New Zealand - Treks Travels Thoughts

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” –Helen Keller

What they call Cathedral Cove... truly magnificent.

Country facts

Official Language: English and Maori
Population: ~5 million (2020)
Capital: Wellington
Main Religion: Roman Catholic
Currency: New Zealand Dollars (currency converter)
Time zone: UTC +12
Driving side: left
Plug types: Type I

Travel Info

When to go

Any time outside their winter (Jun-Aug). I suggest from November to April, which includes the summer and shoulder months.

Cost

I travelled for about 72$/day (2020). See my complete travel cost. For today's prediction visit this website.

How long do I need

It always depends on your travel speed, but about 3 weeks per island.

Highlights

Hot Water Beach: At low tide, you can bath in hot water just a few metres from the sea (while you are there, don't miss Cathedral Cove).
Rotorua: Hot springs, mud bath, geysers, lots of mind-blowing geothermal activity.
Raglan: Whether or not you like to surf this little town offers a great place to unwind.
Wanaka: For many travellers, this little town is one of their favourites for good reasons.
Hiking: Lots of fun hikes! (too many to list here)
Te Araroa: Wanna see the country at a slower pace? Take a look at the Te Araroa thru-hike.
National Parks: Fiordland, Aspiring, Aoraki, Arthur's Pass, Richmond Range, Abel Tasman, Tongariro, Egmont, (those are just some examples but there are a lot more).

Pictures

Rotorua, North Island: Rotorua is a little town known for its geothermal activity.

Rotorua, North Island: Enjoying a mud bath makes you feel like a real VIP.

Rotorua, North Island: When I mean lots of geothermal activity... I mean a lot! This picture was taken in a park.

Rotorua, North Island: Part of Kuirau Park (a city park!)

Rotorua, North Island: Even the mud is boiling...

Rotorua, North Island: Rotorua is the home of Pōhutu (‘big splash’) geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere.

Rotorua, North Island: Maori First Nation performing (don't mess with that guy!)

Hobbiton, North Island: New Zealand is known worldwide for being the location where Lord of the Ring was filmed. You can visit the movie set of that little hobbit village.

Tauranga, North Island: The view from Mount Maunganui

Tauranga, North Island: Some very well done street art

Hot Water Beach, North Island: Imagine yourself digging in the sand and having hot water coming out! At low tide, you can fully experience this wonder of nature.

Hahei, North Island: Cave at Mares Leg Cove

Raglan, North Island: They definitely have a great life, if reincarnation is a thing, I want to be one of these sheep in my next life.

Raglan, North Island: View over Raglan from Mount Karioi

Raglan, North Island: View over Potahi Point

Mount Taranaki, North Island: Going up this nice volcano. Its last major eruption was in 1655.

Mount Taranaki, North Island: On the way up, it had a cool scramble section.

Mount Taranaki, North Island: The summit view makes you feel above the clouds. That might be because you are literally above the clouds.

Mount Taranaki, North Island: On the way down

Food: They are called Kiwi Berries, slightly bigger than a grape but with a sweater kiwi taste.

Taupo, North Island: View from mount Tauhara

Taupo, North Island: View over the city of Taupo

Taupo, North Island: Huka Falls

Tongariro National Park, North Island: I have been looking forward to doing this highlight. Tongariro Crossing is a day hike across volcanic landscape.

Tongariro National Park, North Island: Don’t wander off the trail without knowledge people have died, gotten burned to 3rd degree, got rescued by helicopter. Most people doing the trail are simply unprepared. I have seen half a dozen people turning around just the day I went.

Tongariro National Park, North Island: What attracts so many tourists to this moon-like surroundings? Maybe that picture answers it partly

Tongariro National Park, North Island: Looking over Lake Rotoaira and Lake Taupo (in the far back).