The Ultimate Adventure Getaway – New Zealand on a Bike

Filed under New Zealand Travel by on April 14, 2012 at 16:23 {no comments}

Touring New Zealand’s wild and wonderful backcountry on a mountain bike is a great way for budding adventurers to put their outdoor survival skills to the ultimate test. All are welcome to go on a multi day bike tour of the country – guided circuits that cater to cyclists of all ages, skills and fitness levels are available.

Some go on biking tours for the adventure, while others relish the challenge of pushing their bodies to the limit as they navigate challenging trails in New Zealand’s craggy landscape. Cyclists will be blown away by the incredible sights as the countryside unfolds before them. Each bike tour incorporates plenty of stops to allow the riders to explore their surroundings and take in local flora and fauna.

All tours are lead by an experienced guide who will make sure the entire group is safe and happy throughout the long journey. Depending on the circuit, tours can cover anywhere from 300 to 1,300 kilometres and last from 5 days to two weeks. Accommodation and dining considerations are taken care of; riders will find warm beds and delicious meals waiting for them at various stops on the road. Food, accommodation, bikes and cycling equipment are all inclusive. Each tour length can be adjusted depending on the ability and experience of the rider, and extra arrangements can be made for riders with special needs.

The duration and difficulty of the bike tour depends on its location and the terrain it covers. Here are three popular bike tour packages:

The Weka – One of the more popular South Island tours, the Weka is a challenging 13 day mixed terrain trip designed to test the mettle of the most experienced cyclists. Following the historic Otago Rail Trail, the Weka completes a complete circuit of the South Island, sticking closely to the coastal roads of the scenic West Coast. A great way to show off one’s mountain bike skills, the Weka covers 950 kilometres in total. The Weka tour has stopovers at Christchurch, Milford Sound, Hanmer Springs and the resort town of Queenstown, which riders have a free day to explore and discover.

Thermal Cycle – This 5 day tour takes riders on a 322 kilometre journey through some of the most scenic areas of the North Island. Riders will experience natural geothermal features, quiet lakeside communities, hot springs and get the chance to explore New Zealand’s native Maori culture. The Thermal Cycle ride covers anywhere from 40 to 80 kilometres each day, and a support vehicle is on hand for anyone who can’t make the rest of the trip or wants to take it easy for a while.

Deep South Ride – This 14 day trek makes a complete circuit of the South Island, starting and ending at Christchurch by way of Queenstown and Milford Sound. Notable stops along the way include Arthur’s Pass, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glaciers, Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie Basin among many others. Half-way through the trip riders are given a full day of rest and relaxation in the resort town of Queenstown before being whisked away south to Milford Sound and 6 more days of nonstop adventure.

Active New Zealand Bike tours offer several different tour options to suit your ability. You will be sure to have a sweet time with their kiwi hosts on your New Zealand adventure. So check out Active New Zealand cycle tours and book your trip now.

Get the Most Out of Your Queenstown Holiday by Advance Booking

Filed under New Zealand Travel by on April 5, 2012 at 08:40 {no comments}

Anyone going on holiday to a foreign country will know how stress inducing it can be. Many holidaymakers, beset by concerns about money or accommodations, fail to completely immerse themselves into the holiday experience. The best way to avoid all these worries is to plan out your holiday well in advance.

Arranging things like accommodation, transport and activities beforehand will give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy your vacation without any headaches. Holidaymakers who have pre-arranged and budgeted for their trip before heading out to the airport will have a vastly superior holiday experience than those who try to do everything at the last minute.

Queenstown, a small but vibrant settlement located in the South Island’s Otago region, is one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday destinations. Built around the serene blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is surrounded by magnificent snow capped mountains on all sides. This scenic resort town is famous as the outdoors-adventure capital of the world, and is home to everything from bungy jumping to alpine skiing.

There’s more to Queenstown than just extreme adventure sports. Many come to the region to unwind among some of the most beautiful natural scenery on the planet. Popular activities for holidaymakers looking for more relaxing pursuits include leisurely boat cruises of Lake Wakatipu and wine tasting tours of the region’s award winning wineries.

Visitors to Queenstown are advised to pre-organise their trip. As one of New Zealand’s most popular all-season resorts, Queenstown is full of tourists all year round. Finding and booking accommodations is challenging at the best of times, and nearly impossible at the height of the busy summer and winter seasons. To help visitors make their most out of their Queenstown holidays, many travel agencies in the city offer an all-inclusive service that handles everything from booking accommodations to arranging transportation.

People who visit Queenstown will remember it for the rest of their lives. There is so much to see and experience in Queenstown that most tourists opt to return again and again.

Villa Del lago aparments in queenstown offer spectacular lake and mountain views and is only a 10 minute walk to the heart of town. These Queenstown luxury apartments have all the services and facilities that will require on you Queenstown holiday.

Travelling New Zealand

Filed under New Zealand Travel by on February 13, 2012 at 14:06 {no comments}

New Zealand is a beautiful island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is comprised of two main landmasses – the North and South islands – as well as many smaller islands. Due to the remoteness of the land it was one of the last to be settled by humans. Anyone interested in traveling to New Zealand will have to fill out an application for pass port if they do not already have one.

Natural Beauty

During that period of isolation, the land of New Zealand developed a stunning array of both animal and plant life. Notably, New Zealand is home to large number of unique bird species, most of which become extinct after the arrival of humans. Due to the moderate maritime climate around the islands, most of the land in New Zealand is covered in expansive forests. New Zealand is a fantastic country to visit for any nature enthusiast.

Culture

The largely rural life in early New Zealand has cultivated an image of the country as being rugged and industrious. In the early 1960s, however, higher education standards become more available and cities started to expand. Urban culture began to dominate as most of the citizens currently living in New Zealand do so in cities. Even still, the majority of New Zealand’s art, literature and film have many rural themes.

Attractions

New Zealand has a multitude of national parks, rural areas, and exciting attractions that are well worth looking into. The Abel Tasman National Park offers pristine beaches, kayaking and a scenic coastal biking track. The Tongariro National Park is renowned for having three volcanoes, two ski fields, and one of the most visited hiking paths in the whole country. Another beautiful area for visitors to see is the Coromandel Peninsula. This historic coastline has tons of beach and hiking opportunities that is only an hour journey from the capital city of Auckland.

Passport Requirements

With a valid United States passport you are able to enter New Zealand for up to three months. However, with exception of Australian citizens and permanent residents, entry as a visitor does not permit employment in New Zealand. If entering as a tourist you must have a return ticket or evidence of onward travel to enter New Zealand. If you do not then you will be required to purchase one at the airport to be allowed to check in. More information about the minimum validity of travel documents is available online. Get an overnight United States passport if you need one.

If you need to travel there quickly and do not have an application for US passport yet you need to contact a private company that can get you an overnight pasport.

5 Scenic Locations on the West Coast

Filed under New Zealand Travel by on February 11, 2012 at 22:12 {no comments}

Discover the beauty of a world lost in nature. Experience the West Coast’s unique native forest and wildlife, in its natural environment. Most of the amazing wonders found on the West Coast are untouched and preserved by The Department of Conservation. Plan a trip and book your West Coast accommodations so you can marvel at some of these amazing national treasures.

GLACIER COUNTRY

There are 140 glaciers that flow from the summits of the New Zealand Southern Alps, but only two reach as far as the lower forest.

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers host some very unique features and are usually one of the first stop for tourists visiting the West Coast.

The truly remarkable part is that these glaciers can be freely explored by foot and there are several reputable tourism company offering unique guided tours. It is work looking into some accommodation Franz Josef glacier so that you have time to explore both of these natural phenomenon.

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THE PANCAKE ROCKS

The stunning Punakaiki Pancake Rocks are one of the South Island’s most prized natural wonders. This extraordinary rock formation once lay 2 km below the surface of the sea but now stands proudly above for everyone to see.

Known for its appearance the Pancake rocks were created by limestone, dead marine matter and the intense pressure of the sea. Over a period of millions of years the rocks were forced above the seas surface and can be viewed at Punakaiki, just a 20 minute loop walk from the main car-park. Punakaiki is just 40 minutes from Greymouth and the area also has many renowned walking tracks.

PHOTOGRAPHIC LAKE MATHESON

In a region full of beautiful landscape it is hard to get a look in when it comes to photography, fortunately Lake Matheson is one area that never misses out.

Famous for its perfect reflections of Mt Cook, this lake is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand. The lake is surrounded by thriving forest which sets the scene for paintings and photos but also affects the coloring of the water. Organic matter traveling down through the dense forests slowly seep into the lake, leaving it with a dark brown hinge. Some say this enhances the reflections even further with the clearest viewings in the afternoon during a fine day.

There is a popular, easy walk through ancient forest to the lake which is suitable for wheelchairs as far as the Jetty Viewpoint.

THE BLUE POOLS

In the Mount Aspiring National Park sits the famous Blue Pools Walk will takes you on a journey to a place that you would think is only possible in the movies. The track takes visitors through unique forest and over a bridge to reach the phenomenal Blue Pools.

These glacier fed deep pools are the colour of Azure Blue, a shade that is unimaginable until you witness it in person. Enjoy the surrounding scenery with fantastic forest views and native wildlife, although it’s difficult to distract oneself from pools so clear the trout appear to be floating in thin air.

HONEYCOMB HILL CAVE

The historic Honeycomb Hill Caves are a well-visited feature of the Kahurangi National Park and host a series of unique ‘honeycomb’ like tunnels and caves. The caves are millions of years old yet have only been discovered in the last 40 years, this lead to a number of historic finds in the caves.

Honeycomb Caves contain over 70 passage entrances and the tunnels stretch for over 14 km!

Recently Moa bones were located in the Honeycomb Hill Caves along with over 50 other bird species – Many of which are also extinct.

Book your stay in some Franz Josef accommodation to experience the scenic beauty and natural marvels of the West Coast of New Zealand.

New Zealand Travel – Professional Guide

Filed under New Zealand Travel by on February 6, 2012 at 16:43 {no comments}

New Zealand might be a country certain to surprise. Emerald unskilled landscapes and soaring mountains mingle with spectacular fjords and icy glaciers in a very land that is only 200 kms from the frozen continent of Antarctica. That is equivalent to the space between Miami and Big Apple! A visit to those shores are few things that everyone ought to do in their lifetime, however the only thanks to get the complete New Zealand expertise is to book yourself on a brand new Zealand cruise.

A New Zealand Travel insures that you are going to get the most straightforward out of your trip to those islands. Ten, 12 and fourteen-day cruises around New Zealand sometimes begin in Auckland on the North Island or in Sydney, Australia. They absorb several ports of call along the jap coast of the North and South Islands, additionally as numerous ‘bonus ‘ ports in Australia and Tasmania – these typically being Melbourne and Hobart.

Auckland is understood as the town of Sails. It is found on the northern shores of the North Island and is known for its sophisticated population, spectacular views and wonderful searching facilities. Surprising golden beaches await all who visit Auckland, additionally as a plethora of land and ocean journey activities – from sailing to trekking alongside dormant volcanoes.

At the North Island’s most southerly purpose is New Zealand’s capital – Wellington. Here you'll expertise the center and soul of recent New Zealand life and revel in spectacular perspectives of the South Island. If you time it right, you can even watch the Dragon Ship festival that happens in Wellington Harbour in March per annum.

Further down the coast is Christ church – gateway to the Southern Alps and so the magnificent Aoraki Mount Cook Countrywide Park. Shore excursions into the Nation's Park will be organised from Christ church, helping you to see impressive views of this awe-inspiring land. Close-by is Mount Sunday, famed as the location in which the city of Edoras and the Court of Meduseld were made for the shooting of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Wild coastal views and New Zealand’s oldest town greet all who visit the port of Dunedin to the south-east of the South Island, whereas Fjord land Nationwide Park on the southern end of latest Zealand very brings home the sweetness and variety of landscapes which exist in New Zealand.

If you would like a to experience a magical journey in an extremely land that is currently linked with Tolkein’s ‘Middle Earth ‘, then a brand new Zealand cruise will offer you all this and more…

Searching for Cruise info? Go to our site to find out all you need to understand about taking your dream New Zealand Cruise vacation. Going on a trip around the world is everyones dream. Pacific cruises has never been this great. So come and try this once in an entire life experience of fairy tail feeling.

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