Live the Journey

South Pacific: New Zealand

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Country Information:

• Lonely Planet Information
• CIA World Factbook
• Fiordland National Park
  • New Zealand's Fiordland was a classic even before the blockbuster marriage of celluloid and Tolkien's trilogy made it a Kiwi travel agent's poster child. In 1908, the London Spectator described the park's premier spot, the Milford Track, as "the finest walk in the world." Nearly a century later, the writer's statement still resonates: the dramatic scenery is as mind-blowing as the extreme adventures for which the South Island is famous. Te Anau is the region's hub, with buses running to Milford Sound, Lake Manapouri, and Doubtful Sound. Beyond trekking, kayaking through the fiords on the region's lakes and sounds offers access to some of the most intense scenery, including thunderous waterfalls, ancient rainforests, and glowworm-filled caves.
  • Gateway City: Queenstown
    Size/Acreage: 4,600 square miles
    When to Go: Mid-October to the end of April—go on the cusp to avoid crowds.
    Accessibility: Easy to medium
    Prime Activities: Trekking, kayaking, paddling, camping, horseback riding, fishing, mountain biking, and scenic flights
    Inside Scoop: Worldwide fame means you have to sign up months ahead of time for the Milford Track, but kayak trips through the Sound are much easier to set up. And the Fiordland region has other treks, such as the popular Routeburn or less-trafficked Kepler tracks.
    More on Fiordland:
    Trek the Milford Track (from Away.com)
    Top New Zealand Trekking (from Away.com)
    www.fiordland.org.nz

 

Contacts:

• WWOOF
• Other potentials in master list

Links:

 

David P. Landis & Eric S. Kennel

July18, 2004