Oceania
NEW ZEALAND continues to remain one of the world’s most sought-after destinations - and it's easy to see why: here you will find excellent hotels of character, sample internationally acclaimed wines, indulge in the freshest of seafood, visit vibrant cities, search for whales and the rare yellow-footed penguins and experience sincere and generous Kiwi hospitality, not to forget a host of adventure activities... However on top of all this New Zealand is probably most famous for its awe-inspiring, diverse and dramatic scenery: a chain of alps stretching for 550 km, a massive crater lake, active volcanoes, plunging fjords, dense rainforest and picture-postcard beaches.
EXPERIENCE: whale watching off the Kaikoura coast, try local green-lipped mussels, climb the Auckland bridge, traverse South Island on the TranzAlpine train, one of the top scenic train trips in the world, ride the Mail Boat which delivers mail to the remote islands, cruise the Milford Sound, walk-in Golden Bay, cruise over the Canterbury Plains in a hot air balloon, attempt one of the numerous hikes available. A visit to Queenstown, the adventure capital, is a must where you can skydive, bungee jump, ride the Shotover Jet, experience the Nevis Swing and a multitude of other jaw-dropping activities. Last but not least enter the magical world of the “Shire” and take in one of the many Lord of the Rings Locations Tours on offer.
SUGGESTED COMBINATIONS: Sydney and Cairns are popular stopovers en route to New Zealand and Dubai is always a favourite. French Polynesia and Fiji are sought after destinations to relax and wind down. Also, the Far East and the Middle East destinations are becoming increasingly popular as add-ons. Another way to experience New Zealand is by taking a cruise that can start/end in Australia or start in New Zealand, there are many itineraries to choose from. adventure travel specialist