Month: June 2017

What can Lord of the rings fans do in New Zealand?

The heart of Middle Earth awaits, or as we non-mythical folk call it, New Zealand. Ancient, striking and beautiful around every bend, we’re not awestruck Peter Jackson chose Aotearoa as ground zero for his cinematic fantasy epic. Although shoot locations are scattered across both the North and South Islands, we’ve nailed down three New Zealand tours to please even the most passionate Tolkien fan.

Hobbiton

Gentle rolling hills; puffy white sheep; chimney pipes; curious clothes and a round yellow door, slightly ajar and framed with sunflowers, perched somewhere below Bag-End. Visitors are invited to relax at The Shire’s Rest for a warming drink before boarding a white bus and exploring 12 acres of lush, lovely Shire land. While the Hobbit Holes alone are worth the price, you’ll be invited to sample a Hobbit South farthing cider or ale at the iconic Green Dragon Inn following a delightful two hours of information, inside secrets and Hobbit-sized revelations.

Lord of the Rings Tour

Follow in the Footsteps of Hobbits, Dwarfs, Elves and Men with this full day tour. Start off with a visit to the OUTER SHIRE where the ‘Get off the road’ scene, the ‘shortcut to mushrooms’ and the Black Rider scenes where filmed. Spend the afternoon exploring the Hutt Valley with stops that include the Hutt River (Great River Anduin) and Harcourt Park (Gardens of Isengard and where the Orcs felled the trees). And finally you will visit Kaitoke Regional Park or better known as Rivendell. Situated in a thousand year old New Zealand Native rainforest, you will see why the Elves chose to live here!

Safari of the Scenes

Explore the magical side of New Zealand and understand why this beautiful country was chosen to portray Middle-earth. Combine the thrills of an off road 4WD adventure, with locations from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. You’ll follow the Dart River to the spectacular filming location for ‘Isengard’then heading to Paradise to discover the location for the ‘Forest of Lothlorien’. Leaving Glenorchy and returning towards Queenstown, you will stop at 12 Mile Delta to explore the location of the ‘Ithilien Camp’ to round out the trip.

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Are you ready for your own unexpected journey? Eager to see Mount Doom? One does not simply walk into Mordor – we have your back. Visit middle earth with us!

What can children do in Queenstown?

Travelling with children in tow can feel like herding cats on the best days. They need to be entertained, challenged, stimulated and managed – there’s no lasting break for Mum and Dad, just the soothing sounds of little laughs and the occasional silence or two. Between packing their bags and sourcing the right snacks, parents have a lot to contend with; who has time to research special, kids-safe, adult-friendly activities? We do. New Zealand travel plans should be the epitome of fun for everyone – including you.

Snap a memory, smile together and return to your hotel knowing your kids are happy, engaged and ready for the next day of New Zealand children’s activities and a few adult ones too.

What to do in Queenstown?

Skyline

Kick their senses into gear with an eagle-eye view of Queenstown, jumping aboard the Skyline Gondola. The perfect place for a round of I Spy, landmark spotting and seated fun, the Skyline delivers the awe in awesome without over-complicating it. Bob’s Peak awaits at the top of your ride, the second stage of the Skyline experience – let the little ones immerse themselves in traditional Maori entertainment. After a bite to eat and a snack of two, it’s time to descend… on the Skyline Luge! Perfectly fun for everyone, select a track and race the family to the bottom –  it’s safe, secure and guaranteed to please!

Puzzling World

What you see here cannot always be believed – don’t trust your eyes. Puzzling World is fun. No other words are required to describe the insane combination of architectural absurdities, as visitors wind their way through weird buildings, illusion rooms and a much-talked about Great Maze. Be careful, you will get turned around! It’s designed to baffle, bewilder and bemuse, challenging reality from its front doors to the Puzzle Centre Café. A big hit with kids and adults of all ages, this isn’t a miss-it location.

TSS Earnslaw Cruise

Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu is majestic, magnificent and deeply photogenic…  and a little boring for anyone under 18. While kids love beautiful things and places, turning it into an event will keep them invested beyond the 10 minute mark. Board the steamship TSS Earnslaw and cross the glassy waters in comfort, encouraging their curiosity for the steam engines, the bridge, the decks and the pianist tapping out tunes on the baby grand piano. Explore it all before relaxing on the deck and digging into a delicious lunch from the Promenade Café.

Kiwi Birdlife Park

New Zealand’s fauna is mostly a mystery to anyone outside the islands, besides one little bird with a great long bill. The Kiwi Birdlife Park is dedicated to educating visitors in the ways of conservation, protection and the impact of habitat destruction, allowing everyone to get up close and personal with an iconic cutie. Book a feeding experience or go one better… meet a living dinosaur. The park is home to the Tuatara, a native lizard dating back to 200 million years ago – the lone survivor of a once prevalent species order. You really can’t get much cooler than that.

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Ready to get going? Book your next family holiday with us.

How Long Does It Actually Take to Drive around New Zealand?

The Land of the Long White Cloud is smaller than Australia, larger than England and minute compared to the USA, so it would be logical to assume everything is relatively close-by… an hour or two away at most, right?

No. Although New Zealand is small, it isn’t quite so tiny as ten minutes here and twenty minutes there. There are long, winding roads, mountain chains, river systems, large lakes and thick forests; non-stop is not an option in Aotearoa, as you’ll soon discover.

Going the Distance

To keep things in perspective, the North Island is 829km long from top to southern tip, demanding 12 hours of straight drive time between the township of Kaitaia and the southern city of Wellington. The South Island is marginally larger at 840km, taking up to 14 hours in perfect driving conditions, from the ferry port of Picton to the appropriately dubbed Bluff, balancing on the bottom edge.

Soak Up the New Zealand Scenery

Working out what to do first, second and third is the difficult part of planning a New Zealand self-driving tour. Difficult because who doesn’t want to see it all? The best, the most, the hot-spots, and little-known local gems off the well-worn path… before abandoning Google Maps completely, we recommend plotting out a starting, middle and concluding point. Or we can do it for you. To get you started, here are some of our popular New Zealand Self-Drive Itineraries.

Inspired? Excited? You don’t need to do it all yourself. We’re waiting to help you plan the perfect New Zealand driving adventure for you and your family.

 

Contact us and we can help you book your New Zealand experience!

South Island Driving Holidays

Relaxing Journeys don’t just supply scenic world class walks as part of your South Island driving holiday, that’s just the start of your options. You can include whale watching tours, albatross encounters, lagoon kayaking, nature tours, lake cruises, glacier valley walks, wine tasting, water taxis and of course, your vehicle, accommodation, cooked daily breakfasts, a commentary system for your travels or a GPS.

You can choose from boutique Eco self-drives, food and wine driving tours or walking and hiking tours, you can even choose a themed option such as a Middle Earth inspired driving holiday.

From the beautiful plains around Christchurch, to the Glaciers of the West. From The Sounds to the Lakes, the variety of the South Island destinations and activities will not disappoint. Popular options are the areas of Kaikoura, Blenheim, Charleston, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Punakaiki and Lake Moeraki.

The amazing West coast of New Zealand’s South Island is so immensely different to the East Coast. It is almost like being on the edge of world, and in fact you are. There is absolutely nothing between you on the water side of the South Island’s West Coast and Africa. You can actually feel the isolation in the air.

It has often been said that the South Island is the most photographed area on the planet, so whether you want a flexible theme, or select and customise one of the available packages, a New Zealand South Island driving tour will be a lifetime of memories.

Relaxing Journeys are the experts and with their comprehensive knowledge, car and camper range, accommodation options and their best price guarantee you can rest assured you will make the best choice in South Island driving holidays, regardless of which one you finally settle on.

Have a look at our Exclusive Specials or build your own South Island self-drive holiday here.

New Zealand Food Experiences

We don’t use the word paradise lightly, as gastronomic connoisseurs land on the shores of the Long White Cloud, expectations set and stomachs rumbling – their reviews rarely fall below five stars for taste, service and atmosphere. Service and smiles abound, as the Maori culture entwines with modern trappings, placing an emphasis on the relationship between the land, sea, sky and man.

Hāngī

Ha-what, you may ask, unaccustomed to the delicious dishes of New Zealand’s indigenous people. It’s not a rare urchin or a strange scallop, in fact, a Hāngī itself is not a food of any kind – instead, the word refers to the traditional, below-ground ovens Maori tribes use to deliver a roast dinner unlike any other you’ve ever experienced. Before aluminium foil and wire baskets took over, prepared food was wrapped in leaves to smoke in a deep pit lined with hot stones.

So, what can you expect when dining on a buried dinner? Any combination of fish, chicken, lamb, pork, root vegetables, stuffing, cabbage and pumpkin can be included, taking between three to four hours to cook to mouth-watering perfection. Think flavoursome, melt-in-your-mouth meat and fragrant vegetables.

Sumptuous Seafood

All New Zealand holidays demand a deep-dive into the best of the sea, as fish, mussels, scallops, oysters and crayfish vie for your favour with their flavour – sometimes without the hefty price-tag. Let the native Green Lipped Mussel tempt your tastebuds at Marlborough or the cracking crayfish of Kaikoura; arrive in time for salmon season near Mount Cook, between October and April, and add Bluff to your bucket list – the home of the finest oysters in the world. Fresh, straight from the source and destined for your plate.

Travel Tip: Take a Mussel Cruise at Marlborough and combine sampling the fruits of the sea with sight-seeing, conversation and scenery.

From Farm to Table

Farmers markets, fruit orchards and pop-up food stalls punctuate the local food scene, emphasising nature, earthy flavours and getting in on the action. Collecting your own produce is half of the adventure, learning to cook with it is another. From berries in Nelson to pears in Christchurch; apples in Cromwell and prawns in Taupo, you’ll be invited to indulge your senses on your own steam.

The Bay of Islands

Searching for an on-trend experience without losing the local authenticity? The Bay of Islands is home to a mouth-watering food market, inviting travellers and locals to rub shoulders as they sample smoked fish, homestyle breads, organic eggs, locally grown vine-ripened tomatoes and so many cheeses… a true foodie playground.

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Are you tempted? Hungry? Eager to eat your way around the islands, one meal at a time? Pair your chosen courses with a wine or two, relax, enjoy and let us do the rest. Experience the gourmet food of New Zealand!

Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

As there are hundreds of towns in New Zealand, and it’s hard to decide which are the best places to visit. Here you will find our list, from North to South to keep it simple, of the 10 best places to visit in New Zealand.

Cape Reinga

The very top of the North – locally known as Te Hiku-o-te-Ika (the tail of the fish) – is where the Cape Reinga Light house it located. Looking over the meeting of both the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, the Maori believe this to be a very spiritual place.

Cathedral Cove

Located on the Coromandel Coast is Hahei. Either take a one hour stroll along the coast or enter by boat to this wonder of nature – a natural arched cave resembling a cathedral. A perfect spot for that Instagram selfie.

Matamata

Nestled among the rolling hills of this farmland town is the home of the Hobbits – Hobbiton the movie-set – running hourly there’s plenty of opportunity to get your Lord of the Rings fix.

Waitomo

With 4 amazingly different caves to see, this is a must do attraction for all. Relax on a Waitomo cave experience or go all out and abseil into the St Benedict Cavern.

Wellington

The Capital of New Zealand, Wellington is the hub of fashion, food and politics. The Te papa Museum, Botanic Gardens and the uber cool hidden cafes are sure to give you a taste of everything this city has to offer.

Marlborough

Wine. What more can we say?

Abel Tasman

Secluded sandy beaches and coves this is the perfect spot for hiking and cruises. With trails for art and crafts and plenty of wineries, you’ll be plenty busy hanging with the cruisy likeminded locals’.

Glaciers

With hundreds if not thousands of glaciers in New Zealand, the biggest glacier attraction would be on the West Coast; Fox Glacier and Franz Josef. These slow moving ice rivers have been around since the birth of New Zealand.

The Sounds

The Milford Sound and the Doubtful Sound (both spectacular in their own right) hidden away far down south. Both being wonders, it’s hard to choose one from the other.

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For a truly spectacular New Zealand trip, contact us to help you book your experience.