Biking trip to New Zealand in November!

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Mon October 15th, 2012, 1:51 pm

I'm a U.S. election widow every two years (hubby works on CBS election coverage-lots of late nights and weekends between conventions to election day.) This always conflicts with our anniversary (32 years this Thursday) so we plan a nice trip after the election to celebrate. We've worked on archaeological digs in Tuscany and repaired turtle habitat in Puerto Rico among other things. This year it's a New Zealand bike holiday on the southern island--glaciers, geysers and hobbits! Only half the trip will be biking (after my spill a week ago, I might be spending more time in the sag wagon than I had planned

) and the rest will be traveling around the north island by car.

Naturally we're doing a lot of research, but I thought I'd check and see if anyone had special recommendations on things to see and do and books to read. I've read The Whale Rider which I loved.

Thanks for recommendations!

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon October 15th, 2012, 7:56 pm

If you're specifically interested in cycling, the Otago Central Rail Trail might suit you. It's a converted historic railway line which traverses an area of particularly iconic southern New Zealand landscape and is well serviced for tourists. As related historical fiction, perhaps you'd like to try one of my favourites- Maxine Alterio's Ribbons of Grace, a story which covers Otago's gold rush period during the 19th century.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Tue October 16th, 2012, 3:48 pm

Thanks, annis!

parthianbow · Post by **parthianbow** » Tue October 16th, 2012, 7:42 pm

Lucky you, Faith - that sounds brilliant.

I worked on the South Island for 5 months in 2000. Loved it. A few recommendations: Kaikoura for one of the best places in the world to see sperm whales in the ocean. Stewart Island for great hiking and (unusual) day-active kiwis. A rugby match of any description will really help you to get under the NZers' skin - try to get to a Super 14* match if you can - in Christchurch (might not be on due to earthquake damage - Annis?) or in the 'House of Pain' - the Highlanders' home ground of Dunedin, or in Wellington. The penguin colony at Dunedin is also amazing! Wanaka, for the scenery, and the mad cinema!

Hiking tracks: Milford Sound: lovely, but v v touristy. Greenslade: really lovely. Abel Tasman ditto, with lovely beach walking. Dusky: hard core! The one near Fox Glacier is worth walking to just for the first 3 hours, because there are hot springs to bathe in.

*Super 14 - one of the premier rugby competitions in the world, held every year between teams from NZ, Australia and S. Africa.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Wed October 17th, 2012, 3:38 pm

Thanks, Ben! Great advice. Lucky you that you got to work in NZ for several months. Was that as a vet?

parthianbow · Post by **parthianbow** » Thu October 18th, 2012, 9:11 am

It sure was. I worked in Christchurch, but covering farms that went almost half way down to Dunedin. After I'd worked, I travelled around both islands in a little Mitsubishi Colt that I'd bought for NZ$500. Then flew to Oz, where I worked and travelled for about 5 months. I had one year work visas for both countries, but I came back to the UK after only 11 months in total because I thought that after the best part of 3 years backpacking, that I should get 'serious' and get a fulltime job, buy a house etc. However, it was the making of me, because although I did do those things, I also started writing within a couple of years of returning. I managed to chuck in the veterinary job in Dec. 2008 and I haven't looked back since. Thanks, NZ and Oz, for the part you played in that!

annis · Post by **annis** » Fri October 19th, 2012, 4:51 am

@ Ben: Summer here may mean rugby is out of season, though who knows- the cricket season and the rugby season seem to overlap more and more these days

Some things have changed since you were here - Christchurch is still pretty much stuffed following the Feb 2011 earthquake and the Cantabrians don't currently have a dedicated stadium for rugby but are making do. The House of Pain is no more either- Dunedin now has a fantastic new purpose-built roofed stadium - brilliant for playing in glacial southern temps.

@ Faith: Another possibility for you might be Hanmer Springs, which is a lovely resort area an hour or so's drive north of Christchurch. Wouldn't like to guess at cycling distances - haven't been on a bike in 30-odd years! Hanmer has great bike/hiking trails and even better, natural hot pools to relax in after you've crippled yourself

If you're going up north and have time, Northland is astonishingly beautiful with sweeping, pretty much untouched beaches. Long may it stay that way- it would be a tragedy to ever see it become condominiumised. Like the equally spectacular East Coast where Whale Rider was set (have you seen the movie?) it's also a very poor area, so there is a notable juxtaposition between stunning scenery and ramshackle settlements. Don't know if it is available in the US , but there is a moving little NZ film called The Strength of Water, which captures a powerful sense of Northland Maori culture - the poverty but also the strong spiritual connection with the natural world.