Tips for rental cars and road trips in NZ! New Zealand was my first experience renting a car where residents (and visitors -some of whom don’t know what they are doing!) drive on the left side of the road. Here’s what I learned: It takes some getting used to. We booked a car on day […]
Tag Archives: wanderlust
I packed a carry-on bag and backpack to New Zealand. Below is what I brought and what I would leave at home if I had a time machine. 2 books because it was a long journey. 1 book would have been fine in retrospect. The longer flights always have entertainment and it’s best to get some […]
If you’re visiting New Zealand, below are the most unique gifts or souvenirs to look for on the North and South Island. ROTORUA MUD Mud is perhaps the most basic of all the face masks, dating back to 1200 BC. This mud takes it up a notch. Although there is geothermal activity in several places […]
Food is not the reason to go to New Zealand. That being said, there are definitely some must try dishes when you are there: HAND PIES No forks allowed! You’ll find these everywhere. The most popular are mince pies and some variety of chicken. I highly recommend the Steak and Cheese at Fergbaker or the […]
Total Days: 14 days not including 2+ travel days | Accommodations: Hotels/Hostels | Transportation: Rented a car | Traveled with: A girlfriend | Type of Trip: Focus on nature and scenery, with unique hiking or water-based activities | Highlights: Waiheke Island, Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Queenstown scene, Milford Sound overnight cruise, Rippon Vineyards, Hooker Valley […]
Total Days: 9 days on the South Island | Accommodations: Hotels/Hostels in central downtown Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka, Mount Cook, Tekapo and Christchurch, and one night on a Milford Sound Cruise | Traveled with: A girlfriend | Type of Trip: Focus on mountains, hiking and unique scenery | Highlights: Queenstown scene, Milford Sound, Rippon Vineyard, […]
Milford Sound was the highlight of our New Zealand trip. Not only do we recommend the drive there, but an overnight stay was the best decision we made. Here’s everything you need to know! The drive to Milford Sound is half the fun. From Queenstown, I recommend renting a car so you can stop at […]
Total Days: 6 | Accommodations: Hotels/Hostels | Transportation: Aukland is walkable and rented a car for the rest of the trip| Traveled with: A girlfriend | Type of Trip: Focus on beaches and unique scenery | Highlights: Waiheke Island, Tongariro Crossing Hike, beach walks and kayaking trips There are so many different routes you could […]
Useful information and tidbits before traveling to NZ! Kiwis (the bird) are nocturnal so don’t expect to see them out and about! We spoke to life-long locals who had never seen a Kiwi in the wild. New Zealand is very clean. Even the public restrooms are some of the nicest I’ve ever been in. The […]
Doha, the capital of Qatar, is the “little sister” city to Dubai. While Dubai offers ample accolades and record-breaking landmarks including the best hotel, tallest building and largest mall by total area, visitors in Doha won’t be disappointed with the Arabic-inspired architecture, waterfront sand dunes and authentic Middle-Eastern attractions. Not the largest in the world, […]