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Win a Cort G250 SE Guitar in our Guitar Bomb Free UK Giveaway
@themeinside a very comprehensive list , confirming past decisions and future plans!
Route is looking at travelling down the entire west coast, Auckland - Milford sounds, then back up the west.
I'll put some more time in for the in-between bits around FJ glacier and te anau, I had had them pegged as 'nice drive'.
Mt. Cook / hooker valey is definitely on the list.
Did the glow worm caves, and hobbiton last trip (but will probably go again because we nerrrddzzz)
got 2 months there so lotttss of exploring time!!!!
ahh yeah Tarawera! That's back on the list!
Did buried village before, was pretty cool!
Check out a tasting or two?
My favourites all come from Hawke’s Bay on the North Island as opposed to the more well known areas. Napier is the closest “major” airport I think. Trinity Hill is maybe my favourite spot - a teeny amount gets exported to the UK too so it’s not impossible to chase the memories long after you get back.
If you’re in Queenstown for any length of time there are tonnes of places in the Otago as well. Good Pinot Noir region...
I also did a quick single day hop to Christchurch. This was approx 2-3 years after the major 2010/2011 earthquakes, and the extent of damaged buildings was shocking. Many buildings were condemned, and they are doing their utmost best to retain those buildings with historical interest, as well as rebuilding the place. Hard because it's been the epicentre of many more earthquakes since.
Back in the North, I did various day trips in a hire car. As this was May, I had the roads to myself. Some photos below.
NZ never did build up any industrial history, yet you can see the remains of a former gold processing plant called the Victoria Battery, alongside the Ohinemuri River at Waikino. I was driving along on the other side of the river, turned round found the entrance, and walked around it as the National Trust hadn't yet got their greedy mitts over it. Talk about lucky find - it even had some restored old lime kilns (covered over at top of hill in the centre background).
This next photo is of the landscape near Waitomo Caves - well worth visiting in their own right. The hills you see are all old lava flows.
The next photo is at Waitangi, where the Maoris signed the peace treaty with the British approx 150 years ago. Again, dripping with history, I suggest Waitangi is another must visit.
The third ... well as I travelled around, I kept seeing these abandoned timber fence structures everywhere. Having asked local, I was told these were for sheep/lambs as part of the means to round them up onto vehicles for transportation to the market. These are no longer used now that NZ farmers have abandoned sheep in favour of cattle. I learnt something new that day.
Rotorua - despite the smell - is like a different planet. Steam rising from the drains and the many mud pits (in a public park) was one of the wierdest things I saw on the trip. Highly recommended is a visit to a genuine Maori village called Te Puia on the outskirts of Rotorua with it's own hot water geysers.
If you're in Auckland is the Museum and the Winter Gardens is also worth visiting.
It might sound daft, but if you ever need a supermarket, then New World will show you how good a supermarket can be. Best supermarket I've ever had the pleasure to shop in. Easily better than Waitrose.
I only got to spend two weeks in NZ, and it was nowhere near enough time to take it all in. Loved the place to bits, and would do it again when the time is right.
As for "when am I ready?" You'll never be ready. It works in reverse, you become ready by doing it. - pmbomb