Category: New Zealand

There are so many reasons why you need to visit New Plymouth! It has been voted  one of the most livable cities in the world. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation or a bit of culture New Plymouth should certainly be your next stop. In fact, in addition to being rated one of the most livable cities, it also earned Lonely Planet’s number 2 spot for best up-and-coming holiday destination.

Here are 6 reasons you need to visit New Plymouth:

1. Surf Highway 45

Sea New Zealand Coast Volcanic Taranaki Mt Egmont

One of the best places to catch a wave in New Zealand is New Plymouth.  Take a drive along what’s known as ‘Surf Highway 45’, which runs from New Plymouth in a Southerly direction to Hawera. Take it slow and explore the full length of the surf highway. You will find plenty of places to catch a wave. Otherwise New Plymouth has plenty of surf beaches to keep you occupied. The coast boasts 180 degrees of ocean swells, with reef breaks, point breaks and beaches. Offering something for both beginners and advanced surfers.

2. Pouakai Circuit

For the even more adventurous, there’s a 2- to 3-day journey around Mount Taranaki. Here hikers can take in everything the Egmont National Park has to offer. There are 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of hiking trails to follow through the forest, a sphagnum moss swamp, and across fields. This trip also takes you across the Boomerang slip, an active erosion scar from volcanic activity and over the Kokowai Stream with its red water.

3. Bike Riding

For those of you who are not into surfing or hiking, New Plymouth also offers world class mountain biking, trail riding and dirt Jumping. For those who love downhill and trail riding head out to Lake Mangamahoe,  just 10 km South of New Plymouth on state highway 3. Here you will find kilometer after kilometer of professionally crafted cross country and downhill tracks, suitable for everyone from beginner to professional.

If dirt jumps are more of your thing head out to Rotoz Dirt Jump Park, which is situated at the entrance to Lake Rotomanu. Rotoz is a dirt jumpers paradise with hundreds of jump lines, wallrides, berms & drops. Rotoz also caters for beginners with pump tracks and a tonne of table top jumps to build your confidence.

 

4. The Coastal Walkway

The famous Coastal Walkway is a must-do in New Plymouth. The walkway is where you will find the locals jogging, cycling and working out. Head for a stroll along the sea-edge promenade and you will see some of the most beautiful coastal views New Plymouth has to offer. The walkway stretches 11km along the coastline. You will head past the black volcanic rock surf beaches, cliff tops and over the awe-inspiring bridge inspired by breaking waves. The walkway has recently been funded to be extended even further.

5. Pouakai Crossing

If you’re looking to spend a day hiking and taking in the beauty that is Mount Taranaki, the best way to do that is by heading to Egmont National Park. Here you will find Pouakai Crossing. At the Crossing you will encounter a magnificent waterfall, breathtakingly high cliffs, Ahukawakawa swamp, and a number of other amazing views along the way. Although it can be tough-going depending on the weather, it’s perfect for someone who wants to experience natural beauty that is New Zealand.

6. Art and Culture

For a more relaxing day in New Plymouth, you can take in the art and culture offered at several locations, starting with the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. This art museum features contemporary art and recently added the Len Lye Center. The centre is has a display is devoted completely to kinetic sculpture and filmmaker Len Lye.

With stunning views of Mount Taranaki, the gorgeous long walkways and a relaxed vibe, New Plymouth is a perfect spot to spend a few days or (ideally) a week or two. Whether you are an adrenaline junky looking to get your fix or a hiking and nature enthusiast New Plymouth has you very well covered. You will leave refreshed with a new lease on life (and not to mention a memory card full of stunning photos).

Article by Brittnay Sharman for Transfercar.

Brittnay is a professional house sitter from Australia. She has been living in London for the past two years and recently moved to Dublin. She has visited over 21 countries in Europe and Africa in that time (including lots of cheese, wine & beaches). You can find all her adventures in housesitting and travels on The Travelling House Sitters.

 

There are more cows (10 million) and sheep (29 million) than there are people (4.7 million) in New Zealand, but the resource that’s hauling in major income for the island country in recent years aren’t farm animals, but hobbits. Although having zero population in real life, hobbits, along with the larger world of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (LotR), have brought hordes of travellers to New Zealand, where the entirety of The LotR and The Hobbit trilogies were filmed.

In 2016, 3.5 million people visited New Zealand, a number that is expected to reach 4.5 million by 2022. Around 16% of these travellers – or over half a million people – cite The LotR as a motivation for their visit. Aside from its gains in tourism, the movies themselves contributed a lot to the New Zealand economy, where some 2,700 businesses worked in production and post-production.

The wonderful thing about the film locations is that many of them are incredibly well preserved and as stunning in real life as they are in Middle-earth, making a tour across New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes a dream for any Tolkien fan. Tourism New Zealand’s Gregg Anderson shares, “We’re not trying to sell the movie. We’re trying to say the sense of awe and grandeur that you get with the movie is very much what you’ll get with the experience.”

If you’re planning a campervan trip across this beautiful country soon, here are some of the most breathtaking LotR locations you can include in your list.

 

Matamata, Waikato

What better place to start your tour than the home of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins? The lush farming landscape of the small town of Matamata serves as the onscreen village of Hobbiton.

Today, the Hobbit-sized village in the peaceful Shire region of Middle-earth is a permanent attraction open for tourists. Dance under the Party Tree to your heart’s delight; pay a visit to Bag End; or grab a drink at The Green Dragon Inn. PartyPoker even listed The Green Dragon Inn in its post on the top fictional pubs to play poker in, calling it “a welcoming place, particularly if you’re a Hobbit”. Luckily you don’t need to be the size of a Hobbit to enjoy the charms of this bar, as the reconstructed set is open to the public, along with a fine selection of brews. The attention to detail and overall charm of the area makes every inch of Matamata just as magical as its onscreen counterpart.

Mt. Ngaruhoe, Tongariro National Park

Another wonderful location to visit is Mount Ngaruhoe, otherwise known as Mount Doom, in the Tongariro National Park. The peak of the mountain is sacred to the Maori (indigenous people of the country), so majority of the scenes were filmed at the mountain’s lower slopes. From the Visitor Centre, follow the trail of Frodo and Sam by walking the Tongariro Crossing, and experience the drama of climbing ever closer to the fiery depths of Mordor.

Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve, Wairarapa

The ominous-looking pillars that line the Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve are instantly recognisable as “The Path of the Dead,” in Return of the King, where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli rode the Dimholt Road. These pillars are all that remain after seven million years of erosion on the Aorangi mountain range, and suitably eerie-looking to pass for a place for the Army of the Dead. This makes any of the three hiking trails in the area a scenic route for fans and non-fans alike.

Fiordland National Park, Te Anau

The Snowdon forest in the Fiordland National Park stars as Fangorn forest in The Two Towers. At 1.2 million hectares, the park is a fascinating world of mountains, rainforests, lakes, and fjords, and is certainly a place where fantasy can easily blend with reality. Hardcore fans will enjoy exploring the area on horseback like Gandalf did.

Pelorus River

Located at the northern end of South Island, Pelorus River is the location for the movie’s Forest River, where Bilbo and the dwarves escaped from the wood elves in The Desolation of Smaug. Much of the scene itself was filmed in a studio, but some shots were done along the river, where tourists can enjoy a kayak ride through the rapids – a decidedly more comfortable ride than Bilbo’s barrel. During your kayak trip, you can stop at a few spots you might recognise from the film, but the scenery in general is breath-taking on its own.

There are dozens of LotR filming locations scattered across the New Zealand islands, from majestic mountain ranges to mythical forests and rushing rivers. On your next summer vacation, consider planning a getaway to these fantastic locations, which you can navigate easily with a reliable Transfercar rental vehicle.

Summer’s here, giving us a perfect chance to explore the picturesque natural scenery of Northland. From the Bay of Islands on the eastern shores, to the Ninety Mile Beach to the west and the lush vineyards and world-renowned wineries to the north, New Zealand’s Northland will have kiwis pouring in from all around the country to experience the summer adventure of a lifetime.

And you want to be in the thick of it. Before we dive in, you’ll need three ingredients to make this adventure a success: passion, some cash, and a car. We’re sure you can figure out the first two yourself, and as for transportation, we suggest getting a free transfer car to take you from A to B with ease.  

Explore Urupukapuka Island

First stop, Russell and then the island of Urupukapuka where Otehei Bay resides among other natural beauties. Mind you, you can spend days exploring Russel and the neighbouring Paihia, getting lost in their historic heritage and breathtaking sceneries. So don’t miss that, but don’t wander to far from your destination either.

Urupukapuka Island is home to numerous natural beauties, and it’s also a place to enjoy some peace and quiet on its golden sandy beaches. On the other hand, this is also a great place to partake in water sports, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, trekking, and more.

Pure Hedonism at Carrington Estate Winery

Ready to travel even further north? After several days of exploring the natural scenery, now’s the time to unwind (yet again) and enjoy some of life’s more refined pleasures. That means sipping fine wines and playing golf at the famous Carrington Estate.

The Carrington Estate is not only the perfect place to get hitched if the romantic ambiance should inspire you to do so, but it is also the place to spend your days exploring the lush, rolling vineyards and landscapes, or even marvel in their beauty from your bedroom window. If you have a significant other, this is the perfect romantic getaway.

Enjoy Nature at Gumdiggers Park

Travelling west now, you next destination is Gumdiggers Park, home to all sorts of natural sights you don’t get to see every day. The park is actually a one hundred-year-old digging site now abandoned and turned into a true nature reserve, home to numerous native plants and wildlife.

The eco trail that takes you through the area is lush with unique greenery and you’ll even get the chance to meet and greet the friendly Northland Green Gecko.

Whole-day cruise to Poor Knights Islands

Now we’re heading down to Whananaki and the famous Sandy Bay to catch a ferry to the Poor Nights Islands and the neighbouring archipelago. This is the place for all of you adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies looking to cash in on the excitement of coastal cruises, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, beach parties, and plenty more. If adventure is what you crave, this is definitely the place to be.

Chill out at the Ninety Mile Beach

On the western stretch of Northland, the famous Ninety Mile Beach awaits with its golden sands, mesmerising sunsets, and life-changing surfing opportunities – a true paradise for all adventurers. Not only is this iconic place perfect for making lifelong memories, but it’s also the place to take your significant other and capture the photos you’ll cherish forever, so don’t forget your camera.

Cruise around the Bay of Islands

Finally, it’s time to end this summer adventure with an exploration journey around the Bay of Islands. This time, you’ll be stopping by to adventure in the Moturua, Moturoa, Motuarohia, Okahu, and Waewaetorea islands, and every other small spot of land in between. You can begin your excursion from Paihia, where you can rent a boat or join one of many daily cruises.

Northland is the perfect place to spend your summer exploring the wildlife and natural wonders, dinning in world-renowned gourmet establishments, lodging in quaint villages overlooking the ocean, and partaking in adrenaline-filled water sports. Well, what are you waiting for?

 

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