Photo taken by Sam Ross
New Zealand is said to be one of the most beautiful, adventurous, and friendly places in the world. With scenic views and roads like no other, you will be constantly surrounded by beauty and nature. Get your hiking boots and a rental car, and take a road trip you’ll never forget.
You will want to travel New Zealand by car for the best views and a more personalized experience. And don't forget, drive on the left side of the road. I recommend bringing portable chargers, because you’ll want to take plenty of pictures while on your journey. Create a playlist for the road, bring a USB chord, and pack snacks and plenty of water.
Photo taken by Sam Ross
Be careful driving and do not pull over on the road to take pictures unless there are designated areas. There are plenty of accidents that occur from people pulling over to capture the views. There is also a law that if 5 or more cars are behind you driving, you need to let them drive past you so you don’t obstruct traffic. You can get ticketed, so be aware of traffic and let others pass by if they need to.
The roads heading to Mt. Sunday are especially beautiful. This is where Lord of the Rings was filmed, and there are trails to hike and to enjoy a fun journey for the day. Roads to Hakatere Potts Rd. and Mt. Cook village have lookouts where you can take photos, so wait for a safe area to pull over.
Photo taken by Sam Ross
Patience is going to be key when packing and preparing for weather because there are landslides and extreme storms that can affect the roads. Since many of the roads are along mountains, ask locals if they know of any storms coming, especially if you plan on driving at night. Many of the roads get closed off at night, but don’t take the risk driving on the mountains during bad weather. It’s just not worth the risk. Passes such as Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Path go through the Southern Alps and the South Island, and these passes are often closed in dangerous weather or over night.
There are so many different activities for you to experience while in New Zealand. For your convenience, we have compiled places for all your endeavors.
-Queenstown
-Aqua Air Gliding
-Tasman Sky Adventures
-Coronet Park
Bungee Jumping:
-Kawarau Bridge
-Queenstown Ledge
Skiing/snowboarding:
-Coronet Peak
-The Remarkables
-Central North Island
-Treble Cone
-Mount Ruapehu
-Cardrona
-Porters
Skydiving:
-Skydive Queenstown
-Lake Taupo
-Lake Wanaka
-Skyjump Auckland
Watersports:
-Agroventures Adventure Park
-Cave Tubing at Waitomo Caves
Zipline/Swings:
-Queenstown Zipline Tour
-Waiheke Island
-Rotorua
-Nevis Swing Queenstown
-The Tongariro Alpine Crossing has beautiful volcanic views
-Mercer Bay Loop Track can be found from Log Race Road
Photo taken by Sam Ross
-Raglan has great surf, and boutiques and shops in the area as well. You can spend your entire day in this area eating at cafes, shopping, and laying on the beach
-Sandy Bay is located on the Tutukaka Coast, and perfect for any level of a surfer
-Piha beach is surrounded by massive cliffs and rocks. It is best to go at high tide when the waves are best. You can also shop and eat at local restaurants in the area after soaking up the sun
-Tairua has clean white sand and plenty of beach houses. Waves here are usually about 5 foot
-Muriwai Beach has large jagged rocks and is a popular area for birds to flock
Photo taken by Sam Ross
As you can see, the activities are endless in New Zealand, so gather your friends and book your flight. We hope you have an incredible experience and enjoy all New Zealand has to offer. While you’re there, check out flights to Australia, it’s only a three-hour flight from New Zealand. Keep an eye out for our Australia blog coming soon. As always, send your pictures to our team at wanderersonlyinfo@gmail.com.
