Tour to Great Barrier Island
How long:
Seven hours.
The experience:
You can see one of the most undisturbed islands of Auckland’s world-renowned Hauraki Gulf in just a day. Great Barrier Island receives few visitors and is still mostly uninhabited. Those who live there are some of New Zealand’s more unusual characters. Fly for 30 minutes from Auckland before walking through native forest to lunch at the island’s best day lodge. In the afternoon you’ll spend time on New Zealand’s most private, pristine beaches and be back in Auckland by 5.30pm.
Make it happen:
The cost is $464. See flymysky.co.nz
Do a guided climb of Mount Gower How long:
Day-long.
The experience:
There’s only one way up Mount Gower on Lord Howe Island, one of the two blocks of rock defining Lord Howe’s southern extremity, and that’s to follow a guide such as Jack Shick, an island character if ever there was one. The 14-kilometre trek takes about 8 hours, including a picnic at the summit. Prepare to don a hard hat for a nerve-racking cliff-side sidle and to haul yourself over boulders with ropes to reach the summit’s mist forest. From March to September look out for Providence petrels – a seabird so unafraid of humans you can cradle one in your hands.
Make it happen:
Tours cost A$70 ($73) a person, Mondays and Thursdays. See lordhoweislandtours.net
Go mud-crabbing with an indigenous Aussie
highlighting bush tucker, medicinal plants and ancient lore surrounding geographical features. Follow him through mangroves and coastal shallows to stalk mud crabs with a spear.
Make it happen:
The cost is A$165/A$209 ($172/$218) a person. See walkaboutadventures.com.au
Take the Norway in a Nutshell tour How long:
Around 12 hours.
The experience:
This day tour from Bergen delivers spectacular encounters. You will travel by rail, boat and bus, with highlights including a ride on the Flam Railway. The steepest standard gauge line in Europe, it winds past thundering waterfalls, mountain slopes and grassy meadows. A cruise on the Unesco-protected Naeroyfjord is equally memorable.
Make it happen:
The cost is from 1440 NOK ($235) a person, See norwaynutshell.com