Travel and eat around the world

New Zealand

Raglan Sunset

Raglan is an epic little surf town found about 90 minutes south of Auckland. It’s home to the world’s largest left hand break and has a great bohemian feel. Raglan is a town where you can go to the supermarket, pub, or cafe barefoot and not one person will judge you.

Tasman Sea from a Toyota Hiace Campervan

Campervans are easy to buy and a cheap and efficient way to get around New Zealand. I’ve found that some of my favorite memories in Aotearoa come from the time I spent cruising around NZ in my now deceased 1986 Toyota Hiace, Max.

Bungy Jumping in Lake Taupo

If you have any interest in throwing yourself off a bridge or out of a plane, then New Zealnd is the place for you. Pictured above is the Taupo Bungy which is the home of New Zealand’s highest water-touch bungy. Why wouldn’t you want to touch the water after jumping from 47 meters?

New Zealand Traffic Jam

There are no shortage of sheep in New Zealand (we’re talking over 30 million), so don’t be surprised if you find yourself dealing with the odd road block of sheep.

Emerald Blue Waters of the Marlborough Sounds

Marlborough Sounds

To get from the North to the South Island of New Zealand, you’ll have to cross the Cook Strait. Your budget-friendly option is crossing the strait with Interislander. The crossing is billed as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world – you’ll understand why on a clear day.

Marlborough Vineyards

New Zealand is home to some excellent wines – specifically the Sauvignon Blancs of the Marlborough Region. There is no better way to take in this region than by a wine-tasting tour on a bike.

White Sands of Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman National Park

The South Island’s Abel Tasman National Park is filled with plenty of beaches very similar to this. TheAbel Tasman Coastal Track can be experienced as a great one-day walk.

Big Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

The Franz Josef Glacier is the world’s fastest moving glacier and moves at speeds of up to one meter a day. This budget travel video tells you the best ways to experience this fascinating area of New Zealand.

View from a Caravan

Caravans such as this one seem to be everywhere in New Zealand’s countryside. Every house you pass seems to have one parked out back – the perfect opportunity for a Kiwi weekend escape. I waslucky enough to live in one on New Zealand’s West Coast for three months. All its inconveniences aside (slightly smelly, leaky, had to run inside through West Coast rain storms to get to toilet/shower/kitchen/living area), you sure couldn’t beat the view.

West Coast Sunset

Step outside the above caravan at sunset and this was your view. Not bad, eh?

Snow Capped Southern Alps

Take a helicopter ride or a plane ride above New Zealand’s Southern Alps and this is your view – not a budget activity, but well worth the memories.

View of Mount Tasman

A day trip on the West Coast should include a trip to Lake Matheson which will give you stunning mirror lake views of Mt Cook and Tasman. This shot was from just outside the cafe near the lake – a great place to relax after your hike around the lake.

Evening Sky Over the Pacific Coast

Kaikoura Sunset

Kaikoura on the South Island sits at the base of the Seaward Kaikoura Range on the Pacific Coast.

Pacific Coast Sunrise

Wake up early on the Pacific Coast and you stand a chance of catching a sunrise shot similar to this one.

Geothermal Rotorua Lake

Rotorua is a bubbling hotspot of mud pools, boiling geysers, and smells strongly of sulfur. It’s a geothermal wonderland and worth no more than a day of your time.

Sperm Whale in Kaikoura

Whale watching in Kaikoura is a must on your visit to the South Island. If you’re quick enough at the draw, you stand the chance of catching a shot like this.

Rugged West Coast

The rugged, windswept West Coast of the South Island is home to glaciers, rainforests, and views of the Tasman similar to this. A drive down the West Coast is one of New Zealand’s 5 Best Drives.

View over Queenstown

Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most epic towns. This shot from the top of the Queenstown Gondola gives you a good taste of the town’s setting.

Undiscovered Caitlans Coast

The south coast of the South Island is home to one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets – the Caitlans Coast. Vast expanses of green rolling hills, unpopulated surf beaches and marine wildlife are only some of the reasons you should make sure you spend some time here.

Majestic Aoraki

Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak at 12,316 feet and stunning to see on a clear day form the shores of Lake Pukaki.

http://www.backpackingmatt.com/20-new-zealand-views/

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Saturday, February 16, 2013

Beautiful Places in New Zealand