city and the country's second largest port city after İstanbul. It is located along the outlying waters of the Gulf of İzmir on the eastern shoreline of the Aegean Sea."

Photo from: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/59e30/1c0a27/

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Crystal Cove

Well. I'm fairly excited for this Faraway Fantasy Friday because I actually just booked it. Woohoo!

Today I booked a my Birthday getaway for June.

Why in the world would I plan something SIX MONTHS OUT?

Because I was forced, that's why.

I mean, really, if you had the opportunity to rent a beach house in Southern California (right next to Newport Beach, CA) for $65/day, wouldn't you do it?

Let me explain. (Imagine your best Bogart/Film Noir, fast-talking dective voice) There are these Beach houses, see, and they are all very popular, see... They were built in the '30's and well, the feds (*ahem* National Park Service) took 'em over, see! It's a racket, I tell ya! A racket! (It kind of is... except it's really a steal for us common folk who can't afford to spend a few hundred thousand on a summer beach rental.)

End scene.

So really, the Cottages are historic and have been restored to their hey-day glory. And you, yes you, can stay in them. The reservation system opens up for an entire booking month the first of each month, six months out. So for the month of June, reservations started December 1st, at 8am. It's all online.

SO what you do is login to the reservations system (you have to create a profile) and point your browser to the cottage you want. Or maybe two browsers to a couple of choices... I'm not saying that's what I do... Because really, I can't giveaway all of my beach-house-securing tips, can I? ;) Then around 7:59 start clicking the "reserve" button... it won't let you actually reserve the place until 8am... but there's a margin of error between my AT&T wireless' 8am and their server's 8am (and it's ALL about their serve)... so better safe than sorry.

For me it was about 7:59.5 when my browser refreshed to the "you have 15 minutes to complete this reservation" page.

And oh, boy that was an exciting moment.

Because if you remember, I tried to get a reservation at this place a year ago, failed, and ended up in gorgeous Florida for my last birthday (No compaints either way, really... definitely a win/win situation.)

Ya See. Six months out.

Here's the little haven I'll be holed up in for my birthday this year:

Doesn't it look posilutely DREAMY????

And here's more info on the place, in case you want to attempt braving the reservations system:
http://www.crystalcovebeachcottages.com

Where do you want to be today?

Faraway Fantasy Friday: New Zealand

My little sister is going on her first business trip in a couple of weeks. And boy, oh boy is it a doozy! She'll be going to New Zealand for ten days!!! How cool is that?

Hopefully there will be a little bit of time for her to see a few sights while she's there.

I've always wanted to go to Australia, but New Zealand hasn't held the same fascination for me. But given that little sis is going, I've looked up some factoids + some of the amazing things there are to do/see there:

Factoids (from Lonely Planet)

Fast Facts about New Zealand

• Unemployment 3.5%
• Number of NZ glaciers over 100m long 3100
• Area 268, 680 sq km (similar to Colorado, bigger than the UK)
• Inflation 3.2%
• Population 4.2 million humans, 40 million sheep
• Number of international visitors 2.2 million in 2007
• Width of Cook Strait 23km (14 miles)
• Life expectancy 100 for tuatara (lizards); up to 2000 for kauri trees
• GDP growth 2.6%
• Number of microbreweries 45 in 2007

Here is what Nomadic Matt suggests you see whilst in New Zealand: (http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/new-zealand-travel-tips/)

• Queenstown. The action capital of New Zealand, this is one of the funnest cities I’ve ever been in. There’s a lot of activities to do in the area, amazing restaurants, and the best night life in New Zealand. Everyone who comes ends up staying longer.
• Franz Josef Glacier. Hiking these glaciers is pretty amazing. Be sure to crawl through the glacier tunnels!
• Tongariro Crossing. Labeled the best one day hike in New Zealand, this walk takes you through where they filmed Mordor in Lord of the Rings. The walk takes a full day and is one of the most beautiful places I saw in New Zealand.
• Bay of Islands. North of Auckland, this area is great for dolphin and whale watching, relaxing on the beach, swimming, boating, and eating great seafood.
• Bungy Jump. Any adrenaline seeker worth his salt will do the 143 meter Nevis Bungy Jump outside of Queenstown. If that’s too high, there are smaller ones in Auckland and Queenstown.
• Skydive. Another popular adventure activity, sky diving is best down over Lake Taupo. It provides the best backdrop as you plunge to Earth from 14,000 ft.
• Abel Tasman National Park. Located in the south island, this national park looks like something out of Asia with its turquoise blue water, dense jungles, and warm temperatures. There is great multi-day hiking and beautiful sea kayaking.
• Wellington. New Zealand’s capital has great architecture, character, great nightlife, restaurants, and cultural activities.
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Explore these caves in sheer darkness with nothing but the glow of glowworms to guide your way. It’s an exciting activity as you float down rivers and jump over waterfalls.
• Maori Cultural Show. Maori culture is important to understanding life in New Zealand. You find Maori symbols and words throughout the country. See a cultural show while you are there to get a better understanding of life in New Zealand and its native population.
• Dolphin and Whale Watching. Whether you go from the Bay of Islands, Auckland, or down in the south island, New Zealand is a great place to spot dolphins and whales.
• Skiing. During the winter months, the south island, especially the are around Queenstown, has snow covered mountains that offer some of the best skiing in the southern hemisphere.
• Rotorua. Rotorua is famous for its Maori cultural shows and for its smell. All around the city are sulfur mud pits that give the city a unique odor. If you are looking for a place to relax, Rotorua and the variety of spas they have here is the place to go.