http://RealAdventures.com/vacations/185140_other-new-zealand-articles.htm Check out some of the recently updated travel & vacation listings on RealAdventures. Be inspired, go explore! en-us Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:34:45 GMT Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:34:45 GMT http://RealAdventures.com http://RealAdventures.com/vacations/185140_other-new-zealand-articles.htm 100 100 http://RealAdventures.com/listings/1024428_New-Zealand-An-Adventurer-s-Paradise http://RealAdventures.com/listings/1024428_New-Zealand-An-Adventurer-s-Paradise Articles New Zealand Fri, 23 Apr 2004 00:04:00 Stu Wilson on bungee jumping, trekking, and the natural wonders of New Zealand. -
Stu Wilson on bungee jumping, trekking, and the natural wonders of New Zealand.


by Stu Wilson

I&8217d traveled 8,000 miles by air from the comfortable confines of home in America to a remote Pacific island nation 1,000 miles off the coast of Australia. I&8217d never before left the North American continent. I find myself on a little wooden platform built off the side of the historic Kawarau suspension bridge, 143 feet above the swirling clear waters of the Kawarau River, just outside of Queenstown on New Zealand&8217s South Island. A large group of onlookers watches from a viewing platform below. My life is in the hands of the AJ Hackett Bungy crew, whose members are now wrapping a towel tightly around my ankles. As I steady myself on the platform and try to appear brave, I watch with interest as one fellow tries clumsily to thread the sling that&8217s attached to the end of the bungy chord through my shoelace. He turns inquisitively to his coworker and asks, &8220Hey mate, is this how we do this?&8221

New Zealand is not completely defined by the friendly and whimsical nature of its citizens (known as Kiwis), nor by the sensational nature of its homespun participatory sport creations. Adventures of a more cerebral and picturesque sort abound as the South Island of New Zealand is home to some of the world&8217s most stunning scenery. A strong national conservation ethic, a dearth of heavy industry, and sparse population density combine to frame the dramatic southern alps, mysterious lakes, lush rainforests and glacierfed rivers into one of nature&8217s more dramatic picture postcards. The beauty of it all is that, unlike Yellowstone National Park on Labor Day, one gets the feeling that one has the place to oneself.

The Milford Track is rightfully considered one of the world&8217s great walks (tramps, in Kiwi parlance). Lacking the worldwide name recognition of the Milford, however, proves a blessing for the neighboring Routeburn Track. A shorter hike than the Milford (three days instead of four), the Routeburn tends to be less heavily traveled, a feature especially evident at the overnight huts. There the Department of Conservation rewards the rigors of the day&8217s tramp by thoughtfully providing hot showers, drying rooms, bunkstyle sleeping accommodations, and kitchen facilities. No less dramatic a visual experience than the Milford by most accounts, the Routeburn features a steady dose of alpine scenery, skirts the mouths of plunging waterfalls, and traverses mountain lakes. I found the expanse of starry sky draping the surrounding peaks above the second night&8217s Falls Hut aweinspiring.

New Zealand&8217s wonders aren&8217t confined to those on land. Off the coast of Kaikoura, north of Christchurch, Dusky Dolphins congregate near shore in groups numbering from 75 to 300. Being social animals, they seem more than happy to interrupt their feeding to provide a boatload of wetsuitclad humans a chance for close aquatic encounters. When a group is sighted, the skipper positions the boat in the oncoming path and advises participants to take to the water. The sight of 200 leaping, pirouetting, twisting, plunging, splashing mammals bearing down upon me was an unforgettable one. Although we were asked not to touch the animals, they certainly drew close enough to hitch a ride. We learned we could capture the attention of these frisky underwater kittens by emitting erratic shrieks, whistles, and melodies. Our swim fins allowed us to remain momentarily competitive as we engaged the dolphins in the downward loop chase, the simple headtohead race, and an assortment of other aquagymnastic stunts. As the group of dolphins moved off en masse, I was left wondering just who entertained who.

New Zealand, privileged by its remoteness, is done justice by a minimum stay of two weeks. Those drawn to remote wilderness and exquisite scenery do not do themselves a disservice by spending all of their time on the South Island. Organized adventure tours, which vary widely in style and content, are an excellent way to experience this outdoororiented country efficiently and economically.
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