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Alex and myself are both adrenalin seekers to some extent. He loves the wild water adventures and me, anything in the air! Alex booked himself with ‘Serious Fun River Surfing’. According to Alex (his exact words), this 4-hour activity at the Kawarau River is for the brave-hearted ones who want to experience the ‘unknown’ of the fast rapids!

Well, it’s definitely not for me! I opt for hang-gliding with ‘Skytrek’, the only company that is licensed to hang glide at The Remarkables. That was an amazing and awesome experience. The views were incredibly beautiful. The best part of it was the ability to control and fly the kite (with supervision of course!) at some point.

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Get ready to marvel at this adventure town of the South Island. Seeing it in a rental car in New Zealand is a totally refreshing experience.

For me, this is also the home of luxury New Zealand accommodation. There are a couple of routes to Queenstown, South Island if you are coming from the West Coast in your rental car in New Zealand.

Highway 6 is a easier drive all the way from Wanaka to Queenstown; the drive is less than 2 hours. You will drive around the edge of Lake Dunstan, bypassing Cromwell, through Kawarau River Gorge, then into Gibbston Valley and then to Queenstown.

Alternatively, you can travel via Crown Range; it’s a winding uphill drive which takes a slightly shorter traveling time. On our way to Queenstown, we stopped by at the A.J. Hackett’s Kawarau Suspension Bridge, the world’s first commercial bungy operation – the ‘original’.

You don’t have to bungy to visit. You get a nice view of the rushing waters of the Kawarau River. It’s equally fun to share the excitement of the jumpers too. Alex did his river surfing here at the Kawarau river! There’s a good selection of A.J. Hackett gear if you like to do some shopping.

Need some cool suggestions for lakeside destinations? Here are the Top 10 for your pick. Though I do prefer oceans and beaches, some lakeside places can be charming and relaxing too. Among these Top 10 recommended lakeside destinations suggested by TripAdvisor, I am glad that I had been to Lake Taupo, New Zealand… it was truly a romantic and serene place to unwind and relax. So check them out!

1.       Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy
2.      Lake Placid, N.Y.
3.      Lake Windermere, United Kingdom
4.      Lake Huron, Mackinac Island, Mich.
5.      Lake Taupo, Taupo, New Zealand
6.      Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
7.      Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City, Utah
8.      Lake George, N.Y.
9.      Lake Geneva, Montreux, Switzerland
10.    Lake Louise, Banff, Canada

This is the first of New Zealand hotels we stayed in Auckland.

The unique feature about this small business hotel is that the rooms come with a fully-equipped kitchenette, which is why I am attracted to it. You can choose from a deluxe room to a two bedroom apartment. Rates for a Deluxe King Room is priced around $NZ150. The weekday rates is slightly cheaper than weekend rates.

Our room is cosy, nicely furnished with quality touches. It has a balcony that overlooks either the city or Myers Park. We were allotted a room at the second floor and unfortunately, it overlooks a public car park. I suppose that’s considered a ‘city’ view. So make sure you state your request clearly when checking in. There is an outdoor heated swimming pool and gymnasium which we did not have the time to utilize.

I managed to prepare some food for Clayton in the little kitchen. We had a good sleep on the comfortable king bed. On the overall, this is a good place to base yourself if you don’t like the hustle and bustle on city living. It’s about 5-10 minutes walk to Queen street though it is not close walking distance to the main attractions located in the city.

Here are 10 tips for a New Zealand Motoring Holiday, courtesy of Mike O Brien: Read the rest of this entry →

We are now at the southern end of the North Island. This is our last stop before moving on to the South Island. If you are a minimalist, you will fall in love with this New Zealand Hotel. This apartment-style hotel is elegant, contemporary, modern, stylish and professional. Read the rest of this entry →

If you are an organic advocate like me, you may be keen to know that there are organic places to stay when you are on a vacation. I stumbled upon this finding when we were planning for our first New Zealand trip 2 years ago. These organic stays boast the use of organic or natural produce in their foods and cooking. Most of them are situated either in organic farms or near one. So out of curiosity, I picked Joya Garden and Villa Studios, a Bed and Breakfast located in Nelson in the South Island. The studio is surrounded by a nice garden of herbs and fruit trees. It was relaxing to walk around the garden and lazing at the gazebo.

Another one we stayed was Hapuku Lodge situated in Kaikoura, South Island. This one was a real treat for families, honeymooners and simply anyone who loved comforts in the natural surroundings. Hapuku has a cafe that serves organic and fresh produce. They are well known for their organic beers in the island.

A reliable car rental company is crucial if you are planning to see New Zealand on wheels. You can even save on rebates or get cash coupons when you book with car rental companies at EBates. With the wide selection of fleets, you can compare prices before deciding on the right one for your travel needs. For me, this is the best way to enjoy the scenic wonders of this land of the long white cloud.

On our way to Lake Taupo, we stop by at the Huka Falls. We were amazed at the speed on which the water move from the Waikato River to the drop!

This is sunset at Lake Taupo

It was raining during our two nights in Taupo. But then again, the poor weather didn’t spoil our fun in Taupo either. We had a great time in Baycrest Lodge. Our room came with a private courtyard and private thermal tub. We can then fill to our requirements with 50 degree C thermal water extracted from the ground. It is so relaxing soaking in the tub in the moonlight… yep! And you don’t even have to bother about swim gear. It is so private. I’m sure you can star gaze on a clear night.

Lake Taupo is the biggest lake in New Zealand.

Take a nice stroll and enjoy sunset by the calm lake. This town seems less busy than Rotorua. There are some nice shops to browse around so start shopping for a New Zealand gift. Don’t miss out on the many cafes if you like a lazy afternoon. Taupo in the North Island is serene and quiet during our time of travel but this lakeside town can get very busy during summer months.

For food in Taupo, you ought to check out Replete Café. For some reason, the queue is endless during lunch. The food is quite tasty with a touch of Asian but the menu selection may be a little limited. I like the quirky store next to the café. You can find lots of nice- looking kitchenware and selected gourmet condiments on the shelves. Few restaurants have opened up on the lakefront but unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity to try any of them due to wet weathers on both the nights.

On our way to Rotorua, we decided to stop at Mount Maunganui for a night. Commonly known as The Mount, this small town resembles a little of Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast, Australia, except that it is less crowded and not so commercialised. The Mount is a popular place for joggers and climbers.

Doesn’t this look like a great place to retire?

Ocean Beach is a great place to lay back… The sidewalk cafes along Marine Parade are a favourite hangout for the locals. Unlike the Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast, you get more locals here than tourists. Take a drive and check out the grand, luxurious houses along Ocean beach, some of them are the most impressive in the North Island.

For sumptuous breakfasts, tasty sandwiches, fresh salads and aromatic coffee, we recommend the award-winning café, SideTrack Pacifica. This is definitely a favourite among the locals all-day long, you can simply tell by the regulars relaxing in al fresco style along the walkway. Don’t leave the town without savouring a double cone from the famous Copenhagen ice-cream parlour along the Marine Parade. If you are deprived for some retail therapy or can’t wait to buy your New Zealand gift, take a short drive in your rental car to Tauranga.

Next in our itinerary in New Zealand, North Island is Paihia and a day trip to Far North, Cape Reinga. You will experience the unique side of New Zealand here.

Paihia in the Bay of Islands is one quaint seaside village that attracts lots of tourists and locals. This is the hub for all tours/cruises in the region. We spend two days here and it is nice just driving around enjoying the pristine beaches and clear blue waters in the North Island.

What is memorable for us in the Northland was our day trip (12 hours!) to the Far North, Cape Reinga on a 4×4 wheeler (converted from a military truck!) and we must agree that this is the best of natural New Zealand in the North Island.
Besides the Kauri Forests, the highlights of the trip are the Te Paki sand dunes and the long flat stretch beautiful coastline of Ninety Mile Beach of the North Island.

This is a ‘must-do’ and ‘must-see’ if you get a chance to visit the Bay of Islands and the Far North. The sand-boarding experience at the Te Paki sand dunes is something we enjoyed thoroughly. I must warn you that it is an aerobic activity!

One word of caution: private cars are not allowed on 90mile beach unless you plan to get a tow truck to your rescue!

Coromandel

Speaking of beaches, Coromandel, North Island has lots to offer. Compared to the Northland, the coastline in Coromandel is more rustic and remote, complemented with the rugged forests. This is the rugged coast of the North Island. Due to time factor, we only managed to visit Hahei and Hot Water Beach.

If you are in this area, please don’t miss the gorgeous Cathedral Cove. We could only catch a glimpse of it as it is challenging taking the full trail with Clayton on our backs! Cathedral Cove is easily accessible by walkway from Hahei. Bring a bottle of water with you if you are doing the walk. You do need few days to see and do more here in the Coromandel. In my opinion, it is more local, less touristy, more untouched. Your trip to Hahei is not complete if you haven’t experience the hot spring pool at The Hot Water Beach.

Alex is having fun in his hot spring pool!
The Hot Water Beach is a natural hot water spa two hours either side of low tide. You can dig your own spot and soak yourself in the hot spring pool.

Check out the low tide times with the reception of your stay or any tourist information centre in the area.

If you are looking for a nice place to eat, look no further. The Hot Wave Café, situated a few minutes walk to Hot Water Beach serves nice lunches. You even get live entertainment on Sundays. It’s a popular place with the locals. There are probably more dining options in Whitianga, especially along the beachfront. To get here from Hahei, the quickest way is to board a ferry which only takes 10 minutes. It’s a lot further if you drive.

We had a very nice dinner at The Fireplace, a great waterfront restaurant with a cosy courtyard, fresh seafood, unique selections of wood-fired pizzas and most of all, friendly service. Wanna read more about attractions at the North Island? Find the best deal, compare prices and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor