When the dollar's down, what's a traveler to do? Stay home? Welcome to the life of a Canadian for the past decade and a half. We've been avoiding the US for the past few years because it was just too darn expensive. But now we're about on par and I for one intend to take advantage of it.

But with the weakened US dollar, there's bound to be less Americans at the Eiffel tower this year. As I know very well, Europe's really expensive when you're not at the top of the currency game, but just because it's out, doesn't mean there aren't other affordable places to visit. Have you considered a trip to:

• Canada? I can vouch for the fact that it's beautiful here, for those who love both urban landscapes and rugged wilderness. My loyalties lie with Western Canada, but the east is ok too.
  
• New Zealand? Sure, the airfare can be expensive, but the USD is stronger than the NZD so you're bound to save some money. Plus, it's absolutely gorgeous.
  
• Thailand? Again, the airfare is a bit pricey, but Thailand is a bargain. You can easily live off of $30 a day.
• Costa Rica? Although they boast beaches and rainforest and everything in between, this central American getaway is still one of the more affordable destinations.
  

Want some more advice for traveling when the dollar is down? Check out this link.

Most American readers of Gadling probably can't get too excited about the upcoming Rugby Wold Cup, but in New Zealand's adventure sports capital of Queenstown, an event that should inspire interest from around the globe is just weeks away. Most travellers head to Queenstown to throw themselves off bridges on Bungy cords or zip about lookalike Lord of the Rings riverscapes on jet boats, but after the daytime excitement the bars and clubs of the lakeside town really take off. It's kinda fitting then that the 2007 Cocktail World Cup is being held in Queenstown from September 9 to September 16.

"Mixologists" (an official term apparently...) from 15 countries will descend on Queenstown to wow the array of international judges. A special bar is even being constructed high in the snow on the peak of the Remarkables mountain range. And of course you just know there'll be plenty of time for partaking in adventure sports (sounds like a dangerous combination...)

Chances are quite a few of the concoctions may not be suitable for blokes, but as long as there's a few caipirinhas on offer I'll be happy.

Thanks to darrell goodman on Flickr for his pic of sunrise over the Remarkables.

So New Zealand is well-known as the spiritual home of bungy jumping, but travellers to the globe's most adventure packed country soon find out there are loads of other exciting ways to get the most value out of their travel insurance policy.

1. The world's most extreme flying fox. Tucked away in the middle of the North Island, the ride at Mokai Gravity Canyon (watch a video after the jump) launches at a height of 175 metres and gets up to speeds of 160 kph. Afterward there's the North Island's highest bungy jump (of course...)
2. An underground flying fox. Only Kiwis would think of setting up a flying fox in a limestone cave. To reach the St Benedict's Caverns at Waitomo you'll first need to abseil. Having fun yet?
3. We've showcased Zorbing (here)before but it's crazy enough to deserve another mention. Strap yourself into a giant see-through ball and roll down the hill. Why didn't someone think of it sooner?
4. Ever wondered what would happen if you fell into a giant vacuum cleaner that was switched to "blow"? OK, it's not a common fantasy but you can find out at Freefall Extreme. Recreate the feeling of skydiving but stay close to the ground.
5. Most travelers experience bungy jumping at the South Island adventure hub Queenstown but you can also leap off the Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand's biggest city. It may look like I'm jumping naked in the photo above, but I was wearing a weird coloured jumpsuit OK?

How about delivering a fully functioning pub all the way from New Zealand to London? By boat. That's the sublime task currently being undertaken by a group of intrepid Kiwis.

In New Zealand Speights beer is immensely popular - so much so that it's also a favourite of homesick New Zealanders living in London. Hence the decision to load a traditional ale house onto a boat and set sail for the Thames. The team has just left Samoa, and now face a three week journey across the Pacific to the Panama Canal. From there it's a hop across the Atlantic, ideally getting in by early October. Why then you ask? The final stages of the Rugby World Cup are happening just across the Channel in France and New Zealand fans in London will need lots of liquid sustenance. You can follow the The Great Beer Delivery online with regular video updates. At the top of the page is where they're headed in a few weeks. Negotiating the canal promises to be very thirsty work.

I read an interesting AskMetafilter question the other day, it asked: "What is the German word for a beer enjoyed at the top of a summit that you have just climbed?" Apparently the asker climbed Mount Tongariro on the North Island of New Zealand, where they ran across two German men on the summit, each enjoying a beer along with the beautiful view. "They told us that this was a traditional thing for German hikers to do on top of mountains that they summit, and they even had a specific word for the beer enjoyed on such an occasion."

It turns out there is a term for such a thing: Gipfelbier, or "summit beer." According to a response posted to the original question, "Gipfelbier or Gipfelhalbe (Halbe = half a liter of beer), it's simply a reward for having made it to the top, Gipfelschnaps is also common."

Any excuse to drink beer is fine with me, even if it means lugging it up a mountain first.

A friend of mine sent me this rather tragic shot taken by kayaker Andrew McAuley, a very experienced paddler who went missing in the Tasman Sea back in February. McAuley was attempting to become the first person to take a kayak across the Tasman Sea, and he was very close -- just 30 nautical miles -- from doing so. He'd paddled for a long time, hard core during the day, and then drifting at night, sleeping for brief periods in his kayak. He'd crossed some 1500 kilometers and was close enough to the South Island of New Zealand to photograph its mountains. He was also able to snap this photograph, the last of himself on his camera, before he disappeared. He apparently sent a distress signal to the New Zealand Coastguard with two clear words: "help" and "sinking". That was all.

The coast guard found McAuley's kayak in the water ,but his body has not been found. Sadly, and perhaps irresponsibly, he did not have an immersion suit, which might have helped due to the cold water. But still, they found his camera, and the photo here was the last shot of him. A gruesome self-portrait.

Held each year in Hokitika, a tiny city on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, the Hokitika Wildfoods festival is a celebration of the local bushtucker. The emphasis is on novel, tasty, healthy bush food -- but the organizers clearly encourage the slightly gross, as well, considering the inclusion of huhu grubs, fish eyeballs, and "dueling possums" (pictured) on the menu.

Of course, food and drink doesn't wash down well without entertainment, so the organizers have invited everybody from roving blacksmiths to bands. In other words, you'll be smiling broadly while stuffing your face with Deep Fried Grasshopper, Pigs Eyes in Mac-and-Cheese, Pickled Bugs, BBQ'ed Cow Udders, and Worm Sushi. Don't worry: if you've got a delicate stomach, you can always opt for the Bunny Burgers.

[Via Travel Junkie]

Like most travel blogs created to update family while trekking in far away countries this Gonewalkabout site started much the same. In Owen's case he started off posting photos, but little captions or descriptions to help others (not to mention himself) pinpoint where he was exactly. That was the past though and as Owen sets out on a new two-year journey through Australia, New Zealand and hopefully a stop in Fiji he promises to do a much better job not just capturing pictures of these places, but providing some detail. In any case if you're curious about Australia and New Zealand or even Portugal which is also featured in the photo gallery, head over to this site. He's certainly got enough photos up to keep one busy until the blogging fully kicks in though there are a few recent entries.