3 spots for avoiding the royals
With two members of Britain’s most renowned family of state beneficiaries in the country, Jane Jurgens looks at the best places to avoid them
The royal couple started their tour in Wellington, before heading to Abel Tasman National Park, also visiting Auckland and making their only public appearance in Rotorua. If you’re keen to avoid hearing about their every move, head for one of these boltholes.
1 CAPE REINGA With limited cellphone reception, New Zealand’s northernmost point is the perfect location for a digital detox. Located at the tip of the Te Paki Recreation Reserve, it’s a significant area to Maori, marking the point from which the wairua (spirits) of recently passed loved ones depart for the afterlife. At the edge of the cape, an iconic lighthouse overlooks the Tasman Sea as it meets the Pacific Ocean. Cape Reinga is a three-hour drive from Paihia and DoC operate two campgrounds in the area, at Tapotupotu Bay and Kapowairua (Spirits Bay).
2 STEWART ISLAND/RAKIURA The Duke and Duchess won’t be going any further south than Abel Tasman National Park, so you’re bound to avoid it all by heading to New Zealand’s southernmost island. Mobile coverage is limited here, but it’s the last thing you’ll be thinking about when holed up in this remote and rugged location. Lose yourself on one of the island’s many walking trails and keep an eye out for some of New Zealand’s most endangered birds, or get out on the water for a spot of fishing. The royal couple won’t even be a blip on your radar.
3 FIORDLAND Earlier this year, software engineer Hamish Campbell calculated the most remote place in New Zealand — using various data tools, he pinpointed the place furthest from any buildings and found it in Fiordland, at the south end of the bay of the Coal River mouth. For those looking to escape royal mania, Fiordland will have you covered — or rather, not covered — as the area is bereft of mobile signals. It’s also home to some of our most stunning landscapes, including the fiords of Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, as well as the beautiful lakeside towns of Te Anau and Manapouri. It’s almost a shame Harry and Meghan won’t be visiting . . . almost.