It took us two pro and con lists, spending guesstimations, a guidebook, and travel blog perusing, but we finally decided on what country we’re going to visit next.
Drumroll please…
NEW ZEALAND!
Beautiful, gorgeous, stunning New Zealand!
It’s official, folks. Tickets are booked and I’m jumping off the walls ecstatic. It can’t come fast enough.
Since we don’t have oodles of times, we’re planning on just staying on the South Island with a day foray into Auckland before we fly out from there. Tom studied in Christchurch when he was in college and so he is psyched to take me to all his favorite old haunts. Planning where to go and what to do on a trip is part of the fun so I told him he can’t decide everything. I’ve already claimed the planning of Marlborough wine country. No one comes between my wine and me!
However, we’re not going to be planning out the trip too much. We’re going to rent a car and we want to be explorers. If something strikes our fancy or we meet up with some other people who invite us to do something fun, we want to be able to easily switch our schedule up. We’re also planning on staying in hostels, which we’ve never done as a couple before, so that should be an experience. We may even brave the 10+ person dorms for a few nights. Apparently,turning 30 makes you yearn for your 20-year-old backpacker days since typically as of late I refuse to stay anywhere without my own bathroom. Unless I’m camping or trekking – in which case Tom must accompany me to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Hmm, wonder if I can convince him to do that while we’re in hostels. He can watch out for ghosts. (New Zealand just seems like a place to me that would have a lot of ghosts roaming around. I mean, it’s supposed to be so impossibly gorgeous, why would old souls ever want to leave?)
So, ghosts aside, though we’re not planning too much, I still want to know – What gems of the South Island of New Zealand can’t we miss? Any great restaurants, bars, hostels, or hikes we must check out?
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I'm a travel marketer and travel writer. My husband, Tom, is getting his MBA and never stops studying. We have two cats. We have a mortgage. We have a passion for traveling. We have limited vacation time and funds.
Our friends and family wonder how we travel so much.
Here's how I balance it all and maximize travel time and getting the most out of a destination when time is short.
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I am so jealous! I have wanted to go to New Zealand for ages. Looking forward to reading about your adventures.
Spencer recently posted..5 of the Best Hotels Near Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Thanks! I’ve also had it in my dreams for a long time and still can hardly believe it’s really happening.
Excellent choice…out of the 40+ countries I have traveled to, New Zealand is at the top!
South Island was also my fave. Definitely get a Fergburger in Queenstown. Glacier Hike in Franz Josef/Fox Glacier. Milford Sound is beautiful as well. Oh and wine country was fabulous. The wineries I went to were not crowded at all (and a winery not crowded in California can often times be hard to fine).
This entire post makes me want to go back.
CeCe recently posted..Destination Uncovered: Chuandixia & Lingshui // China
Thanks for the tips CeCe! That’s great to hear about the wineries. I’m really looking forward to that part of the trip.
Completely understand about the solo bathroom thing! I used to be all about hostels, but the older I get the more I’m okay with shelling out a few extra dollars for a hotel room;-) Have a fabulous trip!
Jess @UsedYorkCity recently posted..Yasuda: Sushi Supremacy–Service Not Included
Yup, own bathroom is a luxury I’m definitely willing to pay more for most of the time. We’ll see how using a shared bathroom goes.
how fun and exciting!
suki recently posted..Wine and Love #51
I spent a month in New Zealand earlier this year, and it’s pretty simple.
BEST. COUNTRY. EVER.
The people are so amazing and down-to-earth, and the landscapes are other-worldly.
Despite having a travel to-do list a million miles long, My whole focus right now is going back to New Zealand.
Great choice- I promise you you won’t be disappointed
Erik recently posted..Photo of the Day- Old Post Office Tower, Washington, D.C.
Awesome Erik! Reading your comment just got me even more excited to go – and I’m already pretty amped up about it!
Queenstown is unbelievable. Breathtaking views + all the actions sports you can imagine. When I first saw it the thought “This would be a perfect setting for a Wedding” came to mind. A second honeymoon perhaps?
Won’t say too much. You’ll see for yourself.
Loz in Transit recently posted..Home Reading: ‘Out-of-body Experience’ (Astral Travel) and ‘What a Coincidence!’ (Synchronicity)
Sounds amazing. Can’t wait to see it!
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