How to visit New Zealand by Charlie

"Eye opening. Life changing. The most amazing place to visit without fearing for one's life"

How I did it: It was a cold rainy day in october in 2001.  

I happened to be thinking how I would love to be in a
warm country that my boss kept talking about.

Which happened to be New Zealand.

I happened to walk by a travel agency and saw a flight
to New Zealand. 

I went in, put it on the visa card.   I spent the next two
months paying off my ticket and saving some cash
for the trip.  

Then I backpacked throughout new zealand while
woofering.   Willing worker on an organic farm. 

I highly recommend it.  Do a bit of work, and have the hosts take care of your lodging, food, and entertainment.

Just put on the backpack and and walked down the highway for 100 meters until you get picked up by other fellow travelers.

If my memory serves me right, maybe this time,

Bay of Islands - paihia is such a charming little place
get on the kiwi express or hitch a ride.

Paihia and punakaki seems to ring a bell
where you can carve your own jade. 
or that could've been hokitika. 

oh that's right punakaki is just a quick driveby. 
It's the pancake rocks.  Fun to ha..

errr wait.  this is about how I did it.

heh.  Then I'm done. 

If you have the urge to relocate temporarily, 
wanting to travel, want to experience the beauty of the land, then go. 

Buy the ticket first, buy a traveller's guide, and afterwards 
think about how you're going to pay for it.  

Also, for people under 30, it is easy to get a 1 year working visa for NZ and AUZ.   You apply for it at the Auckland YMCA hostel.  Other than that, don't stay there if you are seeking a eye opening experience and not a drunken feast.  

When you touch down, you will live in the moment at a new destination with the spirit of travel.  Just go where you want to.  That's what so great about travelling.  Just go.

You weren't really just going to go there to get drunk are you?  Stay off the Kiwi Express if you don't like drinking and hooligans partying on the bus.  They highly encourage it.   ;)

Lessons & tips: Stop at any hostel.  Talk to the travellers.  See where they have been.  Ask them about the most memorable place they've been to.  Then entice someone with a car at the hostel of this destination and experience it with a new found friend.   

If you don't like where you are or the company you have, just high tail it to another town on the map. 

Bay of Islands is not the place to go swimming with the dolphins.  Tauranga is the best place. 

Thousands and thousands.  

Resources: http://www.swimwithdolphins.co.nz/

Great captain, and last time I was there he guaranteed viewing of the dolphins or go out free again later.  Bay of Islands does not do this. 

Lake Taupo offers the cheapest sky diving in the world at 149$ last time I was there.  
Lake Taupo also offers amazing bungee jumping in to the lake.  

If you want a really memorable bungee jump,
head to Queenstown and get on the Ledge Bungy.

At sunset, and dark, they have fire spinners while you ride the gondola up.  Amazing.  As you run off the platform, another guy hals the rope next to you and dumps it off as you jump.  Nuts.  Expensive.  

Waitomo Caves - Rap Raft and Rock was a cheaper version of their ultimate underground caving experience.
None the less, waitomo caves was pretty cool.  Glow worms and all. 



1 person found this helpful
 

Dec 27, 2008, 03:35PM PST | 1 comment | 8 cheers


Comments:

CookieRa Hmmm . . What to do, what to do . . .

Yeah, I stayed i Kiwiland on the year visa.
Absolutely fell in love with the place!

Apr 25, 12:40PM PDT | Respond to this


Charlie has gotten 8 cheers on this entry.

 

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