New Zealand is known to be one of the most beautiful places
in the world, but few people actually know what they would do if they
went. Let me be the first to say that
wherever you go in New Zealand, you will see beautiful scenery, but I have
taken it upon myself to compile of list of my top 10 things to do for a weekend
trip. Let’s count down to number one.
10. Hobbiton Movie Set
Hobbiton
tends to be one of the first stops for a lot of tourists in New Zealand, and I
must say, it’s worth your time if you love Lord of the Rings as much as I
do. The tour guides are fun people with
a lot of interesting film facts, and you’ll even get a complimentary beer in
the Green Dragon at the end of your tour.
9. Wellington
The
capital city of New Zealand has a lot to offer.
Beautiful sights, museums, shops and nightlife as well as a beautiful
surrounding area. Go listen to some live
music or take a ferry ride down to Picton. Wellington is a weekend to remember.
8. Dunedin
Seeing
that I lived in Dunedin, I’m a little biased, but I guarantee that this city
will not disappoint. This old Scottish
settlement has so much to offer no matter what kind of person you are. The area has beautiful hikes as well as a
cool downtown and nightlife. Go do a tour of the Speights brewery or hit up the
Otago Peninsula for some sights of penguins.
You could even go see Baldwin Street - the steepest street in the world. If you’re looking to have a good time in less
touristy city, Dunedin is a great place to spend your weekend.
7. Bay of Islands
The Bay
of Islands has a lot of small fishing villages as well as some beautiful
drives. You’ll find ferry rides and
other such ways to explore this area quite easily. It’s temperate all year-round, and I’ve heard
that you can even swim with dolphins here.
6. Tongariro National Park
Tongariro
is New Zealand’s oldest national park, and happens to be the fourth national
park established in the world. Tongariro
has 3 active volcanoes – Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe which you may know
as “Mount Doom.” It is also home to the
famed Tongariro Alpine Crossing which is widely regarded as one of the world’s
best one-day hikes.
5. Abel Tasman National Park
Would
you like to Kayak with dolphins and seals?
Maybe you would like to hike around the golden bay, or maybe you’d just
like to enjoy yourself on a boat cruise.
Abel Tasman is just the place for it.
When I was here, I had seals biting my paddles while I kayaked around
Adele Island. Some people have even seen
Orcas when they’ve been there. Overall,
it’s a beautiful place with very active wildlife, and a lot of fun to be had.
4. Arthur’s Pass National Park
Driving
through here is enough. It’s gorgeous
year round. Stop at Castle Hill to climb
on the rocks (part of the first Narnia movie was filmed here). There are a bunch of good short walks that
start in Arthur’s Pass Village that go to some waterfalls. There are also some tougher and insanely
beautiful hikes up in the mountains.
3. Queenstown & Surrounding Area
Queenstown
is about as extreme as it gets. This
town is nestled in the Remarkables mountain range and stands as the adventure
capital of the world. Hiking, skiing,
skydiving, bungy jumping, and so much more.
You’ll have a lot of fun in Queenstown.
The surrounding area is also incredibly beautiful. Especially in the autumn. Needless to say, Queenstown is a place you
will want to visit.
2. Mount Cook National Park
As the
tallest peak in New Zealand, Mount Cook has a lot to offer. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a
novice you’ll love this place. Even the
easy hikes have a lot of beauty to offer.
If you have some time on your hands, climb up to Mueller hut and stay
the night. It’ll give you a perfect view
of Mount Cook that you’ll remember for a lifetime. If you don’t have time on your hands, take a
walk down the Hooker Valley Track. It’s
a flat, simple, and beautiful hike that anyone will enjoy.
1. Milford Sound
Declared
by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth Wonder of the World, Milford Sound stands as
New Zealand’s most famous tourist attraction.
This place has beauty that pictures simply cannot depict. You’ll have to see it for yourself. If you’re like me, and you like experiencing
things up close and personally, rent some kayaks and go out on the sound. You’ll get a view unlike anything you’ve ever
seen. If you’d like to rest for the day,
hop on a boat cruise, and experience the sound in comfort. Whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity
to visit the Milford Sound. There isn’t
another place like it in the world.
Mark Cox (ISA | Dunedin, New Zealand)
--
Don't miss out on your adventure!
Find out more about Mark's ISA Dunedin program at http://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/new_zealand/city/dunedin
Search for study abroad opportunities like these in over 50
other countries: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search
