Archive for 2009
My last blog post
June 29th, 2009
Having the opportunity to experience New Zealand was incredible. Writing this blog also gave me the opportunity to share some of the magic and beauty of the country. I hope that readers of the blog found it interesting, useful and a little entertaining. The TRENZblog will remain online for a few more months, just in case you want to come back and check it out. Who knows, maybe it will be brought back to life next year for TRENZ 2010. I know I have a long list of places and activities I would like to blog about!
As my final blog post for TRENZblog 2009, I wanted to put forward a few thoughts, things I learned, moments I discovered, experiences I had, and things that made this trip exceptional. Some are life changing—those big AHA moments that come when you least expect them—and others are little things that led me to those bigger moments or to a better travel experience.
So for what it’s worth, here are a few things to think about:
Guided tours are a great thing
I have to admit, before this trip, I would have said I’d rather just rent a car and head out on my own personal adventures. After having the pleasure of seeing New Zealand with knowledgeable guides, I have changed my mind. Having someone with me who knew the area, the history and the cultural significance was priceless. It expanded each experience and gave me so much more than if I were there on my own.
Try new things
I never would have thought that I would eat whitebait (especially once I saw what they looked like!), but I did and it was an interesting experience. Now, I wish I had tried possum pie…maybe next time!
Ask around
In New Zealand, people are exceptional. They go out of their way to help you get to where you are going and to have a great experience. Ask people where they go for dinner, what they do on a rainy (or sunny) day and then ask them why they love New Zealand. The answers you get will take you to new places and may inspire you. One word of advice, don’t ask one of the naked rugby players during the game.
Live in the moment
One of the most incredible things I did was the helicopter tour to the top of the mountain. Drinking champagne overlooking Queenstown was a very special moment for me. I took a visual snapshot of myself standing up there on top of the world and I will keep that feeling with me forever.
Take that leap of faith
I am so glad that I didn’t back out of my bungy jump. And I really, really, really wanted to! Looking down into the canyon, I didn’t think I could do it. But I did. And I proved something to myself (of course, it did take four bungy professionals to talk me into proving that something to myself, but that’s another story). Take that leap, follow your dreams and try something you always wanted to do!
When you are thinking about your next big vacation, consider New Zealand. Full disclosure – I am a part of the PR team in Canada for Tourism New Zealand. Going there—and this blog—is a part of my job (tough gig, but someone has to do it!). The great people at TNZ were incredibly supportive about this being an authentic blog—not just a marketing piece—and I had great freedom to write what I thought.
I have travelled a great deal in my life and I can say without hesitation that New Zealand is a place you should experience at least once in your lifetime. The scenery is breathtaking; the activities are exciting, exhilarating and a little insane or they can be gentle, calm and peaceful. The food and wine are world-class and the people…well, Kiwis are exceptional. They are open, funny, full of adventure and always willing to take the time to make sure you have a great vacation in their country.
Kia ora!
Glow worms, kayaking and one wild and crazy guy!
June 19th, 2009
One of the liveliest characters I met at TRENZ was Blair from Waimarino, an outdoor adventure/soft adventure tour company that specializes in kayaking. Along with Blair’s enthusiasm for kayaking (check out some his personal adventure pictures on our Flickr page – he PROMISES that you don’t have to do that!), the company is most famous for its glow worm kayaking tour.
Located in the Bay of Plenty, Waimarino’s Glow Worm Kayaking tour is a soft adventure that allows first time kayakers to safely enjoy an incredible experience. Individuals or groups start off by paddling across Lake McLaren in late afternoon, stopping on the shore for a lovely picnic of wine, cheese and crackers as the sun sets. Sitting there in the beauty of New Zealand nature, with a nice glass of locally produced wine in one hand and some delicious cheese in the other – you realize that this is more than just a trip up the river.
Entering the canyon, there are millions of glow worms glittering through the darkness, like stars in the sky. They are twinkling everywhere. As you gently paddle through the silence of the evening, it’s hard to tell where the glow worms end and the night sky and stars begin. This really is a must do when you visit New Zealand.
For the upcoming season, Waimarino has added a luxury component to the Glow Worm Kayaking soft adventure. With this new package you can choose to stay in Qualmark 4 Star plus accommodation and winery.
Also launched at TRENZ, Waimarino now offers a multi-day kayaking wilderness adventure tour, which takes you deep into Te Urewera National Park. You will experience the warmth of the Tuhoe People (Children of the Mist) during a marae stay enroute. The native forest envelopes you as in your kayak, you meander down the twists and turns of the river, taking in the ever-changing and awe-inspiring landscape.
Kayak fishing is also now available and, according to Blair, it is the world’s fastest growing sport. In your kayak, you can fish for fresh and salt-water species, including New Zealand’s world famous rainbow and brown trout. (I heard through several people while I was in NZ that the only way you can taste these delicious fish is if you catch them yourself. You apparently can’t buy trout in NZ grocery stores. Now, I am not sure if they were pulling my leg or not, but I thought that was a pretty interesting little tidbit and would love for a Kiwi to comment and tell us if that’s true or if they were just having fun at my expense!!)
Freedom Sea Kayaking allows you to explore the expansive Tauranga Harbour at your own pace. If luck is on your side, you just might be guided around by dolphins!
Check out Blair’s website and the photos on Flickr – including Blair’s own personal photos of stuff that I can tell you right now, I will NEVER do. The glow worms and the multi-day kayaking sound pretty good – hurling myself in a kayak over Haka Falls like Blair, not so much!
Auckland – an amazing place
June 19th, 2009
Auckland is an incredible city. While it reminds me of Vancouver, there are so many differences that it is comfortable and exciting all at the same time. This year, Auckland was the host “region” for TRENZ and I was fortunate enough to get to stay there for a week. I know I have written a bit about my stay at Mollies—which was fabulous—and I still have more to write about that in an upcoming blog. But I wanted to tell you a bit about all the things to do in and around Auckland – there really are endless possibilities!
Auckland’s sparkling waters, varied landscapes and cosmopolitan city life combine to make it one of the most desirable places in the world to live or visit. New Zealand’s largest city isn’t easily defined by a single experience because it has such astonishing variety to offer. And it’s all so accessible. Within half an hour of being in the bustling energy of the city of Auckland, you can be out exploring one of the harbour islands, on a boat dolphin watching, walking through native forest or sipping wine at a vineyard in the countryside. It’s all so easy to get to, yet seems so far away once you are there! Auckland offers the best of both worlds.
Auckland is affectionately known as the “City of Sails” and it’s the ideal destination to get up close and personal with the ocean. You can join the crew on an America’s Cup racing yacht, take a harbour cruise to the dormant volcano of Rangitoto, or head to Waiheke Island and explore its fabulous beaches and wineries. (I loved Waiheke Island and had such a great time on the wine tour with Ananda Tours! Our driver Stewart was knowledgeable and engaging and made the trip even more fun! And no one had to worry about having some wine and driving; it was perfect!)
At Auckland’s heart lies a truly international, cosmopolitan city of the South Pacific. It’s a shopper’s paradise, home to countless designer stores featuring world-renowned names alongside top New Zealand designs. I took a wrong turn at one point and found myself in a local boutique called Cushla. I ended up buying an outfit for a wedding that I was attending upon my return to Canada. I will definitely be emailing to see if we can make an international connection and I can continue to buy the lovely clothing she makes from Canada.
If food and wine is your thing, Auckland is your dream come true. Great cuisine and the finest wines are in abundance in the city’s cafés and restaurants. There are so many exceptional places to go. There are big names like Soul, where Auckland chef and restaurateur Judith Tabron has established herself as a part owner of one the Viaduct’s most successful ventures. Soul’s open air style dining is very popular for local business luncheons and international guests alike. Tabron’s signature treatment of fish is the highlight at Soul, offering hapuku, scampi, South Island salmon, snapper, yellowfin tuna and flounder cooked four ways. Or there is Dine, which is jointly owned and operated by Peter Gordon, internationally-renowned chef and arguably New Zealand’s highest profile culinary celebrity (best known for his involvement in setting up The Sugar Club and The Providores in London). Gordon is acknowledged as founder of the fusion food movement and is well known for his numerous best selling cookbooks and ongoing charity work.
There are also little places you come upon by accident. I had great Thai food at a little place right downtown called Thai Chilli. It’s a pretty great place for foodies.
For the adventure-lover, there’s plenty to get the adrenaline pumping. Right in the heart of the central business district you can bungy jump from the Auckland Harbour Bridge, or Sky Walk or Sky Jump from the Sky Tower, which is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. I really thought about doing that, but—darn it—time ran out. (Next visit, for sure!)
For something more natural – canyon deep into a cave, quad bike through the bush, or try horseback riding on a rugged west coast beach. There is something for everyone here!
For more information about Auckland check out www.aucklandnz.com. It is a city worth visiting!
Excitement, action, and adventure!!
June 17th, 2009
I have been emailing back and forth with the team at Ngai Tahu Tourism and they have quite a few exciting activities that look like they would be awesome to do (my wish list keeps getting longer!). Check out a few images here.
First there is the Dart River Jet Safaris located in Queenstown. According to the info I received, it’s a unique combination of exciting river jet boating, Maori heritage and inspiring adventure. There are three Safari options – the discovery of the Wilderness Safari, the exhilarating Jet Boat Safari or the Funyak Safari adventure.
Next up is Shotover Jet – the world’s most exciting jet boat ride. Shotover Jet is the only company permitted to operate in the spectacular Shotover River Canyons. It’s a thrilling ride – skimming past rocky outcrops at close range as you twist and turn through the narrow canyons at breathtaking speeds.
And last, but certainly not least, is the Hollyford Track. I recently had the opportunity to work with outdoor adventure journalist Peter Potterfield on a cross-Canada tour as he spoke about the great hikes in New Zealand, and this is certainly one of them!
The Hollyford Track is an incredible 3-day/2-night all inclusive guided wilderness experience. Located in Fiordland National Park, Hollyford Track is a walk from the heart of New Zealand – the Southern Alps, to its western boundary – the Tasman Sea. The scenery is geologically spectacular and ever changing with snow capped mountains, glaciers, rainforests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, sand dunes, reefs and surf. Imagine walking into a world that has remained largely unchanged since the age of the dinosaur.
Hop on that hog!
June 17th, 2009
One of the coolest things I saw at TRENZ was Harley Tours New Zealand. The company has been in existence for seven years and came under new ownership about a year ago.
Baz and Ali Howie are incredibly friendly, easy going and know what it takes to give you an excellent motorcycle experience across New Zealand. And not just on any bike either, we’re talking Harley Davidson.
They offer rentals or self ride guided tours for those with a motorbike license. If you don’t have a license, you can still experience the Harley thrill on a chauffeured passenger tour.
Take a look at the photos on Flickr and check out their website – all the info you could possibly need is there. Baz and Ali are great people and will give you the ride of your life!
As they say: “On a Harley it’s all about the journey not the destination!”