Client Impressions from New Zealand and the Whanganui River...
Following are comments made by Blazing Paddles customers about their most memorable experiences in New Zealand to date, before they began their Whanganui River canoe journey through the Whanganui National Park. You are welcome to submit your top three – help us get the message out about what our clients think is the best that New Zealand has to offer. And, of course, we'd welcome any feedback on your Whanganui River canoe or kayak experience - good or bad. This will be an unmoderated site, except for the usual bad language, illegal, off the topic posts.
Got a blog about your trip down the river and/or around New Zealand. Send us the link and we'll add it to our site.
Blog links
Thank you, and we hope you get some great holiday hints from this page.
| After three months in the South Island it is very difficult to choose one favourite experience. The one that stands out in our minds is hiking up to Mueller Hut (Mt Cook National Park) on New Year’s Eve. Surrounded by snow it was the greatest way to see in the new year. |
| - Natasha Pearson and Anthony Moore (Australia). |
| The best thing I did in New Zealand was the visit to the volcano in Castle Rock on the Coromandel Peninsula. It’s just on Highway 309. In Castle Rock you climb the steep volcano and up there you can see the beaches on both the western and eastern sides of the beautiful Coromandel. |
| – Eyal Ringwald (Israel). |
| We have been travelling just for two weeks so far and if we were to choose a place it would be the magnificent White Island. It’s something completely different. No sand beaches, no icecream, just a lot of steam, smell and unbelievable atmosphere. |
| - Radka K and Tomas C. (Czech Republic). |
| Learn how to surf the waves at Raglan! Within two hours we were able to stand on the board and ride the waves. Fun, fun, fun. Ask for Miles at the Solscape hostel/campsite – he’s the best teacher. One other tip: Do the 30 minute bushwalk at night at the Waitomo Caves. It’s more exciting than tubing. |
| - Brenda can Broekhoven and Vincent Wormer (The Netherlands). |
| Went on a skydive in Taupo two days ago completely on the spur of the moment whim. I wasn’t nervous until they opened the cabin door and told me to swing my feet over the edge. My instincts balked, my eyeballs dropped and my open mouth gawked, but the little light turned green, which gave me untold comfort. The initial loss of contact from the plane and into soft air was the great climax, but the 45 seconds of freefall left my voice sore from my constant hollering like a madman on the way back to earth where I belong. |
| - John He (USA). |
| Been in NZ for almost two weeks. Done some work, done the epic tour of the Waitomo Caves. Did a bit of waterskiing in the North – that was pretty cool, something I had not done before. First it was difficult to “get on top” but after a couple of times it went okay. Now after a couple of days on the Whanganui River, hopefully the weather’s going to be good for the Tongariro Crossing. |
| - Jyri (Finland). |
| We have been in New Zealand for seven days. Been to Northland, Bay of Islands, Kauri Forest, Rotorua, Waitomo and Tongariro National Park. Best thing we have done was magnificent rafting ride on the Kaituna River near Rotorua. Also very impressive were the glowworms caves at Waitomo, although it’s a little bit touritic there. We’re really looking forward to our boat trip here on the Whanganui River. All organization up to here has been very fine. Further on we are going on the Routeburn Track, which will hopefully as interesting as so far. |
| - L and M (Germany). |
| We have only seven weeks for NZ. Travelling around the South Island has been the best experience in our holiday time, but the best bit has been climbing Mount Taranaki (Egmont). We had nice weather, clear sky, great visibility. We could see the top half of the North Island and part of the South Island. Hard trip up but unbelievable experience at the top. We are looking forward to the Whanganui River and next the volcanoes. |
| - Lucka and Jan T. (Czech Republic). |
| We have had a wonderful day on the Whanganui River. We are in NZ for three months and we are working at a hospital in Palmerston North. Our favourite places in NZ so far are: Nugget Point (Catlins); Otago Peninsula; Rocks at Riverton (near Invercargill); Avalanche Peak (Arthur’s Pass); Tongariro Crossing; Kepler Track (Fiordland) kayaking at the Bay of Islands (relaxing) kayaking on the Whanganui River (exciting). |
| - Felix and Cordula (Germany). |
| The northwest circuit tramp on Stewart Island was amazing. You can fish along the way, find mussels paua and see kiwis. The tramp goes through thick brush and along wonderful beaches … just beautiful. |
| - Julie and Jess (USA). |
| We’ve been in Coromandel at a farm. It was great. Woodworking, 4-wheel driving, fishing at the sea – very smelly. |
| - Heinz and Hannes (Austria). |
| I liked most the Tongariro Crossing, we had all sorts of weather and the views were stunning. |
| - Christina. |
