Out of Africa (with my family)
A itinerary form Cape Town to Garden Route and Port Elizabeth. A stop at a Grootbos for whale watching and a safari at Madikwe Game Reserve
Travel to New Zealand, the land of "The Lord of the Rings"
A few years ago I was lucky enough to visit New Zealand. I have already been twice and I would go back again without hesitation.
While it is true that it is the destination that is farthest from Europe (about 24 hours if you travel through Asia and about 30 if you do it via the United States), the truth is that the trip is worth it, especially if you have 3 weeks to do it.
Flying with the Emirates, Singapore Airlines, or Qatar Airways, you will only make one stop and if you return through America, why not stop for a few days on a Pacific island, to enjoy some paradisiacal beaches, either in the Fiji Islands, Cook Islands, or French Polynesia?
Mount Taranaki, Mount Egmont or Cafrado Mountain is a 2,500-meter dormant stratovolcano located on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand.
New Zealand is a country known for its landscapes, its nature, its flocks of sheep, its vineyards, and for being the setting for "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" movie trilogy, but there is much more to discover and I want to tell you about some of the experiences that I have lived in this wonderful country.
Consisting of the North Island and the South Island, New Zealand is a remote country located about 2,000 kilometers southeast of Australia in the Tasman Sea, and its closest neighbors to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The majority of the New Zealand population is of European descent and the indigenous Maori are the largest minority.
New Zealand's fascinating topography allows for a wide range of activities if you stay in the right place, where you can even take advantage of its natural parks. Spectacular helicopter tours to active volcanoes, trout fishing in jade green streams, vineyard biking, hiking, culture, and heritage. From the beauty of the far north to the breathtaking scenery of the deep south. Each region is characterized by unique geographic, scenic, and activity experiences. The helicopter is one of the most suitable means of transportation to travel the distances between one island and another.
New Zealand's fascinating beaches and lagoons can be discovered aboard an exclusive private yacht cruise.
The experience on board the yacht allows you to practice different water activities.
Tranzalpine train passing Lake Sarah, 122km from Christchurch city.
One of the most fascinating experiences in New Zealand is to ride the 5-hour scenic TranzAlpine train ride, which, since 1987, has traversed the west coast of the South Island from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea.
A route that reveals the Canterbury plains, river valleys, different gorges, tunnels, and viaducts through the New Zealand Alps to the Arthur Pass, where the Otira Tunnel introduces us to the solid rock that vertebrates the country. The journey continues through lush alpine beech forests to Greymouth, an ideal base for visiting Punakaiki and the glaciers.
The first time I was in New Zealand I started by visiting the Bay of Islands, in the upper part of the north island. One of the villa resorts worth staying at is undoubtedly Eagles Nest. In addition to the exclusive concierge service to organize any type of activity, it is the ideal place to enjoy the local cuisine, from informal barbecues to wine tastings, as well as having an incredible Spa to relax at and a private chauffeur service.
A recommendation for groups of friends or families who want more privacy, in this same area, would be to stay at The Landing, a large expanse of land in the Bay of Islands, with 4 magnificent villas of different styles, with different capacities, a perfect place to enjoy the location and the vineyards.
- Bay of Islands is one of the best areas in New Zealand for sailing or fishing. —
- The Landing offers the privacy of 4 exclusive villas with all services. —
- The area is surrounded by vineyards that can be visited for interesting tastings of local wines, —
- Another option for private villa accommodations in Bay of Islands is Eagle Nest.
"Kiwi" is the nickname used for New Zealanders. The first New Zealanders to receive the nickname Kiwi were the military. The Kiwi is a brown wingless bird symbol of all regiments of the country, including those who participated in the Second Boer War and those who fought, together with the Australian army, in the Second World War. After the war, the term was attributed to the entire population
My route continued south, passing through Auckland, known as the city of sails, due to the large number of sailboats in its harbor. In this city, it is estimated that one in three households has a boat, the highest proportion of the entire planet. Auckland has an ancestral connection with the ocean dating back more than a thousand years to Maori culture as well.
The city of Auckland is a cosmopolitan city, easily visited, and very pleasant for its size (1.6 million inhabitants), its proximity to the sea views, and gastronomy. It is built on a still active volcanic plain formed by 48 volcanoes, all of them extinct. The most famous are Mount Eden and One Tree Hill. Both are easily accessible and, from the top, you can enjoy incredible views of the city and the bay. In Auckland, it is essential to visit the elegant neighborhood of Ponsonby with its elegant wooden chalets from the 1940s, as well as sail in a racing sailboat on the bay.
Continuing the route, I arrived in Rotorua, where we found just 20 minutes from the populated city, a haven of peace, overlooking the lake: Solitaire Lodge, one of the leading luxury accommodations in New Zealand, which enjoys stunning views over Lake Tarawera with a lush natural landscape of bush and volcanoes as a backdrop.
From the moment one arrives at this charming lodge, the shadows of candlelight invite you to come in and begin this adventure. The main hall offers a spectacular view due to the extraordinary location of the lodge. Undoubtedly, the gastronomy of its restaurant is amazing. Easy access to the lake allows exploration of the surrounding waters directly from Solitaire Lodge's jetty.
The skyline of the city of Auckland, known as "the city of sails", seen from the sea.
Helicopter flight over Grear Barrier Island, located 88 km northeast of New Zealand, off the Hauraki Gulf.
Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes that run north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in New Zealand's South Island. Photo: Casey Horner.
Paddle surfing or kayaking are two ideal sports to discover the lagoons between volcanoes and glaciers of New Zealand.
The director of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Peter Jackson, was a fan of Tolkien's literary work and had always wanted to make a film based on his books. Ever since he was a child, he had imagined his native New Zealand as Middle Earth. Jackson fulfilled his dream of shooting many of his films in the valleys and landscapes of New Zealand.
A few kilometers from Auckland, in Matamata on the North Island, you can visit Hobbiton, the film set used during the filming of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogy.
Once the filming of all the movies was finished, the family that owned the farm chosen by Peter Jackson, the director, as the setting for The Hobbit Village, reached an agreement with the production company to be able to maintain this setting and show it to all visitors who wanted to know Hobbiton or The Shire.
Door of one of the houses in the village of Hobbiton, New Zealand. Photo: Nate Johnston.
On the same North Island, driving east, I arrived at Hawke's Bay, where I was able to enjoy an excellent wine experience at Church Road, one of New Zealand's oldest and best-known vineyards.
Instead of the normal tasting at the cellar door, the tasting took place in a private room in one of the old cellars, with a private sommelier. It was an exceptional tasting of no less than nine wines from the Tom range, which is their most premium wine. The tasting was accompanied by delicious local products from the region such as lamb, fish, and vegetables.
Moving around the island can be done by car, but there is also the possibility of flying in a helicopter, which is a wonderful experience that I highly recommend as you fly over the mountainous landscape and volcanoes located on the north island.
Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, is known for adventure sports and is also a base for exploring vineyards and historic mining towns.
Discovering the fjords of New Zealand by helicopter is a unique experience.
New Zealand is called in Maori: Aotearoa, a word that means "land of the great white cloud"
On the South Island, another lodge that surprised me both for its location and the quality of its services is Split Apple Retreat, located on the edge of the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. Those staying at this exclusive lodge can walk part of the spectacular coastal path that leads to golden sandy beaches, surrounded by native bushes and guided only by the songs of the birds that inhabit the area. Each suite is designed to provide a sense of tranquility and relaxation, with a private terrace surrounded by fragrant gardens and a 180-degree view of the ocean.
Gastronomy is one of the differential points of Split Apple Retreat, the result of a historic collaboration between Lee Nelson, a physician specializing in nutrition, and his wife, Anne Pen Lee, the chef, culinary artist, and owner of Split Apple Retreat. Thus, this lodging has become celebrated for its dedication to healthy food and quality dishes that help the body achieve optimal health and promote longevity. They have even published a book "The Thoughtful Food Cookbook", with Chef Pen's best recipes so that guests can continue to cook those healthy dishes once back home.
This island is ideal for enjoying many adventure sports in the nearby Queenstown area: famous bungy jumping, a picnic lunch on top of a peak, which is reached by helicopter, or being able to take a horseback riding tour of Rees Valley, among other activities. In fact, Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand.
Bungy jumping (bungee jumping), was born in that city as an extreme experience that involves jumping into the void from a considerable height tied with a bungee cord from the ankles. The first bungy jumping in the world was located on the Kawarau Bridge. The fall distance is 43 meters and, if you want, you can even choose to dip half your body in the water of the river.
Split Apple Retreat, a luxury lodge on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park.
This exclusive lodge has two private accesses to one of the best beaches in the South Island of New Zealand.
On the beach you can observe the famous "Split Apple Rock", which is 120 million years old and gives its name to the lodge.
Split Apple Retreat is known for its healthy cuisine made with local produce and Asian fusion style cuisine prepared by Chef Anne Pen.
Bungy jumping is an extreme sport born in New Zealand.
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