Top 5 New Zealand Places to Visit 2017

New Zealand.

One of Australia’s closest holiday destinations. Home of so many adventure sports, spectacular hikes and splendid views!

I’ve been lucky enough to make 4 visits to NZ in the last few years, each one in a different season and each have been brilliant. My favourite time of year to visit however is winter. There is something magical about snowcapped peaks, icy lakes and snowboarding trips. Here is a an overview of my Top 5 Destinations once you are there. 

In each coming week I’ll go into details of each top location and why.

No.1 Milford Sound 

Milford is my all time favourite destination in the whole of New Zealand for so many reasons! Located in the bottom of the South Island it can be one of the harder places to reach. However it contains in my opinion one of the best drives in the world to get there.

From Te Anau the closest town there is a fantastic road through the fjordland forests and mountain pass. The forest is filled with moss covered trees and looks almost mystical. Afterwards the drive through the pass is filled with fog covered mountains, a plethora of rivers and waterfalls and an assured encounter with the local cheeky Kea Birds. Reaching the bottom is reward enough with the amazing view of Mitre peak and the Fjord lying in front of you; but from there a myriad of activities is available to fill your days. I recommend staying at least one night; but however book well ahead as there is only one accommodation venue.

Top Activities: Ferry Ride (a must do), Flights, Hike, Underwater Observatory and Kayak adventures.   

No. 2 Mt. Cook (Arokai) National Park

Mt Cook National Park is stunning for its views again and only approx 3 hours drive from Queenstown or Christchurch on the South Island. As a photographer and nature enthusiast I can’t recommend this spot enough for fellow minded people. 

Several Hikes once again make this a place to stay for a couple of days. Once again choice of accommodation is limited from a choice of a couple. A backpackers style lodge and apartments and a hotel “the Hermitage”. The best thing I’ve done here apart from the two close glacial lake walks is a flight. In winter with the right numbers you can book ahead and get a sunrise flight from mount cook airstrip landing on a glacier which makes everything look better. Otherwise the flight is still worth the trip. If the glacial landing is too costly there is an option for a cheaper approx. $160 NZ for a loop around the mountains and glaciers about 40 mins in length.

Top activities: Scenic flight, heli skiing, glacial walks, local hikes and for the brave and well prepared climbing mount Cook. 

No. 3 Hobbiton (North Island)

Hobbiton was one of my highlights mainly because I am a huge Lord of the Rings Fan!

Set in the centre of the North Island it is one of the many destinations to visit for movie fan. Just promise me when you arrive you'll shout “We’re off on an adventure”. There are several options of tours which are on their website and I’ll go into later for my Hobbiton Review. The best time I found is sunset turning into night, there is the magical view of dusk and then the lights turn on to illuminate the cute setting. Nearby is the town of Rotorua which boasts a huge number of activities and attractions to visit with your hobbit tour.

Top Activities: Hobbiton Tour, Food at the Prancing Pony, White water rafting, Red Wood Forest and tree walk and Wai O Tapu thermal springs.

No. 4 Wanaka

Lake Wanaka, a sleepy stunning town with so much to offer.

If you are wanting somewhere to stay for a few days, this is probably it. With some great up and coming breakfast locations, bars and proximity to my favourite Ski Field Cardrona. It’s become quite popular with good reason. With only 90 min - 2 hr drive to Queenstown you are also nice and close to other activities.

A couple of things to do I’d recommend are Roy’s Peak Hike (6hr return) and maybe just see that Wanaka Tree? I haven't been but quite a few people have recommended puzzling world as well.

Top Activities: Roy’s Peak Hike, Wanaka Tree, Waterskiing in Summer, Skiing and Snowboarding at Cardrona in Winter, Puzzling World, Jet Boating and Sky Diving. 

No. 5 Queenstown

Are you ready for Skills, Spills and thrills. 

Welcome to Queenstown. A town which is stunningly set between mountains and centred between 3 ski/bike fields.

I would describe Queenstown as the place to spend $100 anywhere and get some kind of an adrenaline kick. It can be quite expensive to stay here, especially if you don't book ahead, as backpackers are the life of this town. If you just stop by for a day I can’t say enough how good the Ferg Burger is… You’ll find it where the big line is! (There’s a secret to skipping the line though, so comment and ask or I’ll let you know when I go into depth of Queenstown Later) Close locations worth visiting like Moke Lake and Glenorchy are within an hour driving so add them to your list as well!

Top Activities: Jetboating, skydiving, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, bungee jumping, rope swing, luge, you name it, its here.

Comments:

Thats my top 5 NZ destinations for your next trip. A top tips on Queenstown will come soon followed by all the others finishing with Milford. 

If there is anywhere or anything else you'd like to hear about in NZ or in the World that I can help with comment below or on my Instagram/Facebook and I’ll reply ASAP.

Thanks for Reading and Happy Travels.

A New Direction

Flight In, Mt Cook

A question. 

In a silent room. 

A pair of backpackers sat with me.

Only the patter of my fingers hitting the keys to email responses while I downloaded the days images.

Then a voice spoke up; 

“What do you say to people when they ask you what your trip was like? 

I don’t ever know what to say to people, my response is usually one word: Awesome”

I had been contemplating for days where I wanted to go with my Social Media.

Instagram which was the beginning of great opportunities for me, slowly I felt it disappointing.

Over the past year I have tried to post once a day to keep engagement up and grow my audience.

It allowed me to have my work critiqued, questioned, improved and inspiration to others.

Slowly however it all changed.

Followers appeared by the hundred and disappeared by the hundred, as people uninterested in content sought for you to become another +1 on their account.

Comments changed from “love the image, how did you find the hike?” changed to “Nice pic come see my account”. 

People weren't engaging but were seeking followers for themselves by using computer automation.

I had less and less enthusiasm to continue photographing. Posting was just a routine.

I somehow forgot why I did photography and travel and became wrapped up in the hype of it all.

Also somehow my creativity seemed sapped.

The other day I sat down and asked myself why do I post at all?

I decided on my entry to New Zealand start of this week (9/1/17) that I wasn't going to post a picture every day, make the most of it and just post on my “story”.

This is what led me to take in the question above.

Normally I spend time before bed replying to messages and posting on social media. 

Instead this night I chose to sit in the common room in the Mt Cook Accommodation and do other things.

It got me thinking.

“What do I say to people my trip was like?”

My response is usually the same as above. “It was awesome!” 

It’s the Kind of long drawn out awesome as to really accent the fact I was telling the truth.

The only way to get juicy details out of me is to ask questions.

The “awesome" response is to me what an Instagram post is to me.

This blog will be the replacement. 

Somewhere where I post the story behind the photograph. 

The juicy details.

“Why do I love photography and travel?”

You may have read this before on an Instagram post. This my attempt at an answer.

Travel to me is a necessity and a challenge. 

It gives me the reward of being able to enjoy the unfamiliar everyday things for the first time.

Allows me to trust strangers and appreciate familiar friends. 

Nothing but the essential air I breathe and the snapshots I take are mine.

It leaves me feeling like nowhere and everywhere are home.

Breaking down my prejudice it builds relationships;

If I’m lucky and the place is better than home, it gives me insight as to how I can improve.

However finding it worse than home, it teaches me to endure and enjoy it.

Travel is a necessity and a challenge.

Its helped me to fall in love over and over again, and inspires me to share experiences with you.

In short it gives perspective and simply puts a smile on my face.

I want to give everyone an opportunity to find that smile as well. That’s why I photograph.

Hopefully the hints and pics here will inspire your travel.

In turn I hope you can help me a little in keeping me inspired with comments and questions.

Dave. :)

Mt Cook National Park

Mount Cook National Park