Amanda Williams
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Paihia ▷
Kings Hole in the Rock Cruise
We had bad weather for our cruise, but the Bay of Islands was still pretty, even under cloud cover.
We saw some dolphins, too. My only complaint was that it was difficult to hear the commentary.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Paihia ▷
Cape Reinga Day Tour
It's a long trip with a lot of driving, but I think it was worth it.
We had great weather for Cape Reinga. And zipping down Ninety Mile Beach in a tour bus was definitely a highlight.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Museum of New Zealand
One of my favorite museums in the world, for sure.
I love all the interactive features, the setup and design of the place, as well as the content. Te Papa is such a great representation of the Kiwi creative spirit. I spent hours in Te Papa, and still didn't see everything.
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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Taihape ▷
Mokai Gravity Canyon
The Flying Fox is fantastic fun - a great introduction to New Zealand's obsession with adrenaline for budding thrill-seekers.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Picton / Marlborough Sounds ▷
E-Ko Tours
Great tours, great informative staff, and great scenery.
We actually saw two pods of playful dolphins, along with plenty of other wildlife. The stopover at Ship Cove was a nice touch, as well.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Shotover Jet
Great, exhilarating fun.
And the supurb service doesn't hurt, either. This is the perfect activity for those wanting to find thrills in Queenstown without jumping off bridges or out of planes. I also loved the heated hand bars! Great on a chilly winter morning.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Skyline Luge Queenstown
Great, inexpensive fun for all ages.
Great views of Queenstown at the top, too!
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
AJ Hackett Bungy Kawarau Bridge
My first bungy jump, and a great experience.
I'll certainly never ever forget it.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Esplanade Surf School
This was my first time surfing, and I'm so glad I went through Esplanade Surf School in Dunedin.
The instruction was very relaxed, yet encouraging. And you just can't beat their prices. I think this small, independent operation could rival many professional ones.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Cadbury World
I went on a weekend, and so didn't get the full tour.
But our guide (an older fellow) was a lot of fun, and it was still neat to learn about Cadbury. I didn't realize Dunedin was so big in the chocolate industry! It deserves a 10, simply because I bought so much candy in the shop for such a great price!
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Waiotapu ▷
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
I didn't know what to expect going in, and absolutely loved it.
It's amazing to think all of this happens naturally - that the earth we walk on is so volatile underneath our feet. The colors of some of the pools were astounding, making up for the strong smell of the place. Champagne Pool is so cool, and the Devil's Pool was a neat surprise.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Swoop
The staff we had for the Swoop was so much fun!
The guys joked around with us, and one even took photos on my camera, which turned out awesome. A friend and I did this together, and it was great fun - a definite adrenaline rush!
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
ZORB Rotorua
Possibly the silliest thing I've ever done, but also one of my favorite NZ memories.
It's so random, and yet so amazingly fun! I could not stop laughing the whole time. I'd definitely add this to the "must do" list in NZ, and that applies to ALL ages!
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
AJ Hackett Taupo
This was my second NZ bungy jump, and I loved it possibly more this second time around!
The crew was friendly, the photos are DVD came out great, and the view out over the Waikato river on a sunny morning only added to the experience. I'd definitely recommend it.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Wellington Zoo
A wonderful zoo, especially for one in a good-sized city.
They have a great variety of animals, beautiful large enclosures, and great vantage points over the city. The cheeky "don't feed the animals" signs were also a plus. And, of course, there are kiwi birds! A must-see for non-New Zealanders.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Warkworth ▷
Pakiri Beach Horse Rides
The drive from Auckland to Pakiri in itself was fun, and Pakiri Beach Stables did not disappoint.
It's been a dream of mine to go horseback riding on a beach, and the white-sand beaches in Pakiri under a clear morning sky were quite stunning. Our guides were friendly, and the dogs were adorable. Nice horses, too. ;^)
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Glenorchy Air
I took a scenic flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown with Glenorchy Air, and it's probably one of my favorite, most memorable experiences from New Zealand.
We had absolutely perfect weather in October, and the mountains and lakes of the Southern Alps could not have been any more breathtaking. Even my photos are flawless. We were well taken care of, and even offered a great price, which was a big plus! Though the experience - excuse the cliche - was priceless.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga ▷
Cave Cruzer Boat Tours
Definitely a great experience!
Cave Cruzer Adventures are different than similar tours in the area. Not only do you get to see all the usual sites - Cathedral Cove, Shakespeare's Cliff, and various other rock formations - but you get to do it in a small, inflatable boat that makes every wave that much more exciting. It also allows you to get up close and personal with many of the sites. On the way back to port after your adventure, you stop in a bay and try your hand at playing the conch shell and a didgeridoo! Tons of fun, and well-worth the price.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Red Carpet Tours
I'll basically just re-iterate everything everyone has already said - RCT is THE best experience in New Zealand, even more so if you are a "Lord of the Rings" fan.
Vic and Raewyn seem to be superhuman, but yet so friendly that you automatically feel like part of the family. They are really the ones who deserve all the credit. Red Carpet Tours hold a very special place in my heart, and, if I could afford it, I would go back again and again. Everything from the accommodation to the side trips to even the surprises along the way are handled brilliantly. When you embark on a Red Carpet Tour, you can rest assured that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the incredible ride. And Red Carpet tourists are some of the most diverse, fun people I have ever met. You become like family on a Red Carpet Tour, and nothing is too crazy or too silly. I can't wait for my return journey!
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Agroventures
I didn't go to the Agrodome, so can't comment on that.
But I did the Swoop swing at Agroadventures, and it was tons of fun! Perhaps even scarier than bungy jumping! And a great price, too, I thought.
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
Walking out to the seal colony and along the cliffs on the peninsula was great - we even got up close to a few lazy seals.
On a clear day, Kaikoura is absolutely stunning, and the walk allows for some great views.