Client Impressions...
| I haven’t done much in New Zealand, but I really enjoyed the kayaking even if it was exhausting. Another beautiful place I have been was the Karikari Peninsula, at Matai Bay where Maoris showed me their land. |
| - Benjamin (Germany). |
| We have been in NZ almost three months now and have seen a lot of beautiful places and awesome scenery. It’s hard to say what we liked best but the most memorable “top three” were the Routeburn Track; greenstone carving in Hokitika and, of course, the Whanganui Journey. In about a week we fly out from Auckland but pretty sure to return to NZ and then stay longer than three months. |
| - Brit and Sam. |
| Been in this fabulous country for three weeks now and staying for a further two months. People say there is not a lot in the North Island, but I beg to disagree. We’ve seen some stunning scenery (particularly Cape Reinga, Bay of Islands, Coromandel Peninsula and Tongariro National Park). The major highlight for me has been diving in the Poor Knights islands – beats the Barrier Reef and Ningaloo in Oz. Also has the largest sea cave in ze world. Go there and get wet! We living in Birmingham, UK, so probably appreciate things a bit more. |
| - Dave (UK). |
| My favourite places in NZ so far have been: The Hidden Valley (Orakei Korako), 30 km north of Taupo where you follow a boardwalk through a geothermal area. It has geysers, mud pools, a thermal pool in a cave and the “artist’s palette” was stunning; The first day’s walk of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, with the steep climbs rewarded with fantastic views – red crater, emerald lakes and awesome rocks/colours on the way down to the Oturere Hut. I’m looking forward to two more months here, as I know there are more fantastic places to come. |
| - Jennie (England). |
| I’ve been in NZ about three and a half months so far, mostly tramping around the South Island. My favourite national park is definitely Mt Aspiring, with the view from Cascade Saddle being truly inspirational. Other highlights from tramping include the Mueller Hut in Mt Cook and the Dusky Sound Trek (aka “The Experience”). Aside from tramping, the Nevis bungy, sky diving in Taupo and kayaking in Coromandel were the best things I’ve done. Hopefully this trip (Whanganui Journey) will live up to the rest of my time. |
| - Alan (Ireland). |
| I’ve only been here three weeks, but I’ve been enjoying myself loads. NZ has pretty much everything, sun, adventure, nice people and did I mention, sun?! A few of the things I have really enjoyed are base jumping from the Sky Tower in Auckland; tramping the Northern Circuit and Round the Mountain in the Tongariro National Park and my favourite: sky diving in Taupo. New Zealand, you get two thumbs up from me. |
| - Jonathan (Ireland). |
| After being six weeks in NZ with only three more days to go, my favourite places were: Punakaiki (for the relaxed atmosphere); The Dusky Track (a memorable tramp); the snowy peaks rising from the seaside near Kaikoura, giving a great view of fresh snow and sea waves at one glance. |
| - Magen Schulman (Israel). |
| After only two short weeks in NZ my favourite things have been sea kayaking in Milford Sound on a beautiful spring day; walking along the Abel Tasman Track; seeing whales and dolphins at Kaikoura. |
| - Mike (USA). |
| Me too! |
| - Melissa Holmes. |
| We’ve been in Paradise for two and a half weeks now and have been overwhelmed by the nature elements: scenery, people, birds (rui!) and … the light! There’s something perculiar with it – can’t explain. Makes everything crystal sharp (probably lack of smog, our canoeing lady said). We’ve only been in the North Island thus far, but already it’s hard to go for a “top three”. Diving at the Poor Knights was superb, but the three day trip around Cape Reinga (mistakenly portrayed by Lonely Planet as a beach stroll…) was magnificent because, in contrast to the Tongariro Crossing) we didn’t see a single soul for the whole time. Can’t wait to see the “rough” South Island. |
| - Willem and Marleen (Belgium). |
| For us the best place we’ve been to in New Zealand is a little town called Geraldine. The reason for that is that is the place we got engaged!. The second best place is “The Luge” in Queenstown. It’s like karting but without a motor – you drive a little plastic car down the road. |
| - Hagar and Hanan (Israel). |
| We are about two and a half weeks in NZ and it sucks big time??? Now seriously, we had a great time so far. In Northland there were some nice things: Sailing trip around the Bay of Islands (including dolphins and penguins) and diving at the Poor Knights Islands (big stingrays, crayfish and moray eels. Diving in a long cave there is the best); water skiing near Auckland; the Waitomo Caves and Mt Taranaki were pretty cool. One of the best things we did so far was rafting down the Tongariro River. It’s a grade 3 river, good for beginners, but next time we will take it up a few grades … very spectacular though. PS: Great Barrier Reef in OZ beats Poor Knights Islands big time! Especially the Yongala wreck. |
| - No name given. |
Please send your impressions to impressions@blazingpaddles.co.nz. Thank you.
