Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for new zealand
Aspiring in New Zealand
By Linda Tancs
Named for Mount Aspiring, one of New Zealand’s highest peaks, Mount Aspiring National Park provides inspiring walks for trekkers eager to view its glaciers, waterfalls, braided rivers and acres of native beech forest. Short walks around one hour include the Devil’s Punchbowl and Wainui Falls, featuring native forests and waterfalls. If you’re interested in a more serious walk, consider treks such as the Gillespie Pass Circuit, the Wilkin Valley, Aspiring Hut, Liverpool Bivy and Cascade Saddle. Of course, the park is also easily accessible by plane, helicopter or jet-boat, and a glacier landing high in the mountains can’t be beat.
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New Zealand’s Iconic Tree
By Linda Tancs
Located in the stunning alps of the South Island in New Zealand, Wanaka is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for its year-round array of activities amidst the lakes and mountains. It’s equally loved by shutterbugs, who flock to the region for their own storied photo of Lake Wanaka Tree, that lone willow tree in the middle of the lake. Perhaps the most photographed tree in the country, it may be the best known photo stop, but it’s not the only one. There are 24 designated scenic photo points with helpful commentary. Points 1-9 can be done either walking or biking and Points 10-24 can be done as a scenic drive with the opportunity to stop and walk about.
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Stargazing in New Zealand
By Linda Tancs
Situated in the middle of New Zealand’s South Island, the Mackenzie Region is a photographer’s paradise of turquoise blue lakes, valleys of emerald green and snow-capped mountains. It’s also a heavenly place for stargazing, its clear skies earning it a designation as the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The reserve is home to Mount John Observatory, the perfect locale for a stargazing tour year round, where powerful telescopes will reveal all that the southern sky has to offer, like the Southern Cross and unparalleled views of the Milky Way.
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The Forgotten World Highway
By Linda Tancs
Built on colonial bridle paths formed in the late 19th century, New Zealand’s Forgotten World Highway is its oldest heritage trail. Otherwise known as State Highway 43, the 93-mile route meanders over four mountain saddles, through a one-lane tunnel and over a river gorge in a way that many describe as a roller coaster experience. Located between Stratford and Taumarunui, a highlight along this scenic route is Whangamomona, a little village that declared itself a republic in 1989. You can get your passport stamped at the local hotel.
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Rest for Oenophiles
By Linda Tancs
Do you hate shuttling between wineries, losing time to drink in (no pun intended) the countryside over a leisurely glass of vino? In New Zealand, your ship has come in. Actually, make that a motor home. Maui, a vehicle rental company, is offering wine havens, a motorhome rental for an overnight stay at select vineyards. Now relax, and enjoy the view.
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Where the Stars Are
By Linda Tancs
Light management is critical to preserving the beauty of the night sky. Just ask the folks at the International Dark-Sky Association, a non-profit organization fighting to preserve the night. They’ve certified five places in the world as an International Dark Sky Reserve–in other words, that’s where the stars are. The honorees are Mont Mégantic in Canada, Exmoor National Park in England, Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand, NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia and Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
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World’s Steepest Street
By Linda Tancs
Dunedin, New Zealand boasts the world’s steepest residential street, with an average slope of 1:5. Recognized by Guinness World Records, 1150-foot-long Baldwin Street gives any StairMaster a run for its money. Good thing a water fountain greets you at the summit! Best of all, though, it runs up Signal Hill, offering great views of Otago Harbor. Together with the peninsula, Otago Harbor is home to some of the rarest wildlife in the world and New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle.
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Adventure in New Zealand
By Linda Tancs
New Zealand is an island in the southwest Pacific Ocean, populated with an array of natural wonders like glaciers, fiords, mountains, plains, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, and sandy beaches. Roughly the size of Britain, Japan or Colorado, nearly a third of the country—divided into a North Island and a South Island—is preserved national park land! Tune in to Travelrific® Radio and let’s explore its gorgeous landscapes.
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Natty Napier
By Linda Tancs
Napier, New Zealand is feted as the Art Deco capital of the world, a term derived from Exposition des Arts Modernes Decoratifs et Industriels, held in Paris in 1925. The east coast city, dubbed the Nice of the Pacific, has the highest concentration of Art Deco buildings in a single area. The best way to see it all is by a guided tour plus bus or vintage car excursion. High season is the GEON Art Deco Weekend in February, including over 200 events, but this sun-kissed city welcomes you anytime.
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The Sound of Silence
By Linda Tancs
Silence is powerful, even spiritual. That may be one reason why New Zealand’s Doubtful Sound is such a popular attraction. Part of Fiordland National Park, it is the deepest of the fiords and blissfully serene, featuring a range of flora and fauna along its many islets. Experience its serenity for yourself via kayak, cruise, day trip or overnighter.
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