Jan 21 2011

Best of New Zealand at an Affordable Price!

Dear All-Travel,

We talked about dream vacations for years and then one day, all the pieces fell into place and we were off to New Zealand on our Kiwi Explorer Passes. It was not only impossible easy but also affordable.

First stop, Auckland, where we were warmly welcomed with the traditional Maori greeting “Kia Ora.” New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland is vibrantly urban with a background rhythm of Polynesian culture, beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanted islands. It’s a tremendously walkable city, with scenic vistas in every direction. We took a ferry to Waiheke Island where we visited two of the island’s many beaches, wandered through produce markets and sampled some very fine local wines. The next day, we made a short 45-minute drive to Piha, where we lounged on the black sand beach—truly a world apart.

From Auckland, we traveled to Rotorua, the center of Maori culture and a natural wonderland. The Pohutu geyser in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve erupts around 15 times a day. The Champagne Pool at Wai-o-tapu shimmers blue, orange and green under a cloud of steam. Maori master artists demonstrated carving and weaving, dance and song. We then treated ourselves to some sumptuous care at the ultra-relaxing Polynesian Spa.

Next was Christchurch, New Zealand’s “garden city.” It is located between the spectacular Pacific coastline and the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps. We took a punt along the river Avon and rode the tram to charming cafes, galleries and museums. Surrounding downtown Christchurch, Banks Peninsula is full of picturesque bays, seaside villages, boutique galleries and cafes, while the Port Hills are a hiking and cycling paradise that offer stunning 360-degree views.

Though we felt like we were just beginning to know New Zealand, our trip ended in Queenstown. The town is nestled among green mountains on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. It’s an incomparable lake and alpine resort town. We rode the gondola up to Bob’s Peak—more indescribable views!—did a little easy day hike and took an unforgettable cruise on Milford Sound. It was like being on a different planet; massive fjords, brilliant granite peaks, towering waterfalls and mountains covered with ancient rainforest.

So much vacation, so much fun, and so many memories!

Contact a New Zealand Specialist at 800-300-4567 or click HERE.