Status: Away - New-Zealand
Estimated read time: 2.5 minutes
Like a half-remembered dream, New Zealand is the kind of destination that feels a bit unreal. Claire G., from the Air Canada Vacations team, recently spent two weeks there, one on each island, and left wishing she’d stayed two more. Here’s how to make the most of your New Zealand travel.
Where to stay • What to eat • What to see • Plan your trip
Where to stay
Auckland
For your first night, anywhere by the SkyTower is a great choice as it’s within walking distance to everything. After a long flight, location and comfort are everything, and hotels around here have it in spades, making them the perfect place to rest before setting out for an adventure in the great outdoors.
Fiordland National Park & Milford Sound
Three nights camping in Fiordland with no WiFi, running water or cell service is the perfect way to recalibrate your senses and reconnect with what really matters. Your reward? Milford Sound, best experienced by boat tour. Stand at the front of the boat and you’ll be soaked in minutes; like Niagara Falls compressed into a fiord. The drive in alone, spaced out by photo stops and short hikes, is worth the trip.
“Keep an eye out for keas along the road! They’re the world’s only alpine parrot.”
Rotorua
Accommodations by the lake are a must. The sunset over Lake Rotorua is something you won’t ever forget. Plus, the town itself is easy-going with a welcoming vibe and locals more than happy to share it.
Where and what to eat
Queenstown: Pantry by Frank’s
The best way to start a morning in South Island. The smoked salmon, avocado and egg bagel topped with crispy onions is the perfect way to fuel up for a day of mountain roads and lake views. Get it to go and enjoy it while someone else drives for breakfast and a show.
Wanaka: Big Fig
The best restaurant of the entire trip, Big Fig runs on a build-your-own-plate concept that’s generous and fresh. The staff are warm and genuinely happy to see you, which, to be fair, describes nearly every person you’ll meet in New Zealand.
Rotorua: Giovanni’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
You wouldn’t expect it, but up on North Island you can enjoy an authentic taste of Italy with handmade fresh pasta and wood-fired pizzas, along with plenty of New Zealand-style vegetarian and vegan options.
What to see
Mount Aspiring National Park
You might recognize the scenery from a trilogy of famous fantasy movies, with sweeping waterfalls, emerald valleys and placid sheep. Plus, you can see New Zealand’s most famous tree, stranded on a tiny island in Lake Wānaka.
Hobbiton, Matamata
Yes. You really do have to go. This 2.5-hour guided tour of the Shire film sets is incredibly immersive. Your guide will make you laugh and the sheer detail of the surroundings will make you forget it’s all for the camera. Make sure to book in advance because the tours fill up fast and you don’t want to rely on a last-minute cancellation to make it off the waitlist.
Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland & Huka Falls
You won’t find anything like this in Canada. Billowing sulphurous pools and a geyser blowing on schedule. Add in a stop at Huka Falls during your drive to see its showstopping electric blue waters.
Mount Cook
The drive to Mount Cook takes you past beautiful Lake Pukaki, which glows with a supersaturated blue hue, and glaciers aplenty to showcase the extraordinary terrain. The hike to one of the summits, a 600-metre ascent over 2 kilometres, is demanding, but you’ll be treated with unforgettable views of glaciers, mountain lakes and peaks in every direction.
If you’d like to read more about Claire’s travels, check out her experience visiting Australia.
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