New Zealand – The Neverland
- Hoang Giang Nguyen
- Oct 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Among all the trips I have completed, the most memorable adventure is the one to New Zealand. New Zealand is very unique in several ways, and it was also my first time traveling with half of the trip sleeping outdoors.
I traveled to New Zealand with 7 other friends in November last year. It took us approximately 1.5 months to plan for this trip, and we didn’t receive our visas until the day before our flight. From my experience, you should try to apply your visa early. When I applied for mine, it said on the website that it would take around 5 days to receive the visa. However, we had to wait for more than 3 weeks to have our visas available.
Due to the fact that tourist attractions in New Zealand are so far away from each other and the public transport network does not cover our planned routes, we had to hire a car to drive by ourselves as soon as we arrived at the airport. It is important to note that if you are planning to travel here, you should be prepared to have at least 2 drivers and drive for quite some time, especially in the North Island.
Moreover, not every places in New Zealand has Airbnb. If you are a low-budget traveler, you should expect camping and sleeping outdoors during your trip. You can easily buy the tents and sleeping bags in New Zealand as camping is a very popular activity here.
Camping by Lake Okareka
Back then, people were allowed to camp anywhere in this country. However, due to the impact of travelers on the nature, the government changed the law and now you are only allowed to camp in organised campsites. Each campsite can have its own rules and you need to read the signs at the entrance to know your responsibility. Some campsites don’t allow you to make fire, so small gas stove is strongly recommended for your trip.
New Zealand is famous for the sublimity of its nature, including glaciers, mountains and forests. If you are lucky enough, you can even see the stunning Aurora Astralis in this country.
Aurora Australis seen from Lake Dunstan, Cromwell, New Zealand
One of our first destination was Lake Tekapo. It has breathtakingly aqua turquoise water, blue sky and a range of snow-capped mountains which adds to the amazing scenery. This spectacular lake is a must-go in New Zealand.
Our second highlight of the trip was the Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve. This is a 7km hiking track to the top of Ben Lomond mountain. It took our group approximately 6 hours to complete the round trip. As we got to the top of Ben Lomond, we were immersed in the breathtaking view, and it felt like the clouds were just above our heads.
We also spent time visiting the Cathedral Cove, which was a filming location in The Chronicles of Narnia film. This is one of the most picturesque spots in New Zealand. It has a gigantic arched cavern that connects the two secluded coves. This unique cavern makes Cathedral Cove a “must visit”. Cathedral Cove is an ideal place for great photos, picnics and swimming.
If you are planning to go to Queenstown in your New Zealand trip, don’t forget to try Fergburger. I decided to try this burger when I walked pass it at 11 pm and there was still a very long queue then. Although I’m not a burger person, I have to admit that the taste of Fergburger was phenomenal. The meat was extremely juicy and the the veggies were very fresh. Without a doubt, it is the best burger I have ever had in my life. So don’t be put off by the long queue, it’s worth the wait!
My New Zealand trip was amazing overall. Certain challenges along the way made this trip more memorable and satisfied for me, as it feels like I have earned a big achievement in my youth. If you are also into the nature, New Zealand is definitely your Neverland.
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