Last time I talked about how long your New Zealand vacation needs to be in order for you to see and do everything that you want. When you are figuring out how long your vacation needs to be you will also want to factor in side trips to other South Pacific destinations. For example, you can stop at Hawaii, Fiji and Australia on your way to or from New Zealand. Each of these destinations offer a great selection of attractions that you will not want to miss if you have the time to island hop.
The first island that you will pass over on your way to New Zealand is Hawaii. Hawaii is a great tropical American vacation. It offers Polynesian events, cruises, volcano tours, surfing lessons, Hawaiian chocolate and world class gold.
Another island that you may want to touch down on is Fiji. This small island is located between Hawaii and Australia. It is a common fuel stop for transpacific flights. Here you can visit the Fiji museum, Kula Eco Park, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant and the Sigatoka Sand Dunes.
Australia is New Zealand’s closest neighbor. This island nation is the home to the Great Barrier Reef, outback excursions, the Sydney Zoo, the Australia Zoo as well as urban adventures.
Factoring in side trips on your New Zealand vacation can help you to make the most of your air fare expense. There are several programs that allow you to make multiple stops in the Pacific without paying extra. Upcoming topics include finding flights to New Zealand and stellar nautical New Zealand Cruises.
When planning your New Zealand vacation don’t limit your search for activities and accomodations to only the touristy destinations. Try looking for off the road destinations like Okarito. These destinations can offer you a unique NZ experience that most tourists miss.