Extend your Summer: Visit New Zealand!

Dolphin Vacations

Travel Column by Sue Klunder

616-772-9660

As our summer reaches its halfway point, New Zealand looks forward to their spring and summer.  So if you would like to extend your summer  in a wonderful destination consider a trip to New Zealand. 

My journey began with a stopover in Hawaii for a few days of enjoying the sights and sounds of Waikiki Beach.  Then we boarded a flight at midnight and traveled to Auckland “the City of Sails”.

Auckland is a cosmopolitan city on the North Island of New Zealand.  We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel in the downtown area so we could walk around and enjoy the sights of the city on the waterfront.  We had an opportunity to take a trip to the top of the Sky Tower, enjoying the beautiful views in every direction.   If you are adventurous, you can do the Sky-Walk -   walking the circumference of the Sky Tower on a ledge that is only 1.2 metres wide and 192m high without rails or a balcony, just a safety harness.  I opted not to do this.  We also enjoyed a city tour and a short trip to Mount Eden, one of Auckland’s extinct volcanoes to enjoy another view of the city and its picturesque harbors.

We left the city by bus and traveled south through the rich dairyland to Waitomo Glow-worm Caves.  We joined a guided tour of the underground limestone caverns.  You take a silent boat ride through a mystical grotto carved by an underground river over thousands of years and lit by thousands of tiny glow worms.  It was amazing.

We continued by motorcoach to Rotorua for an overnight stay and enjoyed a traditional Hangi Dinner followed by an authentic Maori Concert.  It was a great time with good food and a chance to experience the tribal songs, dances, legends and spiritual stories and culture of the Maori.

From Rotorua we flew to Christchurch to begin our tour of the South Island of New Zealand.

We enjoyed the day touring the city visiting Cathedral Square, Victoria Square, Thomas Edmonds former Band rotunda and the Avon River, Town Hall, the floral clock and Botanical Gardens.  We relaxed the remainder of the day doing some window shopping and wandering through the city.

We were scheduled to fly to Mt. Cook the next morning but because of weather were unable to go and see the Tasman Glacier.  Instead we continued on to Queenstown one of my favorite areas.

Nestled in the valley with the Remarkable Mountain Range visible from our hotel room and next to Lake Wahatipu it is a beautiful area.  Queenstown has something for everyone.  Known as the adventure center offering  bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting, tandem skydiving and a thrilling helicopter flight.

I enjoyed taking the tram for a full view of the city, traveled to Coronet Peak Ski Area and took the chair lift to the top, and did the wild ride on the Shotover Jet Boat.  We had a great time there.

Our last stop was Milford Sound & TeAnau.  As we entered Fjordland National Park traveling through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound we were surrounded by the beauty at each turn of the road. 

It is an area that is said to boast some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world and I agree.  I was in awe and wished we could have made more stops along the way.  We enjoyed the cruise traveling though the fjord and  viewing the sheer rock walls that rise thousands of feet from the waters great depths.  It was awesome.

If you would like more information on this beautiful destination, please contact Sue Klunder – Dolphin Vacations  772-9660