There is more to New Zealand than just beautiful wilderness. This is a country that has an active modern culture as well. When planning a New Zealand vacation you will want to focus your activities on the things that you enjoy and on the things that the other people in your group enjoy. If you are traveling with teens or tweens, then you may want to add a few activities that they will consider fun.
If you are traveling with young kids then you will want to plan a few activities with them in mind. There are a lot of fun activities for kids to do in New Zealand. In the major cities you will find family activity centers, arcades and parks. These activities can be a great way to recover from a long flight or to recover from spending several days out in the woods.
If you are traveling with older kids then you will want to include a few activities that teens enjoy. For example, you can visit one of the larger cities in New Zealand, like Auckland, and let your teens go shopping, play video games or just explore local teen hotspots. You can also give each teen the opportunity to plan a day of your vacation. Give them a budget for the day and a city. Let them pick where you stay, where you eat and what you do. This can be a great way to include your teens in the vacation planning process, and it will ensure that they have at least one day of doing something that they want to do.
For news on gaming and entertainment options in New Zealand, visit the Kotaku Blog.
Last week we talked about camping in New Zealand. This week I’d like to talk a little more about how to prepare for a camping trip in New Zealand. This blog will talk about steps you need to take when you are planning a trek into one of the country’s national parks.
The first step that you need to take is to learn everything you can about the park, especially if you are planning an over night or a multi-day camping excursion into the backcountry. You will want to pick up maps and trail guides. You will also want to learn about the rules and regulations for camping and hiking in the national park. You can usually download this information from the park’s official website, or you can get this information from a travel agent or from a local bookstore.
Step two is to plan out your trip. You will want to mark out what trails to take, where shelters are located and how to get help when you need it. Having waterproof maps is important, as you will need them to help you get around the parks you are camping and trekking in.
Before you enter a national park to go camping or trekking you will want to check in with the local ranger station. Tell them your plans, and tell them when you plan on returning. This will ensure that someone will be waiting for you at the end of your adventure. You may also want to bring in a GPS tracking devise just in case you get lost or need rescuing.
If you are interested in finding ideas for places to visit while in New Zealand’s backcountry, visit the Hiker Photo blog. This blog will provide you with pictures of some of the best places to go.
Last week we talked about what information you need to gather before you go camping in New Zealand. Today’s blog is going to talk about where you can go camping in New Zealand. This entry will focus on the camping options offered by the North Island and the South Island of New Zealand.
The North Island of New Zealand is the perfect place to plan a camping New Zealand vacation. This island is closer to the equator and therefore it is much warmer year round than the South Island. This is the island to focus your camping vacation on if you are interested in tropical weather, beach camping, marine life encounters and geothermal formation exploration. This island is also the home to great natural spas like hot springs and mud pots.
The South Island is closer to the South Pole and therefore it is colder than the North Island. This island is the perfect camping destination if you enjoy extreme sports and cold weather mountaineering. This island has some of the easiest to access glaciers in the world, and what makes these glaciers extra special is that they are still growing. This is truly unique as many glaciers in the world are actually shrinking. In addition to glaciers, the South Island is also where you are going to find the largest and more spectacular national parks, some of which have been designated as world heritage parks.
Even though New Zealand is a relative safe country to visit, it is not without its hazards. Weather patterns can change quickly in the back country and in the high country making trekking dangerous if you are not prepared for a wide array of weather conditions. To keep yourself safe make sure you know a little bit about the areas you are trekking through and what you need to bring with you to stay safe.
ca
New Zealand is a country that is made for people who enjoy the great outdoors. Their small population and huge expanses of nearly virgin wilderness makes it the perfect destination for a camping trip or a wilderness adventure. However, before you pact your camping equipment and get on the plane for the small country of New Zealand, there are many things you need to learn about.
First of all you need to understand what you can and cannot bring with you on the place. Many pieces of camping equipment, such as knives and tent stakes, are not going to be items that you can carry on to the plane. These items will need to be packed securely away and checked with your other luggage. It is important that you check with both your airline and New Zealand customs officials to see what items are allowed and which items are not allowed.
If you plan on renting a camper van, New Zealand officials may require that you purchase a temporary international driver’s license. You will need to check with the local New Zealand driver’s license bureau to see if you will be required to get one or if you can just use your U.S. issued driver’s license. If you plan on driving in New Zealand you will also want to read up on the driving laws for the country. You will want to pay close attention to speed limits and where you are allowed to drive to in a vehicle, especially in national parks and backcountry areas.
The end of September and the first half of October offers a lot of great events. If you are planning on visiting New Zealand over the next few weeks then these events are for you. Select the ones that interest you.
The first event that you can attend is the 2008 Christchurch Antarctic Festival. This festival runs from 09.26.08 to 10.03.08. This festival explores the activities and lifestyles of the Antarctic pioneers. Some of the events that are going to be offered include dog sled rides, hagglund pulling contests, historical recreations, airhanger tours, ice sculptures and ice sports.
Another event that you can attend is the Alexandra Blossom Festival. This festival runs from the 27th of September through the 4th of October. This is a huge festival in Central Otago, Alexandra, New Zealand, and it attracts over 25,000 people each year. If you attend this event you will be able to participate in over 30 events which include sheep shearing contests, fashion parades, dancing and local arts and crafts displays and tables. The Alexandra Visitor Information Center is in charge of this event, so contact them for details.
The final event that is scheduled for October is the Historic Northland Cruise. This is an amazing four day cruise that will take you back in time to when the first people arrived in New Zealand, as well as take you back to when the Maoris first met up with European explorers. This cruise is held on a tall ship called the R. Tucker Thompson. This is the third year this cruise has been offered. For more information you will need to talk to Jane Hindle or Rachel Kennedy.
For information on traveling in general, I highly recommend the Everything-Everywhere blog. Get ideas for your next big vacation.
If you are planning a vacation stop in Auckland, New Zealand then you will want to leave a little time to explore the Coromandel Peninsula. This peninsula sits about 55 km to the east of Auckland. This destination extends 85km into Pacific Ocean from the Bay of Plenty. Coromandel Peninsula is part of the Waikato region and it has a great selection of activities for you to choose from.
If you are into cryptozoology you want to check out the Moehau Ranges found in the forested area of the peninsula. Here you will be able to search for the regions local monster, the Hairy Moehau.
For vacationers that are looking for a guided tour of the region then consider signing up for Discovery Tours. These tours are completely guided and provide you with a unique look at either the heritage of the area or the local wildlife and geological beauty. One of the most popular tours is the Discovery Tours Coastal Walkways tour.
New Zealand vacationers that are interested in treasure hunting will enjoy the Goldmine Experience. This attraction offers you two choices. You can take a guided tour of the mines or you can take a self-guided tour of the historic gold mines found near the city of Thames. At this site you will be allowed to prospect, but follow the rules and get your mining permit (very cheap to buy).
The final tourist attraction that lots of people seem to enjoy is sea kayaking. Mercury Bay is one of the most popular waterways for sea kayaking. You can tour sea caves and offshore islands. If you have never gone sea kayaking before you can sign up for a guided sea kayaking tour.
Christchurch, New Zealand is one of the most popular cities in New Zealand for international travelers to visit. This city has everything that a traveler could ask for from great hotels to great local attractions. If you don’t know where to start your New Zealand vacation, consider Christchurch.
Christchurch is filled with great local attractions. If you are traveling with the kids then this is a superior New Zealand city. Here you will find Chipmunks Playland, a great multi-activity center that is open to families. You can mini-golf, play in a ball pit or play carnival style games. Other kid friendly attractions include Ten Pin Bowling and Superkarts Raceway.
If you are interested in science attractions or wildlife attractions, then Christchurch will not disappoint you. Some of the most popular attractions in this genre of tourist sites include: Science Alive and the International Antarctic Centre. Other great wildlife/outdoor attractions you can visit in Christchurch include the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and the Christchurch Aquarium.
Other great attractions that Christchurch has to offer include: the Roxx, an ice skating rink and Laserstrike. Check out local tourism organizations and information centers once you arrive in Christchurch for the latest attractions and special events.
When you are planning your New Zealand vacation make sure you allot yourself at least two or three days to see what Christchurch has to offer. You can break up your schedule to see outdoor tourist attractions in the afternoon when it is warmer, and indoor attractions during the mornings and evenings. Also don’t forget to look for local theater and special events while in this amazing New Zealand city.
This week I’d like to return to the topic of planning your New Zealand vacation. As we have discussed before the process of planning any international vacation is complicated. Not only do you need to think about what you need to bring with you and what activities you want to do while on vacation, you also need to think about political, legal and medical issues that are associated with your vacation destination or destinations.
One of the issues that you will need to research while planning your New Zealand vacation is the legal requirements for entering the country. You will need to learn about the travel visa requirements, the personal documents that you will need and the amount of money you will be allowed to bring into the country. You can usually find this information on the State Department’s website for New Zealand, or from your travel agent. Make sure you learn this information well in advance of your departure date.
Another issue that you will need to research while planning your New Zealand vacation is the medical hazards. Every country has its own set of illnesses, diseases and safety issues. New Zealand is no exception to this rule. Even though it is a safe country to travel to, it does have insect born diseases and water microbial illnesses that can ruin your vacation if you contract them. The best strategy is to learn what the health hazards are, take the necessary precautions and to be vigilant in watching for signs of the illness developing.
Auckland is one of the tourism centers of New Zealand. It is the largest city in the country and has an active population of over 1.4 million people. This city is found on the North Island and it has a mild climate that is comfortable year round. However, if you plan on participating in water sports, like sea kayaking, then early morning is the best time to be on the water, as this is when the wind and sea is at their calmest.
Auckland is near the Auckland Volcanic Field, which is made up of about 50 individual vents. Here you will find volcanic cones, lava flows, lagoons, lakes and other volcanic formations. The largest volcano in the region is Rangitoto Island, which is a centerpiece for the Auckland landscape.
Auckland is situated on a narrow isthmus that lies between the Tamaki River and the Mangere Inlet. The city is connected with several bridges including the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the upper Harbour Bridge and the Magere Bridge.
If you enjoy getting outside and spending time at the park then you are going to love Auckland. This city has several great parks. The largest city park is Auckland Domain. Other city parks include Albert Park, Myers Park and Western Park.
Finally, for those of you who are looking for sporting events that you can participate in then Auckland has several for your to choose from. The top sporting events held in Auckland include the Auckland Marathon, the Round the Bays Fun Run and the Harbour Crossing Swim. If you plan on participating in any of these events make arrangements several months in advance to make sure you can get into the event and to make sure there is a hotel room available to rent.
When you are planning your New Zealand vacation it is important to think about more than just packing your bathing suit and sun screen. You also have to plan ahead for possible medical conditions that you may develop while on vacation. Since you will be thousands of miles away from your normal doctor, you need to know how to diagnose and treat common, minor health problems like sun exhaustion, motion sickness and insect bites.
Sun exhaustion is probably one of the most common conditions that travelers get, especially travelers who are participating in active vacation activities. Even when you are vacationing in a cooler area of New Zealand you can develop heat exhaustion. To treat this medical condition you will want to hydrate yourself, soak in cool water and keep yourself out of the sun. Symptoms of sun exhaustion include: feeling nauseous, overheated and physically exhausted. Having a severe sunburn is also a sign that you could be suffering from heat exhaustion.
Motion sickness and insect bites are two other common medical conditions that you can come down with while visiting New Zealand. To treat motion sickness simply take a motion sickness tablet with a glass of water and rest until you feel better. If you take a motion sickness tablet don’t drive as they can make you drowsy. To treat insect bites first determine if the insect is poisonous. If it is go to the local emergency room for the anti-venom. If the bite is from a non-deadly bug you can use an anti-histamine to help reduce the itch and swelling. Another remedy you can use is to mix baking soda with water to create a paste. Put the paste on the bit or sting and this will draw out the poison.
For more travel tips look at the New Zealand travel blog posted on the Dorishua Blogspot.
