Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: An Introduction To Possum Punting]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/21/vagabond-tales-an-introduction-to-possum-punting/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/21/vagabond-tales-an-introduction-to-possum-punting/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/21/vagabond-tales-an-introduction-to-possum-punting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



If you want to anger a New Zealand local ask them if their accent is from somewhere in Australia. While this is sure to elicit a stern yet polite correction, if you REALLY want to enrage a New Zealand local ask them what they think about possums. Strangely enough, the two annoyances are intertwined as New Zealand actually places the blame for the possums firmly on Australia.

Why? Because the non-native possums are Australian, not Kiwi, and many New Zealanders would simply prefer to see them exist solely in the country from whence they came.

Officially known as the Australian Brushtail Possum, the noxious pest was introduced to New Zealand in 1837 in an effort to kick-start the fur industry. All this managed to do, however, was allow the possums to populate with reckless abandon and quickly spread to over 95 percent of the country. Whereas in Australia the possum has a litany of natural predators to keep their numbers in check, New Zealand lacks any form of land predator to naturally stem the flow of hyper-population. Flower gardens, native birds and farmers' crops have never been the same ever since.

Even the cows in New Zealand are at odds with the possums, thanks to the possum's innate ability to spread bovine tuberculosis and cripple New Zealand's lucrative dairy industry.

So how much do the Kiwis actually hate the possums? Enough that a local school recently held a possum-throwing contest, which unsurprisingly sparked outrage amongst the nation's animal rights activists. Shooting possums is a right of passage for children growing up in rural New Zealand, and I've personally witnessed drivers swerve cars towards possums in an effort to strike them as they attempt to cross a road.

I simply cannot make this statement in any plainer terms: people in New Zealand simply hate the possums.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: An Introduction To Possum Punting

Vagabond Tales: An Introduction To Possum Punting originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Abel Tasman National ParkAbelTasmanNationalParkcamping in Abel Tasman National ParkCampingInAbelTasmanNationalParkMosquito Bay Able TasmanMosquitoBayAbleTasmanNew Zealand possumsNewZealandPossumspossum puntingPossumPuntingpossumspossums as pestpossums in Australiapossums in New ZealandPossumsAsPestPossumsInAustraliaPossumsInNewZealandsea kayak Abel TasmanSeaKayakAbelTasmanvagabondtalesMon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/14/museum-month-jeath-war-museum-kanchanaburi-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

bridge on river kwaiHistory has never been my favorite subject, but once I began traveling in earnest, I discovered something. If I visited a destination, I usually became obsessed with its history or indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this in time to save the downward trajectory of my GPA when I was a student, but it's made me sound infinitely more worldly in daily life.

I found the JEATH War Museum in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, purely by accident. Anything historical pertaining to war is a subject I normally avoid - I'm a girl like that - with the exception of the "Platoon" soundtrack. Thus, the most I knew about "The Bridge on the River Kwai," which is located in Kanchanaburi, is how to whistle the tune. The town and bridge are actually located at the confluence of the Rivers Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, at the headwaters of the Maeklong (Mekong).

I ended up there because I had a few days to kill prior to flying home, and it's less than a two-hour bus ride west of Bangkok. Kanchanaburi sounded peaceful, and is a popular getaway for backpackers and Thai urbanites. The main activities are dining in the many "floating restaurants" on the river, taking cooking classes, hiking in beautiful Erawan National Park and sightseeing (more on that after the jump).

I ended up meeting two fun Australian girls at my riverfront guesthouse, and we proceeded to spend the next three days together. On our first afternoon, I asked them how they'd ended up in Kanchanaburi, and they told me they were there to visit the JEATH War Museum and pay tribute. I looked at them blankly.

"The what?" I asked. They looked at me with pity, thinking, like millions of Aussies before them, that the American educational system is an abysmal failure (no argument there).

"The Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, Holland War Museum," one of the girls said patiently. "Y'know, it's dedicated to the thousands of Allied POWs who died while constructing the Bridge and Death Railway from 1942 to 1943."

Cue crickets chirping.

Continue reading Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Museum Month: JEATH War Museum, Kanchanaburi, Thailand originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokBreakingNewsbridge on river kwaiBridgeOnRiverKwaibridgestonedeath railwayDeathRailwayerawan fallsErawan National ParkErawanFallsErawanNationalParkfamous bridgesFamousBridgesfloating restaurantsFloatingRestaurantsforced laborForcedLaborgenocide memorialsGenocideMemorialshellfire passHellfirePassimperial japanese armyImperialJapaneseArmyKanchanaburimaemomegan foxMeganFoxmilitary museumsMilitaryMuseumsMuseumMonthPOWPresident2008prison musemsPrisonMusemsps3river kwaiRiverKwaithai burma railwaythai cooking classesthai riversThaiBurmaRailwayThaiCookingClassesThaiRiverswar machinewar museumsWarMachineWarMuseumsworld war twoWorldWarTwoWWIIWWII museumsWwiiMuseumsMon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: 'No Kitchen Required' In New Zealand, 'When Maori Attack']]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/10/video-no-kitchen-required-in-new-zealand-when-maori-attack/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/10/video-no-kitchen-required-in-new-zealand-when-maori-attack/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/10/video-no-kitchen-required-in-new-zealand-when-maori-attack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Here at Gadling, we've been keeping tabs on the new BBC America reality show "No Kitchen Required," which is taking cooking competitions to new highs (and lows). Battling for fame and glory are award-winning chef Michael Psilakis of New York's Fish Tag and Kefi; private executive chef Kayne Raymond; and former "Chopped" champ Madison Cowan.

The chefs hunt and gather ingredients to prepare regional cuisine in various locations, including Dominica, Belize, Fiji, Thailand, South Africa, Hawaii, New Mexico and Louisiana. The show is a cross between "Survivor" and "Top Chef," with a dash of over-the-top, Bear Grylls-style drama thrown in, but it's all in good fun and provides a fascinating cultural and culinary tour of little known destinations and cuisines.

Here, we have a teaser clip from New Zealand that features the chefs watching a haka, or traditional Maori warrior dance, prior to having the local community judge their respective meals. Here's hoping they didn't give anyone food poisoning.

Video: 'No Kitchen Required' In New Zealand, 'When Maori Attack' originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bear grylsBearGrylscelebritycooking classescooking competitioncooking showsCookingClassesCookingCompetitionCookingShowscuilnary tourismCuilnaryTourismcultural tourismcultural travelCulturalTourismCulturalTravelforaginghakahangiHawaiiihunting and gatheringHuntingAndGatheringindigenous foodsindigenous peopleIndigenousFoodsIndigenousPeoplelocal foodsLocalFoodslocavoresLouisianamao zedongmaoriMaoZedongNew MexicoNew Ze foodNewMexicoNewZeFoodnokiareality showsRealityShowsregional foodsRegionalFoodssurvivorTue, 10 Apr 2012 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Air New Zealand launches in-flight putting competition]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/23/air-new-zealand-launches-in-flight-putting-competition/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/23/air-new-zealand-launches-in-flight-putting-competition/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/23/air-new-zealand-launches-in-flight-putting-competition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



You might be able to sink a putt at your local muni course, but can you do it from 30,000 feet?

In a recent release by the New Zealand Herald passengers aboard the A320 airliner traveling between Auckland and Queenstown will have a chance to compete in an in-flight putting competition from the relative safety of cruising altitude. Part of a marketing arrangement to celebrate the airline's sponsorship of the New Zealand PGA pro-am, the airline has lauded the contest as a world first for in-flight entertainment.

In order to take part in the contest and to be eligible for prizes (which include, amongst other things, flights and accommodation to the final round of the event and a new set of Callaway RAZR clubs), putters must fill out an entry form in the departure lounge and be randomly selected by Air New Zealand flight staff.

Winners of the contest will be notified by March 27. In the meantime, check out the leaderboard to see who has skillfully sunk the longest putt and perfectly played the lie of the high altitude turbulence.

Air New Zealand launches in-flight putting competition originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Air New ZealandAirNewZealandcrazy contestsCrazyContestsgolfing on airplanesGolfingOnAirplanesin-flight puttingIn-flightPuttingNew Zealand golfNew Zealand golf contestNewZealandGolfNewZealandGolfContestFri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to sell a campervan in New Zealand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/21/how-to-sell-a-campervan-in-new-zealand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/21/how-to-sell-a-campervan-in-new-zealand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/21/how-to-sell-a-campervan-in-new-zealand/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A campervan in New Zealand

As I hope I've exhibited in penning the series "Freedom to Roam," there are few better travel experiences than touring New Zealand by campervan. Trekking through the Southern Alps, exploring hidden wine regions, sampling freshly caught seafood, basking on lazy beaches -- all are accessible by simply putting four wheels beneath your feet and hitting the open road.

That being said, all of that goes out the window once it comes time to sell the van. For all the monuments of relaxation, which lay scattered about the country, selling a van in New Zealand can be the most ulcer-inducing, stress-provoking, miserable existence that can surely be the worst part of your trip. It's the price to pay for the economic gamble, and unlike most fairy tales, it doesn't always have a happy ending.

As I discussed in the initial entry to the series, "New Zealand by campervan," travelers can save heaps of money on long-term New Zealand travel by opting to buy and sell a van versus renting one and eating the cost. Potential risks of this option, however, involve buying a van that needs immediate maintenance or, worse yet, the chance that you aren't able to sell the van before you leave the country.

So after 7,000 kilometers, in which the van transported me from glaciers to rodeos and Murderer's Bay to Mordor, here's a look into how the gamble worked out as well as some tips for recreating the adventure.

Continue reading How to sell a campervan in New Zealand

How to sell a campervan in New Zealand originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auckland Backpacker Car MarketAucklandBackpackerCarMarketbudget-travelcampervans+for+salecampervansforsaleFreedomtoroamGumtree Backpacker ForumGumtreeBackpackerForumsell a campervan in New Zealandsell a van in New ZealandSellACampervanInNewZealandSellAVanInNewZealandselling+a+car+in+new+zealandsellingacarinnewzealandWed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/13/10-best-places-to-live-for-avoiding-world-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New ZealandExpatify.com asked the question, "Where would you be the safest if World War III broke out tomorrow?" The answers arrived in a post titled "10 Best Places to Live for Avoiding World Conflict." Irrelevant as it may seem to you, the claws of conflict affect a revolving roster of nations. The knowledge of where not to go because of conflict, or better yet, where to go to avoid it, can be useful if you're planning to live, or even just spend some time, abroad. According to this article, countries that make the safety cut are: Switzerland, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Seychelles, Finland, Tuvalu, Iceland, Bhutan, and New Zealand. Most of these choices make sense to me, based on what I know, but the undeniably gorgeous Seychelles seems like a somewhat uncertain choice. News stories covering the Somali pirates swarming the Seychelles area are prevalent. To be fair, I'm not convinced Somali pirates are a current threat for World War III. What are your thoughts? Where would you move in order to be as far removed from world conflict as possible?

Continue reading 10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict

10 best places to live for avoiding world conflict originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 best places to live to avoid world conflict10 safest countries10 safest destinations10 safest nations10 safest places10 safest places to live10 safest places to visit10BestPlacesToLiveToAvoidWorldConflict10SafestCountries10SafestDestinations10SafestNations10SafestPlaces10SafestPlacesToLive10SafestPlacesToVisitbhutancanadacosta ricaCostaRicafinlandicelandnew zealandNewZealandpapua new guineaPapuaNewGuineaseychellesswitzerlandtuvaluworld conflictWorldConflictTue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guide to the ultimate "man day" on New Zealand's Coromandel peninsula]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/01/guide-to-the-ultimate-man-day-on-new-zealands-coromandel-peni/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/01/guide-to-the-ultimate-man-day-on-new-zealands-coromandel-peni/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/01/guide-to-the-ultimate-man-day-on-new-zealands-coromandel-peni/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,




Caution: In this article the author makes wildly general, mildly controversial, and borderline sexist remarks, none of which are meant to be offensive. Any abrasive remarks can be attributed to an obscene adrenaline rush derived from an extended period of time in the great outdoors. And maybe the feijoa juice.
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Don't get me wrong, the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand is a place that can be enjoyed equally by both sexes. Clear ocean waters rife with marine life, dense jungles dotted with waterfalls and swimming holes, rural towns with country stores set beside single lane roads; these are qualities of the Coromandel which can be appreciated by men and women alike.

Nonetheless, in scouring the Coromandel from the confines of the campervan, there are elements of the sparsely populated peninsula which speak to the curious, nearly-Neanderthalic urges of adventurous young males. Climbing mountains, digging big holes, these are things we enjoy. Throw in a little local alcohol just for fun, and the Coromandel can make a case for one of the world's best outdoor playgrounds.

Planning on visiting the area? Here's a three-step itinerary for piecing together a "man-day" on New Zealand's Coromandel peninsula.

Continue reading Guide to the ultimate "man day" on New Zealand's Coromandel peninsula

Guide to the ultimate "man day" on New Zealand's Coromandel peninsula originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Backpack New ZealandBackpackNewZealandBest of New ZealandBestOfNewZealandCoromandel New ZealandCoromandelNewZealandfeijoa fruitfeijoa liquorFeijoaFruitFeijoaLiquorfreedomtoroamHike CoromandelHikeCoromandelHot Water BeachHotWaterBeachNew Zealand by campervanNewZealandByCampervanPinnacles TrackPinnaclesTrackPurangi WineryPurangiWinerytravel New ZealandTravelNewZealandTrek New ZealandTrekNewZealandThu, 01 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand's paradise island]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/20/the-two-worlds-of-waiheke-new-zealands-paradise-island/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/20/the-two-worlds-of-waiheke-new-zealands-paradise-island/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/20/the-two-worlds-of-waiheke-new-zealands-paradise-island/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,




Sipping a succulent syrah inside of the beachfront tasting room at Man O' War winery, a quick glance of the room is all it takes to confirm I'm out of my element.

To my left, a middle-aged man sporting crocodile shoes and hair of a dubious authenticity casually flashes a credit card for $500 of the vineyard's finest vintage. To my right, a suntanned yachtie with a bushy white mustache gesticulates to an acquaintance about the strength of the new varnish recently applied to his helm station.

Then, sandwiched between the two socialites, is me, a wandering travel writer who temporarily lives in a van which was shipped to the island on a 45-minute ferry. Meekly performing a free wine tasting just trying to learn a little about Waiheke wines, the contrast is pretty black and white.

Luckily for all parties involved, however, Waiheke Island is more multi-dimensional than simply being a playground for the uber-rich. Sure, there are expensive rave-parties at vineyards, hidden beachfront mansions, and trendy, high-priced boutiques lining the island's main thoroughfare, but there is an entire other side to Waiheke which can't be invested in, can't be corrupted, and definitely can't be bought.

I am here to explore that side of Waiheke.

Continue reading The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand's paradise island

The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand's paradise island originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freedomtoroamkinaMan O War wineryManOWarWineryNew Zealand by campervanNew Zealand kina divingNewZealandByCampervanNewZealandKinaDivingte Wahu wineryTeWahuWinerytravel New ZealandTravelNewZealandWaiheke ferryWaiheke IslandWaiheke Island wineriesWaiheke mansionswaiheke+syrahWaihekeFerryWaihekeIslandWaihekeIslandWineriesWaihekeMansionswaihekesyrahWild on WaihekeWildOnWaihekeMon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



There aren't many places where you feel the urge to wear your wedding ring around your neck and begin dodging fictional forces of evil.

New Zealand's Tongariro National Park, however, is exactly one of those places.

As anyone who has been to a movie theater in the last ten years probably knows, New Zealand was the setting for the epically popular Lord of the Rings trilogy which introduced us to the adventures of Middle Earth.

Arguably one of the best known movie series of an entire generation, the movie saga has simultaneously done wonders for the New Zealand tourism economy by displaying the country's enchanting and other worldly scenery to a global audience of millions. While Middle Earth tourism has sculpted out its own niche for diehard fans (my 2012 New Zealand road atlas, for example, points out where each scene was filmed), as a casual viewer there are only a few place names I actually recognize.

One of these, of course, is Mt. Doom, and as I set out from the campervan into the volcanic cinder of the Tongariro Crossing-one of New Zealand's most heavily trafficked walks-I found myself standing directly beneath it.

So what exactly is Mt. Doom?

Well, to begin, its real name is Mt. Ngauruhoe, it is 7,516 ft. high, and from the best I could tell there aren't any quivering, flaming black eyes located anywhere near it. While Mt. Ngauruhoe doubled as Mt. Doom, the surrounding bits of Tongariro National Park provided the scenery for Mordor, the fiery and terrifying volcanic wasteland that serves as the home of evil.

As it happens, Tongariro is actually pretty cold, even during the summer months. Lacing up my hiking boots at 6am with about 100 other trekkers, the morning dew had frozen and blanketed the campervan beneath a thin layer of frost.

"Weird", I thought. "There's not supposed to be snow in Mordor."

Continue reading Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park

Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best hikes in New ZealandBestHikesInNewZealandChateau TongariroChateauTongariroFreedomtoroamHike the Tongariro Crossinghike+to+mordorHikeTheTongariroCrossinghiketomordorNew Zealand Lord of the Rings TourismNew Zealand travelNewZealandLordOfTheRingsTourismNewZealandTravelTongariro Nationaal Parktongariro+national+parktongariro+national+park++mordor!+a+rugged,+volcanic+laTongariroNationaalParktongarironationalparktongarironationalparkmordor!arugged,volcaniclawhere is MordorWhereIsMordorFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Though Captain James Cook was the first European to set foot on the islands of New Zealand in 1769, he was not the first European to "discover it". That honor would belong to Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who sailed past the country while navigating the Southern Ocean for the Dutch east India Company in 1642.

Blown off course by a strong easterly wind, Abel Tasman first sighted the northwest reaches of the South Island of New Zealand and thought he may have stumbled upon the bottom part of Argentina. Confused but intrigued, Tasman decided to make the most of the discovery and arranged an expedition party to be sent ashore to gather fresh water.

Unfortunately, the expedition was met by a band of native Maori people curious of the tall ships which had suddenly appeared off their coast, and after a hostile skirmish which historians have attributed to multiple cultural misunderstandings, Tasman sailed from the area with four fewer men than he had arrived with. As a result of the incident, Tasman saw it fitting to label the area as "Murderer's Bay".

360 years later, I ruminated on this violent turn of events while stand-up paddling above a gray stingray languishing in the tidal shallows of Murderer's Bay.

On a brilliantly sunny and calm morning in which it was possible to stare straight through the turquoise waters, I found myself paddling in nearly the exact same spot where Tasman's men had met their fate so many centuries ago. No longer referred to as Murderer's Bay, with the discovery of gold in the region in the 1850's it was prosperously renamed Golden Bay, and the name has stuck ever since.

Located in the sunniest region of New Zealand, Golden Bay is still somewhat of a secret when compared to neighboring Abel Tasman National Park. Although the Tata Islands--rocks that sit just offshore of Golden Bay and are covered in fur seals--are technically still part of Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay offers the same South Pacific setting as it's crowded counterpart, yet for some reason there is hardly anybody here.

Except, of course, for me and the stingrays.

Gallery: Welcome to Golden Bay, New Zealand

Kayking the empty beaches of Golden Bay; All photos by Heather EllisonWIndsurfers with a plan for all tidesA colony of black oystercatchers relaxes on the sandspitStandup paddling the empty spits of Golden Bay

Continue reading Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay

Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abel+tasmanabeltasmanbest of New ZealandBestOfNewZealandcampervan+nzcampervannzFarewell Spit toursFarewellSpitToursfreedomtoroamGolden BayGoldenBayNew Zealand campervan travelNew Zealand travelnew+zealand+mapNewZealandCampervanTravelnewzealandmapNewZealandTravelPaddle Abel Tasman National ParkPaddleAbelTasmanNationalParkstand up paddle Golden BayStandUpPaddleGoldenBaystingraySurf Wharariki BeachSurfWhararikiBeachTata IslandsTataIslandstravel New Zealand south islandTravelNewZealandSouthIslandundiscovered New ZealandUndiscoveredNewZealandWharariki BeachWhararikiBeachzealandFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



"The chowder isn't the type you have back in the States" I am warned.

The brunette woman working the oceanfront seafood cart has detected my accent and is concerned I won't like her steaming bowl of mollusks.

"There isn't much cream, just freshly made broth mixed with massive chunks of crayfish and mussels."

Facing the kelp strewn waters of the Kaikoura Peninsula, a popular hamlet on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, this is exactly what I was hoping for: Massive chunks of crayfish and mussels. After all, it's only appropriate for a place whose name literally translates to "meal of crayfish".

Regardless, eating anything else in Kaikoura would just feel wrong, because Kaikoura is not a processed, pre-packaged type of town. It's a place where the smell of sea salt wafts on the breeze and surfers recount that morning's early dawn session. Storefronts advertise seal swimming, whale watching, and guided eco-walks, while local scuba shops display the current water temperature and visibility on outdoor chalkboards adorned in smiling blue dolphins.

This, I realize, is what separates Kaikoura from all of the other adventure destinations and photo opportunities which lay scattered around the South Island of New Zealand. Kaikoura is different from the gorges of Franz Josef glacier or walks such as the Routeburn Track in that it has been a long time since I have traveled through a place that refreshingly feels so alive.

Sure, there are pubs with drink specials and tacky New Zealand souvenir stores like any other tourist haunt in the world, but in Kaikoura there seems to be an intrinsic harmony the town has with nature that gives it an energy not felt in other parts of the country.

Nowhere is this more apparent than ambling over limpet covered rocks beneath the peninsula walkway on Kean Point. Aside from the sandy strands of kelp which give the walk a malodorous yet authentic aroma, the shoreline teems with nesting red billed seagulls and dozens of southern fur seals lounging contentedly on the warm rocks.

Gallery: Kaikoura is alive

Shearwaters rest on a tidal plateau; All photos by Heather EllisonGet off my rockThe early morning beauty of the seaside KaikourasThe Kaikoura Peninsula spread out to the seaA local Kaikoura surfer enjoys an early morning line

Continue reading Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood

Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"The Franz Josef Glacier is so singularly beautiful, so beautiful indeed, and centered amongst such vivid, exceptional, and picturesque surroundings that if it were situated in any other country than New Zealand it would have long ago been acclaimed 'The Most Beautiful Thing in the World'"

-E.E. Muir (1929)

Don't look now, but in New Zealand there are currently two icy tongues lapping their way through the jungle.

While we have previously reported on the unique experience of taking crampons and ice axe to New Zealand's Fox Glacier, I'm here to illuminate the other shifting sea of ice that's currently licking the forests of Aotearoa's soggy West Coast.

At 7.5 miles long, Franz Josef Glacier--named in 1865 after the emperor of Austria-Hungary during a time when naming glaciers after nobility was apparently the thing to do--is perhaps one of the world's most scenic crumbling blue spectacles.

While I've witnessed glaciers calving into the sea in Alaska and watched the sun rise over them in Nepal, what makes Franz Josef so unique is the ability to stand in front of a massive sea of ice whilst entrenched in a setting that is literally temperate rainforest.

At Fox and Franz the flora doesn't consist of sub-alpine scrub brush or tundra, but rather, it consists of dense green ferns. The waterfalls that streak down the walls of the vertical canyons are raging in strength due to the 7000mm (273 inches) of rainfall the west coast of New Zealand annually receives, a sum that bests many parts of the Amazon rainforest. On various summer days it's possible to be standing in front of Franz Josef glacier in nothing but shorts and t-shirt, a wardrobe better suited to watching the sunset on the beach that lies just 10 miles to the west.

So why are there glaciers tumbling their way through the jungle in the first place?

Continue reading Franz Josef glacier: Big icy tongue of the rainforest

Franz Josef glacier: Big icy tongue of the rainforest originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fox vs. Franz Josef glacierFoxVs.FranzJosefGlacierFranz Josef glacierfranz+josef+ticketsFranzJosefGlacierfranzjosefticketsfreedomtoroamglaciersglaciers in the rainforestGlaciersInTheRainforestNew Zealand glacier trekkingNew Zealand glaciersNewZealandGlaciersNewZealandGlacierTrekkingtrek Franz Josef glacierTrekFranzJosefGlacierwhat is the best New Zealand glacierwhat+is+franz+josefwhatisfranzjosefWhatIsTheBestNewZealandGlacierWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The best walk in the world? Tackling New Zealand's Routeburn Track]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/the-best-walk-in-the-world-tackling-new-zealands-routeburn-tra/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/the-best-walk-in-the-world-tackling-new-zealands-routeburn-tra/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/the-best-walk-in-the-world-tackling-new-zealands-routeburn-tra/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



"I keep wondering whether I really like tramping...the cold and the loneliness and the fear--do they outweigh the magnificence, the terrible impersonal glory of the mountains?"

-Charles Brusch, Poet-

14 miles is too far to walk when you're on vacation. And in the mountains. And carrying a pack. And with your wife, who, to be fair, is a trooper.

14 miles in a day is brutal, but to turn around the next day and repeat the same thing is just stupid.

This, however, was the only way I was going to hike New Zealand's ultra-popular Routeburn Track. This past year Lonely Planet listed the Routeburn Track as one of it's top ten treks in the world, and the heavily trodden track has seen it's annual numbers climb to over 13,000 walkers per year.

A sub-alpine pass which links the lush Hollyford Valley with Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu, the Routeburn track was historically used as a trading route for native Maori moving precious pounamu--greenstone--from the quarries of Martin's Bay to villages further inland. By the 1870's European prospectors realized the strategic importance of the Routeburn Track as a way of crossing the Southern Alps en route to Fiordland, and the steady stream of visitors was on.

Now, as one of New Zealand's 9 "Great Walks", the greenstone traders and early explorers have been replaced by Gore-Tex covered tourists carrying carbon fiber walking poles.

Nonetheless, like many uber-popular trails the world over, the Department of Conservation limits the number of people who can through-hike the 20-mile route by only providing 50 beds in each of the 4 backcountry huts scattered along the trail. During the summer months, the no-frills huts (mattresses and gas stoves are provided) run a pricey $40 US per person/night and reservations are absolutely crucial.

How crucial you may ask? Well, the Milford Track just down the road is already booked for the entire year, and the next available beds on the Routeburn Track weren't for another month.

"Except", chimed the ranger at the National Park office, "for a two-bed opening on Sunday which just opened up. I suggest you take it."

Gallery: The beauty of New Zealand's Routeburn Track

Lake Mackenzie as viewed from the trail574 ft. Erland FallsHarris Saddle shelter--A welcome respite for weary hikersKea, the world's only alpine parrotA hiker takes a moment to enjoy the surroundings

Continue reading The best walk in the world? Tackling New Zealand's Routeburn Track

The best walk in the world? Tackling New Zealand's Routeburn Track originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best hikes in the worldbest walk in the worldBestHikesInTheWorldBestWalkInTheWorldfiordland new zealandFiordlandNewZealandFreedomtoroamhiking in New ZealandHikingInNewZealandhistory of the Routeburn trackHistoryOfTheRouteburnTrackNew Zealand by campervanNew Zealand travelNew Zealands ebst hikesNewZealandByCampervanNewZealandsEbstHikesNewZealandTravelRouteburn trackRouteburnTracktrek New ZealandTrekNewZealandThu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Growing on the edge: Wine tasting in the southernmost wine region of the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/growing-on-the-edge-wine-tasting-in-the-southernmost-wine-regio/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/growing-on-the-edge-wine-tasting-in-the-southernmost-wine-regio/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/16/growing-on-the-edge-wine-tasting-in-the-southernmost-wine-regio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



On a morning in which I had no intention of drinking alcohol (yes, morning) I somehow found myself having a glass of what has officially been called the best wine in the entire world.

This is what happens when you take road trips, you stumble upon things. In this particular instance I happened to stumble upon a region I originally had little intention of exploring, only to find out it's one of the most notable up and coming wine regions according to those in the know.

At 45°S latitude, the Central Otago region of New Zealand is officially the southernmost wine region on planet Earth, geographically besting out the wine regions of Chile by a fairly healthy 8 degree margin. The only reason I happened to drive through Central Otago is because of a free campsite located by a nearby river, but after walking through the front door of Aurum Winery at a liver-shaking 10am, an unplanned afternoon of viticulture was suddenly thrust upon me.

Lucie, a French woman with a charming French/Kiwi command of the English accent and the principal winemaker for Aurum, informed me that although Otago receives a healthy dose of winter, during the colder months the grapes are still sleeping and won't freeze until temperatures of -20°C (-4°F). Seeing as Otago will only reach around -10°C (14°F) during the winter, the grapes are able to continue their growth before budding sometime during the spring.

Frost, Lucie admits, is definitely a problem once the grapes have formed, and wineries in the Central Otago region employ frost-fighting wind machines to project warm air layers onto to the fragile crop. Seeing as Aurum was voted as the best winery in New Zealand by the Corporate Events Guide for the past 2 years running, an award that Lucie admits is a bit like David versus Goliath (Aurum only puts out a modest 4000 cases/year), it's apparent they have a handle on what they're doing down here in Otago.

Gallery: Wine tasting Central Otago New Zealand

Alpine flatbread and chardonnay at the Gibston Valley cheeseryRieslings growing in the New Zealand sunVineyards of Central OtagoBBQ barrel at Wild Earth wineryFresh olive oil at Aurum

Continue reading Growing on the edge: Wine tasting in the southernmost wine region of the world

Growing on the edge: Wine tasting in the southernmost wine region of the world originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aurum winery New ZealandAurumWineryNewZealandbest wines of New ZealandBestWinesOfNewZealandCentral Otago New ZealandCentral Otago pinot noirCentral Otago wine tastingCentralOtagoNewZealandCentralOtagoPinotNoirCentralOtagoWineTastingFreedomtoroamGibbstonnValley winery New ZealandGibbstonnvalleyWineryNewZealandsouthernmost wine region in the worldSouthernmostWineRegionInTheWorldWile Earth winery New ZealandWileEarthWineryNewZealandwine tasting New ZealandWineTastingNewZealandMon, 16 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Freedom to Roam: The Southern Alps by helicopter]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/freedom-to-roam-the-southern-alps-by-helicopter/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/freedom-to-roam-the-southern-alps-by-helicopter/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/freedom-to-roam-the-southern-alps-by-helicopter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



No, the Southern Alps aren't in the south of France or Italy as the name may lead you to believe. Rather, they are 12 time zones away in a remote corner of the Pacific Ocean and form the spine of the rugged South Island of New Zealand. Home to National Parks such as Mt. Aspiring, Mt. Cook, Arthur's Pass, and Fiordland, the similarities to their European counterparts are so similar, however, that when hiking amongst sections of the Southern Alps you could swear you were outside of Chamonix, France.

It's well known that the original Maori name for New Zealand is "Aotearoa", a phrase which literally translates to "Long White Cloud". Seeing as the Polynesian triangle only has a few mountains tall enough to ever receive snow, it's understandable why a narrow, snow capped mountain range could be construed as being a long white cloud. (The only other mountain in Polynesia outside of New Zealand which regularly sees snow is Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, a name which literally translates in Hawaiian to "White Mountain". See a trend?)

Aside from providing a picturesque backdrop for the majority of the South Island, the Southern Alps are also home to the majority of the outdoor activities in the country, which is really saying something in an outdoor haven such as New Zealand.

When it comes to the Southern Alps, even though you can hike your way through them, ski your way down them, jetboat their rivers, and fish in their lakes, the undisputed best way you're going to actually SEE them is by getting up on top of them. Unless you plan on climbing 12,316 ft. Mt. Cook (Maori: Aoraki, "Cloud Piercer") and are a whiz with crampons and an ice axe, your best bet is to get beneath a set of rotating blades and take a helicopter to plop you down on top of them.

That's what I did over Mt. Aspiring, and in all seriousness, it was one of the best things I've ever done.

Gallery: Mt. Aspiring National park by helicopter

Waterfall tumbling from Mt. AvalancheThe pilot Nick puts some perspective on the emptinessA remote glacial mountain lake beneath Mt. AvalancheHelicopter perched on Mt. AltaLake Wanaka from above

Continue reading Freedom to Roam: The Southern Alps by helicopter

Freedom to Roam: The Southern Alps by helicopter originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelBest New Zealand adventuresBestNewZealandAdventuresfreedomtoroamLake HaweaLake WanakaLakeHaweaLakeWanakaMt. Aspiring helicopter toursMt.AspiringHelicopterToursNew Zealand helicopter toursNewZealandHelicopterToursSouthern Alps helicoptersSouthernAlpsHelicoptersWanaka HelicoptersWanaka scenic flightsWanaka sightseeingWanakaHelicoptersWanakaScenicFlightsWanakaSightseeingFri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 Etsy shops from around the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/12/10-etsy-shops-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/12/10-etsy-shops-from-around-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/12/10-etsy-shops-from-around-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


With all of the Etsy shops out there, how are you supposed to know which shops to peruse and potentially support? While it's a good thing to be supporting independent, local, self-made, all-natural, and/or struggling artists, it's a difficult thing to know where to start. So here's some advice, fellow travelers of the world: start with the Etsy shops that bring different regions of the world to your shopping window. Start with the Etsy shops that can transport you into another culture with a single browsing. Start with the Etsy shops that allow you to bring home goods with a flare from your favorite places if you can't always be getting on a plane to travel to those places and bring home the goods yourself. Need some inspiration? Here's a list of 10 Etsy shops from around the world, 10 personal favorites. This should help get you started.

Continue reading 10 Etsy shops from around the world

10 Etsy shops from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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bondi to coogee walk There's nothing better when traveling than exploring a beautiful city coastline. Not only do these treks give you access to unique landscape and picturesque beaches, they also help you stay in shape while on the road.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Australia

When I lived in Sydney, Australia, this was one of my favorite ways to spend a sunny day. Not only do you get to explore the beaches of Bondi and Coogee, but also Tamarama and Bronte. The walk is not all beach, as you will also pass through local communities, parks, and a cemetery littered with palm trees while also seeing unique rock formations and jagged cliff faces with contrasting colors and shapes. At the end of the 4-mile walk, which includes some challenging uphill sections, reward yourself with a dip in the ocean or a brew from the adjacent Coogee Bay Hotel's beer garden.

Continue reading 8 best coastal walks from around the world

8 best coastal walks from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"These riders aren't some dope smokers from the local pub. They aren't some hippie who's trying to molest your grandmother. These are real riders here. And they are men."
-Wanaka Rodeo announcer-

As friends back home in the United States nursed a New Year's Day hangover by sipping lemon lime Gatorades and watching Comedy Central movie marathons, the campervan had already driven straight through to January 2, which, seeing as this is New Zealand now featured a new and different way to get a hangover.

Though the lakeside town of Wanaka comfortably houses around 7,000 permanent residents, during the New Year's holiday the visitor numbers swell to over 25,000, many of whom are in town for the 49th annual Wanaka Rodeo, one of the most popular events put on by the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Despite being closer to Antarctica than the Equator, the temperature is a tepid 77 degrees and the intense Kiwi sun is doing its best to melt the lingering snow patches wedged into the surrounding foothills. From the dusty parking lot you can already smell the distinct combination of rawhide and fried food wafting on the southerly breeze.

Meandering amongst the concession stands of "American hot dogs" and "candy floss" (cotton candy), I realize the Wanaka Rodeo seems to have all the makings of a rodeo found anywhere in the American west. Crowds mill, horses neigh, and events ranging from stick-horse racing to barrel-racing thump to a soundtrack of Gretchen Wilson and Tim Mcgraw.

There is even an American flag flying in the corner of the arena, a curiosity which led to me to track down a local Kiwi cowboy by the name of Mike Sanderson who later had the honor of racing the Stars and Stripes around the arena during the opening ceremony.

Gallery: The 49th Annual Wanaka Rodeo

All photos by Heather EllisonThe grill was pumping out meat all dayOuch.The Stars and Stripes flies next to the New Zealand flag

Continue reading Bullriding Kiwis: Rodeo at the bottom of the world

Bullriding Kiwis: Rodeo at the bottom of the world originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just as I mentioned in the Adventure Vacation Guide to Chamonix, France, what separates an adventure destination from an adventure capital is the ability to get an adrenaline rush for all 365 days of the year. Although Queenstown may be closer to the South Pole than the Equator, it doesn't mean that there aren't adventure activities perfectly suited for every season of the year.

Also, as an added bonus, under the country's traveler-friendly Adventure Compensation Corporation program (ACC), many travelers to New Zealand are actually covered for any medical costs they may incur while inside of the country. Seriously. I'm not making this up. You hurt yourself, you're covered. End of story.

So now that you know that you're covered in the extremely unlikely event of an accident, what sort of adventures can you sniff out in Queenstown? How about throwing yourself off the Kawarau bridge at the AJ Hackett bungy center, the original bungy operation in New Zealand? Or maybe take a jet boat ride through canyons which are way too narrow at speeds which are way too fast?

Extreme sports aside, Queenstown is also within striking distance of Fiordland, the protected and mountainous region which is home to such treks as the Milford Track and the Routeborn Track, a trail which was recently chosen as one of the top ten treks in the world by Lonely Planet.

In the winter months, The Remarkables ski area stoically lurks on the craggy peaks that form the backdrop to the town, the Southern Alps providing some of the best skiing opportunities in the Southern Hemisphere. Lastly, with the New Zealand dollar currently holding steady at $.75 to the US dollar, it's also a somewhat a cheap way to get your thrills in 2012.




[flickr image via Or Hiltch]

Adventure Vacation Guide 2012: Queenstown, New Zealand originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well. It's official. For the next three months I am officially living in my car.

No, this vagabond hasn't fallen on hard times (yet), but rather, I am going to be embedded in the back of a 1995 Toyota campervan in the magnificent country of New Zealand, where, for the record, summer is just beginning.

While this isn't my first campervan endeavor around "The Land of the Long White Cloud", my first visit was as a single, immature 22 year-old fresh off of university touring the country with two other reckless American counterparts. Three boys, three surfboards, one decrepit 1988 Toyota Hiace, and the open road beneath our tires. It was the epitome of freedom.

Five years later, the circumstances of my New Zealand campervan expedition are decidedly different. Still immature but now a happily married 27 year-old, the reality of this contrast was brought to my attention at a supermarket where I had purchased some groceries five years prior. Gazing down at the black conveyer belt at my current purchases, I realized the 12-pack of beer and surfboard wax had been replaced by a 12-pack of toilet paper and 200 thread count sheets.

So why would a struggling, married travel blogger scraping to pay off student loans decide to up and move his wife to live in a van in a foreign country? Because in a land as scenic and rife for exploration as New Zealand, there is unfinished business to be taken care of.

So why buy a van? Why not just rent a car like most other vacations? Because even though buying a vehicle is an enormous layout of money up front ($4000 cash. Ouch.) you start recouping that money the minute you set out on the road. In the end, with a little cunning and a fair bit of luck, touring New Zealand by owning your own campervan is the undisputed most economical way to experience the somewhat pricey country.

Continue reading Freedom to roam: New Zealand by campervan

Freedom to roam: New Zealand by campervan originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Backpackers Car Market New ZealandBackpackersCarMarketNewZealandbuy a van in New ZealandBuyAVanInNewZealandcamping New ZealandCampingNewZealandFreedomtoroamhow to buy a campervan in New ZealandHowToBuyACampervanInNewZealandNew Zaeland holidayNew Zealand travelNewZaelandHolidayNewZealandTraveltour New ZealandTourNewZealandTravel New ZealandTravelNewZealandVans in New ZealandVansInNewZealandWed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST