A great way to see Arthur’s Pass if you’re not going all the way to the West Coast is to do a one-day trip from Christchurch. You’ll leave Christchurch by bus, then get on the train to Arthur’s Pass. After a brief stop for lunch, you’re back on a bus with a stop to do some exciting jetboating. We also stopped at a sheep station for afternoon tea and a tour of the barns and a sheep shearing demonstration. They were a lovely family that we got to get to know a bit. Their daughter was 12 and playing rugby, so it was a thrill for me to meet and talk to her. I think she was equally excited to talk to someone from America about women’s rugby.

I love the Coromandel peninsula. It’s off-the-beaten track for most first-time tourists to New Zealand but it’s so beautiful it’s hard to understand why it gets passed by. I was fortunate enough to have a friend who used to live in Waihi Beach so I’ve spent some time there. He still has family there so hopefully they’ll let me come back! Of course, the Coromandel is also home to the famous hot water beach where you can dig yourself your own “hot tub” right in the sand.  If you don’t feel like digging, you can see and feel the hot water and steam rise out of the sand. Magical! There’s Kauri forests, bird sanctuaries and wonderful sandy beaches. This is where a lot of Aucklanders spend their holiday and there are bach’s everywhere. I definitely recommend the Coromandel.

Wellington used to get a bad repuation, calling it the “Windy City”. Yes, sometimes it can get windy, but it’s also become the center of a culinary revolution in the past few years. Dozens of restaurants and cafes have sprung up and you can do gourmet walking tours, matching wines to the meals. It’s a wonderful way to see this very walkable city. Another big attraction is the national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa. It offers a unique way to see the history and stories of New Zealand in one place. It’s open every day of the year and best of all, it’s FREE! Check out their website at www.tepapa.govt.nz It’s well worth a visit and is very well done.

The wonderful owners of Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures, Jason and Brenda Brownlie, have sold their company to new owners with over 22 years of experience in the Abel Tasman National Park. The new marketing manager is Brunna Ritchney. This is the most wonderful way to see Abel Tasman! You can combine sailing with walking treks or just sail to deserted beaches. Best of luck to Jason and Brenda in future endeavors. Nothing has changed with the wonderful adventures that the company offers. Website address for Abel Tasman Sailing is www.sailingadventures.co.nz. Check it out!

Last trip I went on a sailing trip to Abel Tasman National Park. Abel Tasman is very remote. There’s only one road into it and it doesn’t go all the way to the end. You have to travel by kayak or boat. I went on a catamaran operated by Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures. The experience was wonderful. It was winter so it was cold, but the scenery was gorgeous and the season worked to our advantage, as we pretty much had everything to ourselves. We stopped at Anchorage beach and there was only one backpacker there. They have a variety of trips, from the full-day sailing adventure that we went on to ones that combine walks with sailing. It was a magical day, in spite of the cold!

No visit to Auckland is complete without taking a ferry ride to one of the 26 islands that dot the Hauraki Gulf.  Auckland reaches both the east and west coasts, with Waitamata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean (East) and Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea (West). When you go you must participate in one of the many water activities: sailing charters, kayaking, fishing or crewing an America’s Cup yacht. Too many times Auckland gets overlooked by visitors but it has so much to offer.

There are many wine regions in New Zealand. On my last trip, I went to the Marlborough region located at the top of the South Island. Marlborough is known mostly for its wonderful Sauvignon Blancs and is the largest wine-growing region of New Zealand.  I stayed in Nelson on this trip but you can also stay in Blenheim. Marlborough is easily reached if you’re traveling by ferry between the two islands. You can stay there a few days before boarding the ferry in Picton or if you’re traveling north to south, just pick up your rental car (or take it on the ferry with you) in Picton and it’s an easy drive to Blenheim.  If you’d like to check out more of the region, go to www.marlborough.co.nz  If you love wine, then don’t miss Marlborough!

Described by National Geographic as a world in miniature, New Zealand is a land of rare natural beauty and breathtaking contrasts.

From extreme sports like bungee jumping and jet-boating, to wine tasting tours and stays at New Zealand’s luxury lodges, a New Zealand vacation will give you as much action and adventure as you like - as well as time to relax and enjoy the scenery.
With so much to choose from, the services of Tucson-based Kiwi Specialist Nancy Purdin will ensure you get the most out of your trip. A frequent visitor to New Zealand, Nancy can make your New Zealand travel reservations and guide you to some lesser-known travel treasures such as Doubtful Sound and Kaikoura whale watching, or advise you when to catch New Zealand’s famous rugby season.