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N E W
Z E A L A N D
like Auckland (right) and Wellington
offer plenty of cosmopolitan charm,
it’s the natural beauty of New Zealand
that brings travellers this far south.
The Fiordland National Park should be
top of your list, but equally impressive
is the Bay of Islands on the North
Island. Inland, Tongariro National Park
and Rotorua offer dramatic volcanic
landscapes. In winter, skiing is possible
on both the North and South Islands.
TAKE A HIKE: Nine official “Great
Walks” take hikers across some of the
country’s most spectacular scenery.
The Milford Track is perhaps the most
famous, but don’t miss out on the likes
of the Rakiura Track in Southland and
the Routeburn Track in Otago. A new
trail, the Paparoa Track and Pike29
Memorial Track, will open in 2019.
DID YOU KNOW? Unlike neighbouring
Australia, there are no snakes in New
Zealand and only one species of
poisonous spider, the katipo.
PLANNER
Q TRAVEL
TOP ATTRACTIONS: While cities
WHEN TO GO: Spring and Autumn
offer the best combination of warm
weather and fewer crowds. If you
want to ski, the winter months of
May-August are best.
BOOK IT: Qantas Airways can fly
you to New Zealand every day of the
week, while Sure Travel’s escorted-tour
partners Insight Vacations, Trafalgar
Tours and Contiki Tours can show
you the best of the Lord of the Rings
land in three touring styles designed
to suit different budgets. Your Sure
Travel consultant will have all the
details, or visit www.suretravel.co.za /
call 0861 47 48 49.
“
THAT’S WHEN THE
FEAR OF DEATH TAKES
HOLD OF ME. I CLUTCH
DESPERATELY ONTO
LOOSE SOIL, ASSUME
THE LEOPARD-CRAWL
POSITION AND DRAG
MYSELF UP
“
Soda Springs. The view from the Red
Crater – one of several active, steaming
craters on top of Mt Tongariro – is going
to be worth it, I tell myself. I haven’t
been able to look at anything besides my
trembling Hi-Tecs for what seems like
The Emerald Lakes, well worth the toil.
Die-hard Tolkien fans can also visit the official shire located in Hamilton, on the North Island.
hours. Slippery sand slopes are a constant
reminder that at any moment I may
misplace a foot and find myself at the
bottom of the crater. And that’s when the
fear of death takes hold of me. I clutch
desperately onto loose soil, assume the
leopard-crawl position and drag myself
up, sweat and secret tears mixing with
soil to form mud tracks on my face.
Tongariro’s pièce de résistance, the
Emerald Lakes, comes into view without
warning. The contrast between the
copper sands and viridescent pools that
float in this vast lunar-like landscape is
goosebump gorgeous, and humbling. And
of course worth every thigh-crunching
step up Mt Tongariro. But still, I think, a
giant eagle would be great right now.
MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 33