New Zealand is an adventurer’s dream
New Zealand is the most spectacularly beautiful country my wife Janis and I have visited, and we have traveled to many countries on five continents. In late October 2016 we went on a three-week trip there with our friends Tom and Linda Kirch. The residents of this island nation, who refer to themselves as Kiwis — the name of a native bird and local fruit — are extremely friendly.
The natural wonders of New Zealand range from countless waterfalls in Fiordland National Park, where we enjoyed an overnight stay in Milford Sound, to the geothermal hot springs and geysers in the Rotorua area. Waitomo cave tours revealed thousands of greenish glow worms illuminating the cave ceiling. A beach tractor wagon ride led to a magnificent bird sanctuary with thousands of gannets entertaining us at close range with mating rituals.
The snow-covered Southern Alps provided a scenic backdrop in the South Island. Our visit to Mount Cook was exhilarating. We went on a boat ride on Lake Tasman, which was formed by the melting ice from the Tasman Glacier and filled with icebergs of all sizes.
New Zealand is a land of adventure with many thrilling recreational activities. Queenstown is a hub for outdoor fun. We took jet-boat rides, which involved high-speed water through a narrow canyon, as well as numerous 360-degree turns that made it difficult to stay in the boat. Paragliding was another group activity. Janis and Tom also plummeted from the highest cliff jump in the world, living the Kiwi motto that “Gravity is a toy”! One legend says New Zealand is the birthplace of bungee jumping.
We rode ATVs through a forested mountain area outside of Nelson. This adventure included a unique sky wire ride, where we were 1,000 feet above a picturesque valley, zipping along at 60 mph.
Despite its isolated location, New Zealand is a great destination for anyone who enjoys traveling. We strolled through extensive botanical gardens in Wellington and Christchurch. We stopped at wineries, and the hiking provided one breathtaking view after another. The food was excellent, especially if you enjoy fresh seafood. With just 4.5 million people in the entire country, there is plenty of room to roam for all visitors, residents and the 45 million sheep. The writer lives in Phoenix. TELL US WHERE YOU’VE BEEN: To contribute to Your Travels, send a large, high-resolution JPEG attachment photo and an essay of up to 400 words to traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com. We are unable to acknowledge individual submissions, but we will contact you when your item is scheduled to be published.