TRICIA STEVENS
PERSPECTIVES
NEW ZEALAND
Breathtaking scenery around every corner. The islands of New Zealand are so narrow that you will never be more than 128km away from the ocean. It is also a country with the longest place name in the world! Located in Hawkes Bay is a hill called Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauo-tamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu!
ABSOLUTE MUSTS
Heli Hike on Fox Glacier
Board a helicopter and enjoy a scenic ride to the top of Fox Glacier where your guide will take you through this pristine icy landscape. Crawl through narrow icy blue tunnels and peer into eerie bottomless crevasses. Alternatively, opt to do a heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier.
Visit Queenstown
Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown sits on the edge of the stunning Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by mountains. Opt to spend your day enjoying adrenaline-filled activities or choose to spend some time relaxing at one of the many wineries in the area.
Ride a Jet Boat
The Shotover River was once one of the world’s richest rivers during the gold rush with plenty of gold to be found. This unique jet boat excursion takes you through the canyon at speeds up to 90km/hour and you’ll be sure to enjoy some scares when the boat takes you on several 360 degree spins along the way. You will not stop screaming!
Milford Sound
Located in the Fordland National Park on the South Island, Milford Sound is full of spectacular scenery. Carved out by glaciers during the ice ages, its numerous waterfalls cascading down the fiord cliffs are some of the tallest in the world. Journey into the Sound by boat for a day, or better yet, spend the night onboard. During the day, explore the dark ink-like peaceful waters by kayak and keep on the lookout for bottlenose dolphins and seals!
Swim with Dolphins
Situated on the North Island, The Bay of Plenty is home to hundreds of bottlenose dolphins. With its warm waters, this is the ideal place to jump in the water and swim among these playful wild creatures.
Mount Cook
Situated on the South Island, Mount Cook (also known as Aoraki Mount Cook) is the highest mountain in New Zealand. The mountain was originally named Aoraki by the Maori people and translates to ‘Cloud Piercer’. The mountain is 12,316 feet high.
Luge
Hop aboard the steepest gondola in the Southern Hemisphere, The Skyline Queenstown. Taking you to Bob’s Peak, you will be 450 metres about beautiful Queenstown. Take in the views of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by mountain vistas, and once at the top, descend down the mountain on one of two luge tracks. You’ll be glad you did it!
Hang Gliding
Have you ever imagined what it might be like to fly like a bird? A tandem hang-gliding experience will bring you one step closer to finding out. Your heart will be racing as you run towards the edge of a slightly slanted cliffside and as your feet slowly begin to lift off the ground, you will be overcome with a peaceful flying sensation. Enjoy the wind blowing through your hair and marvel at the views like a bird soaring through the sky.
Bungee Jump
For those looking to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush, why not jump off a bridge!? New Zealand is where bungy jumping was born and in 1988, the first bungy jump sight began operating over Shotover River’s Kawarau Bridge. Choose to take the ‘plunge’ and get wet, or choose to stay dry. If this excitement has you wanting more, check out The Nevis Bungy (the third highest bungy jump in the world sitting at 134m above the canyon floor.
