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 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!

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.

One of the people I really wanted to meet at TRENZ was Ryan of HAKA TOURS. However, we were destined to be ships passing in the night. His booth was always busy and that says something!

HAKA TOURS was showcasing for the first time at TRENZ and they create adventure tours for the 18-40 year old crowd (or in my case, a little over 40, but not ready to toss in the towel just yet crowd). Their tagline is “Tour New Zealand and get more than a Polaroid snap!”

They offer extreme adventure tours, snow tours and instructional snow and surf tours. HAKA TOURS are designed for customers that want an adrenaline fueled New Zealand experience and want to push their own personal boundaries. (I think I like doing that kind of thing!) They take small group tours of up to 16 people; which makes for a personalized road trip and an amazing experience.

Check out the photos on Flickr and visit their website to learn more!

One of the most interesting tour operators that I met at TRENZ (and that is saying a great deal because I met quite a few very engaging people with great tourism services and products) was Sarah and Jonny of The Rock. This is something that I really, really, really want to do.

This is an overnight cruise on a converted car ferry around the Bay of Islands and it was created to provide you with a special time in this beautiful area. Sarah and Jonny were so warm and welcoming at their booth at TRENZ that I can only imagine how amazing it would be on their boat. Making this trip an exceptional experience matters to them and that comes across so clearly when speaking with them.

You are met at the Paihia Wharf at 5 p.m. and after introductions and a safety briefing, you get set up in your cabins and the boat leaves the dock. For a couple of hours, you have the opportunity to fish (and the lures are set for you if you like) as you tour about the Bay of Islands. There is skeet shooting (you can win a free drink!), you can sit back and just enjoy the scenery or even play a game of pool. I was told that on almost every cruise, you have the opportunity to see the largest and friendliest of the dolphin family – the bottlenose dolphins.

If you are successful fishing, and choose to keep the fish, you can have it for dinner – along with mussels and other delicious foods. Then you can go night kayaking if you would like. On dark nights, you can see unique phosphorescent fish lighting up the water, it is an incredible sight. On full moon evenings, paddling under the millions of stars in the moonlight is almost equally as impressive. For the daring, you can go night swimming in the phosphorescence where millions of tiny lights radiate off your limbs as you swim, it’s like swimming in “fairy dust.” Then you can climb back into the boat and hang out at the cozy bar getting to know Jonny and Sarah and the rest of the guests onboard.

After a nice night, lulled to sleep by the calm movement of the sea and the fresh air, you can watch the sunrise. See it either from your bed or, if you are an early riser, from the deck. Rumour has it that if you are an early riser, you might be fortunate enough to get to see a few extra things because Jonny is no sleep-in-type guy either and he might take you for a kayak tour while the others get in a few extra snores.

At 8 a.m., the breakfast bell is rung and a traditional NZ breakfast of hot oats, fruits, cereal, tea and coffee is served. Then you get to explore the islands further. Sarah and Jonny are very well versed in the historic and cultural aspects of the area and can provide some interesting background and information on the area, the wildlife and the people that live there. If the sea co-operates, you can go snorkeling and find New Zealand’s famous green-lip mussels. The fish are so trusting and friendly here that you can feed them mussels by hand! But don’t give up all the mussels, you might want to keep a few to steam and eat on the way home. The snorkeling locations are so clear with deep drop offs in lush subtropical kelp gardens, you can see rays, moray eels, octopus and crayfish.

There is so much to do – snorkel, kayak, sit on the boat and enjoy the view, and walk around the land areas where the boat anchors. It sounds like an incredible experience.

Don’t forget to check out our Flickr page for some photos that Jonny and Sarah provided to us or check their website for more information.  

I had a great (get it!) conversation with Daniel of GreatSights. Along with a few other interesting services, they offer overnight cruises in the Bay of Islands on a brand new and beautiful ship called the Ipipiri. (And another wish goes on my list for my next trip to New Zealand.)

Ipipiri is the scared Maori name for the Bay of Islands and the InterCity Group graciously accepted the generous offer to use the name after consultation with the people of Rawhiti.

On the Ipipiri, which launches in October 2009, you can surround yourself in nature, immerse yourself in history and treat yourself to a truly unique night of style. The Ipipiri is the largest overnight cruise ship permanently based in New Zealand.

The Ipipiri will depart daily at 1:30 p.m. and return at 11 a.m. the following morning. Each cruise will include full commentary on the history, environment and some of the Bay of Islands most spectacular landmarks.

From Kupe, the very first voyager and Maori to discover New Zealand over 1,000 years ago, to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, Northland brings together the unique culture and history of the original Maori and European settlers of New Zealand. With some of the warmest waters in New Zealand, the Bay of Islands is home to an abundance of marine life – including dolphins, whales, seals and penguins.

The ship can be used as a self-contained conference facility. Imagine having a workshop and at the end of the day, sitting on deck with a drink and watching dolphins frolic!

Check out some of the images here.

Dunedin, New Zealand could just be the most fun place in the whole world. Where else can you see a naked rugby game (really!!) or take part in a chocolate festival? I have lots of things to tell you about Dunedin, but c’mon, you must want to know about naked rugby?!!

Check out the photos from last year. (Warning!! There’s nudity – it is called NAKED rugby after all.) The annual nude rugby match will coincide with National Nude Day.  A mixed international team will take on the unbeatable Nude Blacks. Guest referees in the past include ex-All Blacks’ Josh Kronfield and a blind referee. A nude haka will start the proceedings. (For those of you who haven’t seen a haka – it’s an incredible traditional Maori dance. It is very powerful and emotional…and well, now they’re doing it naked – go figure.) This is happening this coming Saturday, June 13.

The Cadbury Chocolate Carnival doesn’t happen until the summer, but who could resist talking about it! It is a week long celebration of all things chocolate, including a race of 30,000 Jaffas down the world’s steepest street.

30,000 Jaffas rolling down the street!

The carnival, now in its ninth year, includes other family activities such as a hot chocolate ceremony, chocolate fishing, chocolate facials, a Crunchie train, choc-art creativity classes and chocology with choc-therapist Murray Langham.  

Also coming this weekend, Dunedin will host the first match between France and the All Blacks since the Kiwis were defeated at the Rugby World Cup in 2007.  

The match will see France play their first ever game at Dunedin’s Carisbrook Stadium. Carisbrook, aptly known as “The House of Pain,” is set to be replaced by a new 35,000-seat stadium just in time for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

You have to admit, this is a city with a lot going on…and coming off!

Some quick facts and figures about Hawke’s Bay that might be of interest:

• It is New Zealand’s oldest wine growing region and home to New Zealand’s oldest winery, Mission Estate Winery.
• It produces 80% of New Zealand’s red wine.
• There are over 720 vineyards in the region, with 42 cellar doors open for wine sampling.
• It has the largest farmer’s market in New Zealand, held every Sunday all year-round.
• There are over 2200 hours of sunshine annually.
• There are 17 golf courses in the region.
• It is home to a world-class concentration of Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture.
• It has the largest and most accessible mainland Gannet colony in the world.
• Lake Waikaremoana Walk  is ranked in New Zealand’s top 10 walks.
• Hawke’s Bay’s coastline resembles a fishhook. According to Maori legend, Maui, Hawaii pulled Hawke’s Bay from the sea. With this good fortune, the region has continued to flourish ever since. Come and enjoy the fresh burst of spring, the long hot lazy days of summer, the golden hues of harvest or the crisp air and blue skies of winter at Hawke’s Bay.

Wine, golf, beautiful scenery and welcoming people – what’s not to love?  For more information check out their website at www.hawkesbaynz.com.

For a non-Kiwi, it might seem that many places in New Zealand have hard-to-pronounce names for places. Once you get past worrying about sounding silly (let’s face it, we’re tourists – we all sound silly at some point!) or mangling the name and offending someone by accident, you start to see the history, the romance and the adventure in the names. This is especially true when you ask what they mean. Everyone I have asked seems pleased to share a little bit of the history of New Zealand and the Maori culture with me. It’s very interesting and lets me feel a little more connected to the “youngest country on earth.”

I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the team from Te Kahui Tupua, which encompasses the three regions of Rangitkei, Wanganui and Ruapehu. I now have another note on my wish list of places to see in New Zealand. This region sounds amazing. Check out their website.

This is the land of the Sacred Peaks and it is a little off the beaten path. Not so far off that it’s not accessible, but off the main highway on the North Island. The words that are being used to market this area are fabulous and they give you a sense of what it would be like right away:

Majesty

Exhilaration

Enchantment

Legacy

Expression

There are many things you can do in this area – from whitewater rafting to jetboating to walking in the forest and enjoying the sounds of nature. This area isn’t as well known or as visited as some of the areas. If you are interested in doing something a little different, in taking the road less travelled, in discovering something special – this is a region to visit. The website will give you a sense of the magic that I believe lives here. 

I had the pleasure of chatting with the folks at Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours here at TRENZ.  With this cruise, you get to see what cannot be seen from land. It sounds like a great cruise and there are several different choices – from a one-hour to a full-day tour.

Out of Dunedin, you take a cruise on a classic restored fishing vessel, where you will experience the exciting diversity of the wildlife that abounds on Taiaroa Head. You may see albatross, fur seals, yellow eye penguins, shags, gulls, terns, oyster catchers, herons and sometimes even dolphins, sea lions, blue penguins, shearwaters, royal spoonbills, cape pigeons and petrels.

It sounds like an unforgettable experience and the opportunity to take in the dramatic scenery of New Zealand, as well as the wildlife.