Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Baggett to The Window Seat. She is the co-writer of the blog The Lost Girls and the new travel memoir of the same name.
Whenever I tell people that I spent an entire year of my twenties backpacking around the world with two friends, fellow Lost Girls Amanda and Holly, one of the questions I’m most often asked (after “Wow, and you three are still speaking?”) is “What was your favorite place?”
Having traveled across four continents and more than a dozen countries on our journey, it’s nearly impossible to pick just one destination. But by far one of the most memorable experiences was a month-long road trip in New Zealand in our very own rental car, stuffed to the brim with our dusty backpacks, hiking shoes, candy wrappers, soda cans and random souvenirs--the radio on full blast!
For us, having our own vehicle was a no brainer as we’d just spent the previous nine months crammed into crowded trains, buses, and rickshaws throughout South America, Kenya, India and Southeast Asia, and longed for the freedom of the open road with no schedules or forced interactions with other tourists (Check out rentals from Budget or Avis). But for those travelers craving a more social experience, definitely check out the Kiwi Experience, the nation’s legendary hop-on, hop-off bus adventure that transports backpackers from around the globe from one end of New Zealand to the other.
Now, if you poll most Kiwis on what they consider to be their country’s greatest attributes and must-sees, you’ll likely get caught in the middle of a friendly sibling rivalry between the North and South. Not wanting to choose sides, we decided to split our time evenly between the two islands. And while there are innumerable adventure and cultural activities to satisfy almost any tourist’s desires, if your travel time is limited, here are my Top 8 Must-Dos:
NORTH ISLAND
1. A Mud Bath in Rotarua: Soak in a pool of clay-like mud at Hell’s Gate, a geothermal reserve that’s heated by lava close to the earth’s crust (the Maori natives long celebrated the geothermal pools for their natural healing properties) Although, the sulphurous water is hot and stinky, you’ll emerge rejuvenated and with glowing skin (post shower anyway).
2. Plunge over a 21-foot waterfall: While in Rotarua, sign up with River Rats for a cruise down the Kaituna River, which includes a death-defying drop straight over a 21-foot waterfall (the highest commercially-operated drop in the world). Luckily, our boat made it over without capsizing.
3. Hike the Tongariro Crossing: Rated as the country‘s best one-day trek, the Tongariro Crossing is a heart-pounding 18.5 kilometer journey that winds around volcanoes, through glacial valleys, past emerald lakes and into lush forest.
4. Sip espresso in Wellington: Famous for its hip, café culture, thriving art community and sophisticated late-night scene, Peter Jackson‘s hometown of Wellington is a must visit. While you‘re there, remember to grab a meal at Fidel’s Cafe--a famous dive that serves the most amazing eggs, muffins, and a stiff Cuban-style coffee. (It's also mentioned as a “hobbit“ hangout in The Lord of the Rings special features).
SOUTH ISLAND
1. Wine tasting in Marlborough: A region world renowned for its Sauvignon Blancs, Gewurztraminers, Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, Marlborough is a wine lover‘s paradise. Click here for more info on wineries and tours.
2. Abel Tasman National Park: With its speculator rainforests and azure-wave-lapped beaches, Abel Tasman National Park (in the quaint Nelson region) is a veritable paradise, offering a wide range of scenic walks and sea-kayaking excursions.
3. Scale the Franz Josef Glacier: Clawing and pick axing one’s way up, over, and through a huge melting mountain of ice may sound like an uncomfortably chilly way to spend an afternoon, but our “hard-core” climb up (lead by expert guides) the blue-tinged, 20,000-year-old behemoth known as the Franz Josef Glacier, was one of the highlights of our trip.
4. Bungee jumping in Queenstown: For adrenaline junkies like me, you can‘t pass up the chance to experience Queenstown‘s ultimate rush--the AJ Hackett “Thrillogy,” three super-sized leaps that take place in and around New Zealand’s adventure capital city, including the legendary 439 foot Nevis.
Oh yeah, and in case you were curious about the “Wow, and you three are still speaking?” question, I’m happy to report that not only are Amanda, Holly, and I closer friends now than when we started our round-the-world trip, but we actually wrote a book together chronicling our journey. For more information on The Lost Girls (HarperCollins), which hits shelves on May 11, 2010, click here.
Comments
May 12, 2010
Great things about NZ: the scenery (including the view out to the Pacific from the front room of my house), the people (including my friends, family, and the great people I get to work with), the cultures (indigenous and imported), the Saturday sports (school kids kicking around rugby and soccer balls), tramping through the national parks (with a good supply of scroggin in your backpack), camping with friends, summer evening bbqs, chocolate fish and real fish (blue cod is my fav), AND the weird and wonderful wildlife (weta, kiwi, kea, tui...).