There are several countries in the world which are keen to attract golfers to their shores, and dotted around the planet are some truly wonderful courses. Few nations, however, can offer the diversity of New Zealand, so it comes as no great surprise to hear that so many people are flocking to this paradise to tee off and have fun.
Many of the courses in New Zealand are located by the sea, and offer some spectacular views throughout the round. Whether you’re planning to visit North or South Island, you’ll find golfing utopias to suit players of all abilities, and of course the traditional warmth of that all-important Kiwi welcome!
No need to hurry
Tourists who visit the country, whether they are golfers or not, are always impressed, and perhaps a little surprised, to discover the slow and relaxed pace of life to be found there. New Zealanders know that life is for living, and will always be keen to ensure they take time to smell the flowers along the way.
This impressive attitude transfers perfectly to the golf course. Even on the best courses of all, there is a discernibly relaxed atmosphere. The game of golf is not, nor has ever been, a race against the clock. Although everyone hopes to play well, it’s just as important to enjoy the game itself, as well as the opportunity to take in the fresh air and the camaraderie of friends.
Variety is the spice of golf
When on a golfing holiday, players from all over the world like to try as many of the local courses as possible. In New Zealand, this is as easy as 1-2-3. Getting from one place to another couldn’t be easier, because the road network is ideal and driving is so simple and relaxed throughout the country.
And when the sun goes down and the golf bag is safely packed away for the night, it’s time to take in some of the legendary nightlife. New Zealand’s restaurants, bars and clubs cater for all tastes, whether you’re in the mood for a quiet meal in a laid-back bistro or for a chance to dance the night away to some lively tunes. As always, the choice is yours.
A game for all seasons
The country’s climate lends itself perfectly to the game of golf. The summer is long and warm, and even in the winter the courses remain playable. Any clubs that are located close to the shore will inevitably be windy on occasion, so as always be prepared to think carefully when teeing off. A shot that requires a seven iron one day may need a four iron 24 hours later.
As you would expect from a country that warmly welcomes tourists from across the globe, New Zealand has every hotel option imaginable. From low budget backpacker hostels to five star luxury establishments, golfers will be able to find the ideal place to match their needs and their budgets.
For more information about the golfing odyssey that New Zealand offers, the best option is to check the web. After a little research, you can plan the perfect getaway, and in no time you’ll be teeing off in the finest golf country of them all.
David Rice is an obsessive golfer from the UK. Thanks to affordable car hire New Zealand is on his list of must-see destinations. In the coming months he plans to take advantage of New Zealand car hire rates and to play as many courses as possible.
The need to climb a mountain is built upon the most basic primal forces a human being can experience. The need to explore the world around us in its most dramatic majesty is powerful. Equally as powerful is the need to push the body to its limits. This is the world of the climber.
While the exhilaration of climbing is undeniable, there’s the other side to the sport that is impossible to ignore; your safety, and the safety of those around you is essential. As any mountaineer and rock climber will tell you, the world of climbing is full of hazards, from the dangers of falling rocks to high winds. Some things you cannot control, and there’s safety equipment that’s designed to help you.
Of course, you need to wear the all important gear, such as the right climbing helmet, harness, shoes, ropes and equipment. These are the key elements when embarking on your mountain climbing expedition. That’s fine, but there’s another incredibly important part to this venture: You.
Good quality gear is necessary to ensure that your climb is a safe one, but whether climbing or belaying, you still need to have your wits about you at all times. With this in mind there are things that you need to be aware of that will be just as lifesaving as any special climbing equipment.
What to look out for when climbing
It’s rather a moot point to say that climbing is physically strenuous, but it’s not just the exertion of climbing that can affect your performance. There are varying types of dehydration, but is typified by an imbalance with the body’s electrolytes and mineral salts, particularly potassium and sodium. The result of dehydration can vary from mild tiredness to dizziness and, in very extreme cases, be fatal. But let’s not imagine that particular outcome!
Chances are that if you’re embarking on a climb, you should just maintain a good level of water intake. As well as dizziness, headaches and lethargy are unwelcome additions to anyone’s climb, and they’re a good sign that you may need to stop for nourishment and fluids. Even if you’re determined to get to the next plateau, there’s no point in taking risks. Stop, refresh and get yourself together.
Like dehydration, tiredness is a sign that you might be pushing yourself too hard. Of course, with any sustained level of physical exertion the body will start to become drained, that’s to be expected, but it’s how it’s managed is worth bearing in mind. If you’re finding that your concentration is slipping, do take some time out to gather your thoughts.
You might experience a bout of tiredness after a particularly heavy push. This will be when the adrenalin rush has dissipated, and you feel a bit of a slump following the chemical crash. It can be more frustrating than anything, but it’s just your body normalising. Again, take some time to recover, as your body just needs to adjust.
These pointers should help when embarking on your next rock climbing trip. Remember to look after yourself, and keep an eye on your climbing partner too. Sometimes it’s easier to see what’s going on from the outside, so it’s also important to take advice as well!
Trekitt is a company that provides climbing equipment, harnesses, personal protective gear, chalk bags and accessories.
Everyone knows that small children need constant amusement. They have very short attention spans, and they’re always looking for a new source of stimulation. Basically, your kids need to be entertained constantly. Little kids are also always on the go, and they have a ton of energy they need to expend by moving, dancing and jumping. For all these reasons, long car rides are a child’s kryptonite. They’re forced to sit still, restrained in one seat, for a long period of time with limited sources of amusement. If you are going for a trip, it’s important to get creative and distract your kids from a potentially boring situation. Here are some ways you can entertain your children on long car trips.
Bring New Toys
Kids love toys, so you’ll need to bring them along on your journey. Involve your children in packing for the trip, and ask them which toys they’d like to bring with them to play with during the ride. Bring these, but it’s also a good idea to bring along some brand new toys. You can let them pick one out, or you can surprise them. Either way, a toy they’ve never played with before will likely entertain them for longer than one they’re already used to. Activity books are also great to bring along.
Take Advantage of Technology
It’s a good bet that your children can spend hours engrossed in watching television or playing video games. You might not like to let them indulge too often, but a great time to take advantage of their love for technology is on long car trips. Brining along a portable DVD player can keep them quiet for hours as they watch movies. Handheld video game systems are also good, as well as CD players or iPods with headphones. Distracting them with electronics is usually a sure bet.
Pack Snacks
If your children get hungry or thirsty, they’ll likely get cranky. Make sure you bring a lot of snacks along for the ride. Pack your children’s favorite snacks, as well as healthy ones that will give them vitamins and long-lasting energy, like apples, carrot sticks, peanut butter, and nuts. Also bring bottles of water and juice boxes. Make sure your children eat regularly.
Play Games
There are lots of games you can play as a family during a car ride. Playing car games can be a very memorable and unique part of your trip that the kids will love. Play I Spy, and have your children guess objects in the car as you tell them clues. Another good guessing game is I’m Thinking of an Animal. Play Color Cars by assigning each family member a color. You get one point every time you see a car that’s your color. Keep track and name a winner when you arrive at your destination. You could also keep a running list of all the state license plates you see, or count how many cows or horses you pass. The more creative you are with games, the longer they’ll entertain your children. If you do a search online, you can print out some game boards to play Car Bingo.
Prepared by Lisa Hann and proofed with the most complete and customized grammar checker on the web. Lisa writes about life-relevant topics based on her own professional and personal experiences.
In the United States it is the peak of summer. The temperatures are soaring and soon wildfire season will begin. If you are tired of the heat and want to escape to a cooler climate then jump on a flight heading to New Zealand. Here is it the peak of winter vacation.
During July and August New Zealand is the host to a wide range of cool New Zealand vacation ideas. What is hot, or rather cool at this time of the year in New Zealand are food and wine festivals. At these events you can sample award winning wines, cheeses, gourmet foods and local delacacies for a reasonable price. Usually you will get a wide sampling of what the country has to offer with the purchase of your entrance ticket. However, some of these events are free to attend.
Another great option for July and August vacations in New Zealand is skiing. The South Island is the premiere ski destination for New Zealand. Here you will not only be able to ski amazing mountains, but also glaciers and other marvelous geological formations.
Cultural events are also big during the months of July and August in New Zealand. You can find these events on both the North and the South Islands. You can find contemporary cultural events such as film, music and art festivals, as well as traditional cultural events sponsored by the Maori. These events are hosted in most communities and they offer you the chance to truely get to know the New Zealanders and their culture.
Planning a trip to New Zealand during the winter months does not limit your options to only winter activities. If you are still looking for a tropical paradise for your vacation then all you have to do is head to the northern most part of the country. Here you will be able to bask in the sun, stroll along sandy beaches and enjoy the tropical weather that this part of the country has to offer.
Now is the time of year when you need to start planning your holiday vacation to New Zealand. There are only six months until November and seven months to December. While this seems like a long time, many of the resorts in New Zealand will start filling up for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s vacation slots. It will be nearly impossible to find accommodations for these peak travel times towards the end of the American summer.
Since timing of your vacation plans is critical you need to verify when you will be traveling and lock in your travel dates as soon as possible. Then give yourself a couple of weeks to research your options. For example, take a look at the vacation packages offered by New Zealand hotels and resorts and compare them to the packages offered by American and New Zealand travel companies. Do not take for granted that your travel agent will be able to get you the best deal on holiday vacation packages. Sometimes booking directly through a hotel can help you get a better deal.
When selecting a hotel to stay at during a holiday think about what type of vacation experience you want. If you do not mind crowds and noise then beachfront resorts are a good option. However, if you are looking for something a bit more quiet and less crowded, not to mention less expensive, then look for a hotel or resort a mile or two away from the beach.
**Warning** If you want to stay at a lesser known hotel make sure you read travel blogs about it before booking a room. This will help you to determine how safe and clean the hotel is.
Air travel is the first step in most people’s New Zealand vacations. This flight is going to be a long one regardless of where in the United States you start from. You can expect to spend around 24 to 27 hours in the air, including lay overs at Pacific island nations.
Since you are going to spend so much time in the air you really need to think about how you are going to keep yourself and your travelmates entertained during the flight. If you have kids you will need to think about what little things you can bring to make them comfortable and to keep them occupied while traveling, and if you are traveling with people that have medical conditions then you will need to think about planning ahead for their care.
The first thing that you need to do is figure out when the best time to leave for your New Zealand flight, in the morning, afternoon or night. This will impact at what point in your trip you will be sleeping.
Medical needs are important to plan ahead for when packing for your flight. You need to make sure you have your medications that you will need during the flight in your carry on and you will need to make sure that it has been packaged in a manner that meets current airline restrictions. Also keep a note from your doctor handy to prove that your medications are required for your health.
When packing for entertainment purposes think about small and quiet. You do not want to pack items that make a lot of noise, that are heavy or that will be disallowed by the airline.
When you are planning a New Zealand vacation it is important to think about more than just where you want to visit. You also need to think about the best time of year to visit. Like any other popular tourist destination the amount of tourism varies by the season in New Zealand.
If you want a quiet and intimate vacation then do not travel to New Zealand during a holiday, particularly during a summer holiday. On the other hand, if you are interested in celebrating the holidays with the locals, then planning your vacation during a holiday is a practical choice. If you decide to visit this country during the peak tourism season you can find better deals and fewer crowds by staying at hotels and motels that are slightly off the beaten track.
Another tip that you will want to keep in mind when planning your New Zealand vacation is that the island that you select is going to impact your vacation options, the amount of tourism that you will need to deal with and the price of your accommodations. The North Island is going to be the hottest spot for tourism and the most likely spot to find expensive accommodations and vacation options. The South Island is going to be more sparsely populated and you will be more likely to find great deals on accommodations on this island.
Since planning an international vacation is more challenging than planning a domestic vacation you need to start your planning process months before you plan to leave. It is a good idea to start planning anywhere from six months to a year before leaving, however, you can sometimes throw together an exciting vacation to New Zealand at the last minute. Keep in mind that last minute vacation planning is not a good idea if you are traveling with children or people with special needs.
If you are planning a couple’s retreat to New Zealand then consider starting your adventure near Christchurch. This city is in the heart of the best wine country in New Zealand. It also is close to many attractions and activities that are popular with couples.
A favorite activity for couples is a bike tour of the local wineries. This tour is great for couples of all ages, however, you will need to be in moderately good shape. To prepare for this activity start riding bikes a few months before your vacation. This will help you to relearn how to ride a bike, if it’s been a while, and it will help you to build up your endurance for the tour.
If you do not want to tour the countryside on bike then consider taking a bus tour of the wine country or you can drive yourself. There are multiple wineries in the area and most offer tours to the public. Remember to buy a few bottles of wine from each winery to take home with you.
Another popular activity for couples is a hot air balloon ride. These rides are given in the morning and they will take you over the beautiful New Zealand landscape. This is a great activity to plan if you are looking for a unique place to pop the question or to renew your vows. It is also a great opportunity to just enjoy each others’ company. Book your reservations for these tours early to ensure you have a spot.
If you are planning a vacation to New Zealand and will be camping for the very first time then you need to pick up a few tips before you go.
The first tip is to avoid camping during New Zealand holidays. Holidays mean that the campgrounds will be crowded, that tour guides will be hard to find and that finding peace and quiet in the backcountry will be more difficult to do.
The second tip is to bring everything that you will need with you. You will need to pack in both your own food and your own water when camping in New Zealand. Their wild water sources are contaminated with parasites that will make you ill if you drink it. Keep in mind that you will need to drink at least a half gallon of fresh water each day to stay healthy. You will also need additional water for cooking, bathing and cleaning.
The next tip is to bring clothing for a variety of weather conditions. This is particularly true if you will be traveling through many altitudes or if you will be camping on the South Island. You will need rain gear, warm clothing and clothing for when it gets warmer during the day.
The final tip is to tell a ranger your camping plans. You will want to tell them where you are planning on going, what trail you will be taking and how long you will be there. Follow this camping plan so that if you get into trouble the rangers will be able to find you.
Auckland, New Zealand is a favorite destination for people planning a New Zealand vacation. Most arrive excited about exploring this city and getting to the adventures that lie just outside the city’s limits. However, before you leave home you will want to make sure that you are ready to take the best vacation photos of your life as New Zealand is a jewel of a country for photographic opportunities.
The first thing you can do to improve the quality of your vacation photographs is to learn how to use the various features on your camera. You need to read through the camera’s manual so you know how to use various filters, exposure lengths and other features. You will also want to practice using these features.
Next you will want to identify the places in Auckland and the surrounding area that have views or sights that you want to photograph. You can check out a book on Auckland or you can browse through travel brochures. Create a list of places to visit and photograph.
Finally you will want to create a list of all the vacation photographs you would like to take. For example, you may want to take a picture at stops along the way, you may want to take in-flight photographs and you may want to photograph the hotel you will be staying at, local festival events or specific animals and attractions. This list will be used as a guide and checklist. It will help you to remember everything that you want to document on your journey.
