New Zealand: A Trip to Paradise

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‘KiaOra’ is how you start your experience in what I would call paradise. A unique salutation used in New Zealand taken from the Maoris which is a ‘hello’, a ‘welcome’ and a ‘thank you’, all rolled into one greeting.

Getting to New Zealand requires a commitment of time, energy and money. It’s a long flight from everywhere. It’s an expensive country and the best way to go around is on a self-drive SUV. If this sounds daunting, it is soon forgotten. Starting from Auckland which has the best international connections we covered both the Northern and the Southern islands in 13 days. The biodiversity check at the airports is strict. Carrying an open sandwich saved from the flight service can easily set you back by a fine of NZ$ 500 or more. But yes, anything prepacked in a sealed pack is fine. No achaar, no chutneys and no poori sabzi. Unopened Haldiram packs are fine!

Auckland is a bustling city much unlike the rest of the country. You can still miss dinner like we nearly did if not for a ‘late night’ diner. That by the way in New Zealand is 9 PM or even earlier. So one of the first things you quickly learn about New Zealand is the country sleeps early and rises early. With hardly 4 million people spread all over, you rarely see crowds and the nightlife is nonexistent. ‘Laidback country’ is a phrase you will often think off as you travel around.

The pit stops have quite a few lodges and motels which are good for a night or two. Don’t expect the Hyatt or the Sofitel though! Airbnb is a great help especially if you are a group of friends or a big family. New Zealand is best done with a company as life can often become lonely after the sunset. The rush season is January and February. New Zealanders themselves make it easy to enjoy their country. They’re friendly, approachable with probably the world’s most helpful and efficient police force which we had the pleasure to experience.

The countryside is awesome. Beautiful and serene are mild words to use. The valleys and rolling hills allow you views which are often breathtaking. It’s clean, pristine, and gorgeous. A casual driver can’t resist frequent stops to gawk. Hiking trails are abundant for the adventurous as are the huge gorges which sometimes look scary but the roads are safe.  The South Island offers a couple of hundred wineries, wonderful locally sourced food, and vista upon a vista that will turn an hour’s drive into a jaw-dropping, photo-snapping marathon. New Zealand is a group of 600 islands formed over centuries of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. This has also led to a collection of over 3500 lakes whose Bluewater is almost surreal. The ability of the country to have preserved nature has to be seen to be believed. Remarkably one sees no activities on the shores of the lakes.

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New Zealand is not all about beauty and nature. Sharing a common passion for cricket and driving on the same side of the road with highways which are still single-track makes it different from Europe and the USA which Indians will love. The wine tasting trip we did to Waiheke Island was as good as the Napa Valley of California. The Glow Worm Caves in Waitomo were so unique that the silent sailing on rowboats still hasn’t left our memory. Rotura has a great Redwood tree walk. This is something that should be done in the night and try reporting at the desk by 8:00 PM to avoid long ques. It is eerie as you walk in absolute darkness 100 feet above the ground on wooden slats and ropeways to support. The thermal walk amongst craters with crevices, pools, rings & all sorts of colour in its myriad forms is another unique geological phenomenon. A cloud cover that day allowed us to spend almost an hour of sheer joy. How can we forget the Lavender Ice cream right in the middle of a Lavender farm on our way to Mt Cook? A self-made meal in the courtyard of our air BnB Villa in Twizel under a full moon night was probably the high point of our trip.

Once in Queenstown, it is almost like you are back to civilization. Here, at last, is a town with pubs, cafes and a semblance of life after hours. Also, our first taste of authentic Indian food in many days. Just a word of caution though. The entire city is slopes and hillocks. Walking may not be as much fun as it is in Paris.

A trip to New Zealand is like describing a first kiss: it’s a bundle of raging emotions that defies words, challenges your senses, and shifts your perception of magic, wonder, and sensory joy. It’s sheer bliss in paradise.

Travel journey shared by-

Mr. Manoj Agarwal

“ An avid traveler who loves to talk “

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