The Ultimate New Zealand Travel Guide
Welcome to my latest trip about to unfold. My son, David, from the US, has joined me as we cruise through the North Island south of Auckland to Wellington and the northern end of the South Island. I am really excited about showing him my adopted country that I still have a complete passion for after all these years. I never tire of traveling here and truly enjoy the scenic wonders, the many activities that are offered and especially the wonderful people who I meet along the way.
I wanted to go this time of year when the weather keeps most people from visiting New Zealand to show everyone the beauty year round. I also wanted to interview the many owners and managers of the tourism businesses when they weren't too busy to talk to me. I want them to tell you what they have on offer. Who better can give you the best information from daily understanding...............This is a real quickie touch base trip to provide you with highlights and insights to the area we will travel and visit. Later this coming summer we will go slowly through each area and give you a real close encounter with almost everything available and the places to stay along the way.
One of the most important considerations when traveling New Zealand by camper van is the equipment you plan on renting. How safe is it? What do you get? How easy is it to use? Is it hard for me? What do the roads look like? What are the holiday parks like? What should I bring? and many more questions I will try to answer.
Check in and ask me questions on my website www.ronlaughlin.net or send questions to me via my email: ronlaughlin@mail.com.
I picked David up this morning at 5:45am at the Auckland airport - the usual time for US entry. The long flight over leaves one a bit worn you might say so my job here is to try to guide you along and relieve some early frustrations. I will begin the blogs with what you will find at the airport. Then we will go to my favourite place to stay by the airport - the Airport B&B owned and run by a wonderful lady by the name of Laurel. We will stay there a couple of days and I will take some photos for you in downtown Auckland and explain how to best start your adventure. I will show you what you will find to make your entry into New Zealand easier from the time you step off the plane until ready to go home.
I will then show you where to go to pick up the groceries and supplies you want.
Next we get on the planned routes as we video, photograph and show you what it looks like and what to expect to see and do along the way. Each evening I will provide a blog commentary on the trip as we proceed with photos. The videos will have to wait until edited after our return. They will be posted on the blog websites plus You Tube so it will be easy for you to access.
Here is a quick summary of the trip we are going to be on. It will be around three weeks in duration dependent upon the weather mostly. We will begin in Auckland then go east to the Coromandel Peninsula then south via Matamata (Hobbiton) then on to the geo-thermal and Maori cultural world of Rotorua and Taupo. From there on south taking a slight turn off the main road to visit the volcano country of the Tongariro National Park area. Hopefully we will miss the early snows and get through.
From the volcanic world we head south through the rolling hills and pristine farmlands of central North Island where sheep and cows dominate the countryside with a dotting of small towns and villages.
Then it is along the Kapiti Coast with the ocean on your right as you cruise into New Zealand's capital city of Wellington. I lived here eight years and love it. When I come back I feel as if I am coming home.
After the 3 ½ hour ferry crossing over Cook Strait and the very beautiful cruise through the Marlborough Sounds we dock at the small picturesque town of Picton. I will show you a few highlights and things to do while here. I suggest you not rush on through. It is well worth stopping and enjoying this special area.
Then we head into the Marlborough wine region, largest in the country, for a drive through and a quick stop at a couple of the wineries. From here it is on to the West Coast where the beauty increases every kilometre as you encounter the Southern Alps, the rough and rocky coastline, not many people but great small towns and on to Glacier Country.
Every night of the trip I will stop at a holiday park that I have enjoyed over the years and pass on their information to you.
Due to the time involved from the glaciers we then cut back a few kilometres to cut through the Southern Alps on Arthurs Pass and head into the glacial lake country known as the Mackenzie Country.
My plans are to continue on southeast to Oamaru, the home of the Little Blue penguin, plus I am anxious to see the latest work completed on their historical area that I really enjoy visiting.
Then it is back north to get a first hand look at what has happened to Christchurch after the big earthquake. I have scheduled a personal guided tour through town by a couple of their leading business men so it will be first hand knowledge.
After Christchurch it is now north to Kaikoura, home of the whales, to get up close and personal to them via the famous Whalewatch.
Then we are back to Picton and back to the North Island and the Auckland airport to turn in the van. I know for sure we will wish we had another month. When you come over please do not short change yourself. It is a country you will probably only visit once and believe me I will guarantee you will want more of it no matter how long you are here. Look at me I came for a visit in 1989.........what more can I say............it is a country you will fall in love with for all it has to offer.
So off we go. See you on the road....................let me know if you have any questions writing me direct at ronlaughlin@mail.com.
more photos on Pinterest
Ron
Go here to see all the blogs
I wanted to go this time of year when the weather keeps most people from visiting New Zealand to show everyone the beauty year round. I also wanted to interview the many owners and managers of the tourism businesses when they weren't too busy to talk to me. I want them to tell you what they have on offer. Who better can give you the best information from daily understanding...............This is a real quickie touch base trip to provide you with highlights and insights to the area we will travel and visit. Later this coming summer we will go slowly through each area and give you a real close encounter with almost everything available and the places to stay along the way.
One of the most important considerations when traveling New Zealand by camper van is the equipment you plan on renting. How safe is it? What do you get? How easy is it to use? Is it hard for me? What do the roads look like? What are the holiday parks like? What should I bring? and many more questions I will try to answer.
Check in and ask me questions on my website www.ronlaughlin.net or send questions to me via my email: ronlaughlin@mail.com.
I picked David up this morning at 5:45am at the Auckland airport - the usual time for US entry. The long flight over leaves one a bit worn you might say so my job here is to try to guide you along and relieve some early frustrations. I will begin the blogs with what you will find at the airport. Then we will go to my favourite place to stay by the airport - the Airport B&B owned and run by a wonderful lady by the name of Laurel. We will stay there a couple of days and I will take some photos for you in downtown Auckland and explain how to best start your adventure. I will show you what you will find to make your entry into New Zealand easier from the time you step off the plane until ready to go home.
I will then show you where to go to pick up the groceries and supplies you want.
Next we get on the planned routes as we video, photograph and show you what it looks like and what to expect to see and do along the way. Each evening I will provide a blog commentary on the trip as we proceed with photos. The videos will have to wait until edited after our return. They will be posted on the blog websites plus You Tube so it will be easy for you to access.
Here is a quick summary of the trip we are going to be on. It will be around three weeks in duration dependent upon the weather mostly. We will begin in Auckland then go east to the Coromandel Peninsula then south via Matamata (Hobbiton) then on to the geo-thermal and Maori cultural world of Rotorua and Taupo. From there on south taking a slight turn off the main road to visit the volcano country of the Tongariro National Park area. Hopefully we will miss the early snows and get through.
From the volcanic world we head south through the rolling hills and pristine farmlands of central North Island where sheep and cows dominate the countryside with a dotting of small towns and villages.
Then it is along the Kapiti Coast with the ocean on your right as you cruise into New Zealand's capital city of Wellington. I lived here eight years and love it. When I come back I feel as if I am coming home.
After the 3 ½ hour ferry crossing over Cook Strait and the very beautiful cruise through the Marlborough Sounds we dock at the small picturesque town of Picton. I will show you a few highlights and things to do while here. I suggest you not rush on through. It is well worth stopping and enjoying this special area.
Then we head into the Marlborough wine region, largest in the country, for a drive through and a quick stop at a couple of the wineries. From here it is on to the West Coast where the beauty increases every kilometre as you encounter the Southern Alps, the rough and rocky coastline, not many people but great small towns and on to Glacier Country.
Every night of the trip I will stop at a holiday park that I have enjoyed over the years and pass on their information to you.
Due to the time involved from the glaciers we then cut back a few kilometres to cut through the Southern Alps on Arthurs Pass and head into the glacial lake country known as the Mackenzie Country.
My plans are to continue on southeast to Oamaru, the home of the Little Blue penguin, plus I am anxious to see the latest work completed on their historical area that I really enjoy visiting.
Then it is back north to get a first hand look at what has happened to Christchurch after the big earthquake. I have scheduled a personal guided tour through town by a couple of their leading business men so it will be first hand knowledge.
After Christchurch it is now north to Kaikoura, home of the whales, to get up close and personal to them via the famous Whalewatch.
Then we are back to Picton and back to the North Island and the Auckland airport to turn in the van. I know for sure we will wish we had another month. When you come over please do not short change yourself. It is a country you will probably only visit once and believe me I will guarantee you will want more of it no matter how long you are here. Look at me I came for a visit in 1989.........what more can I say............it is a country you will fall in love with for all it has to offer.
So off we go. See you on the road....................let me know if you have any questions writing me direct at ronlaughlin@mail.com.
more photos on Pinterest
Ron
Go here to see all the blogs
