{"id":9197,"date":"2019-09-22T20:02:57","date_gmt":"2019-09-22T20:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=9197"},"modified":"2019-10-03T12:06:23","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T12:06:23","slug":"experience-new-zealand-on-foot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/fall-2019\/experience-new-zealand-on-foot\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience New Zealand on Foot"},"content":{"rendered":"

M<\/span>ountains, lakes, glaciers, rainforests, and golden sand beaches with crystal clear water are just the beginning of the diverse description of New Zealand, the island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean first inhabited about 1,000 years ago. Defined by two main parts, North Island and South Island, the approximately 104,000-square-mile country encompasses some 600 smaller islands and is located around 1,200 miles east of Australia.<\/p>\n

To get there, it takes three hours by plane from Australia, 13 hours from Los Angeles, 16 hours from Chicago, and almost a full day from New York City. The spectacular scenery, adventure activity, and amazing food and wine make the trip especially worthwhile.<\/p>\n

When planning your trip, keep in mind that the seasons are opposite of those in the U.S. with summer from December to February and winter from June to August.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Photo: Deposit Photos<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Cultural Melting Pot<\/h3>\n

A wonderful melting pot of cultures, New Zealand culture is influenced by the Maori, the indigenous people, and the Europeans who arrived later. A third of the land is protected through parks and reserves, making New Zealand\u2019s wilderness inviting and spectacular. The intertwining of gorgeous landscapes and wine and food experiences with adventurer tourism makes New Zealand a top contender on many people\u2019s travel wish lists.<\/p>\n

North Island and South Island have much to offer. If you\u2019re about to embark on your first trip to Kiwi country, you might like to try this special tour arranged by Active Adventures<\/a> …<\/p>\n

\"\"

Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Photo: ActiveAdventures.com<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Explore the South Island<\/h3>\n

New Zealand\u2019s South Island is renowned for its mountains, lakes, and glaciers. The Southern Alps, home to 3,764-meter-high Mt. Cook, run along the entire length of the island. In the southwest is Fiordland National Park, home to the steep-sided fiord Milford Sound. In the north is Abel Tasman National Park, known for its trails and ocean kayaking. And Queenstown is famed for adventure sports like bungee jumping and skiing.<\/p>\n

What better way to explore New Zealand than with a guided tour combining walking, hiking, jet boating, and more.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Camile and Mitch Lindborg on walking tour.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Hear From the Travelers<\/h3>\n

Mitch and Camille Lindborg, 65 and 56 respectively, searched for a walking tour that wasn\u2019t too strenuous. They were looking for a way to combine walking with water activities, ranging from boating to the beach. They found the perfect trip with Active Adventures \u201cElegant South \u2013 Kakapo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll we had to do was to show up. They took care of everything,\u201d said Mitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were nine people in our group, so it was very personalized,\u201d Camille said. \u201cWe would hike for a couple of hours and sometimes picnic or take a swim with the picnic on the beach. The scenery is too incredible like Talisman Park. The beaches are beautiful and the water warm. Plus, we were always learning about the flora, fauna, and local culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the Lindborg\u2019s, the nice casual pace was perfect. \u201cThe guides took us to places you might not get to on your own. We loved it!\u201d Camille said.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Martin O’Connor on walking tour. Photos courtesy of Martin O’Connor<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Martin O\u2019Connor, a man in his early 70s and who lives in Vancouver, had had New Zealand on his bucket travel list for a number of years. He first dreamed of rafting, kayaking, and serious hiking, but he decided to tone down his over-the-top energetic ideas with the choice of a hiking trip combined with time at the beach, visits to wineries, and excellent cuisine. His research led him to the tour operator Active Adventures because of the small group size, professionalism, and personalized attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe walks were fairly easy going with some up, some down, and traipsing over rocks. This was something I could handle. I wasn\u2019t the fastest one in the group, but a guide always made sure I was okay,\u201d O\u2019Connor said.<\/p>\n

Active Adventures offers the ultimate guided tour of South Island, led by local hosts who are proud of their Kiwi roots and offer professional, warm, and relaxed tours in small groups of no more than 14 travelers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to be reasonably fit. I do work out and go to the gym. The walks were challenging, but we weren\u2019t climbing up the sides of the mountains,\u201d said O\u2019Connor. \u201cMy advice to anyone who thinks about traveling to New Zealand is go! People are extremely friendly and courteous, and you\u2019ll find a certain ambiance there that is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thinking of taking a walking tour of New Zealand?<\/p>\n

\"\"

Hiking in New Zealand; Pelorus \u2018Circle Walk\u2019. Photo: ActiveAdventures.com<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Here\u2019s what the Active Adventures Elegant South \u2013 Kakapo adventure offers …<\/h3>\n

The all-encompassing South Island 11-day journey takes you through picture-perfect coastal areas at the top and bottom of the island. On the trip, you will experience clean, sandy beaches with crystal-clear water, beautiful coves and inlets with turquoise waters, and lush rainforest in the Marlborough Sounds.<\/p>\n

You will stay in secluded, comfortable lodges here and on the Hollyford Track, which starts and ends with a spectacular helicopter ride between Milford Sound and the isolated and mesmerizing Martins Bay.<\/p>\n

Queenstown provides the perfect anecdote to the tranquility of these areas with its cosmopolitan hustle and excitement. If you\u2019re looking for a broad and varied experience, to relax as well as walk, and enjoy the unique aspects of the finest coastal areas, then look no further.<\/p>\n

Picnics are part of the adventure. You will be treated to local foods and wines, and along the way, you will learn about the land and culture of New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Queenstown, New Zealand. Photo: ActiveAdventures.com<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Activity Level<\/h3>\n

The Kakapo tour suits people who enjoy short walks and traveling without sacrificing any of the comforts of home. Typically, walks on the Kakapo trip range between one and three hours to complete, and there are often shorter and longer alternatives if you prefer. Do call them to talk about the best option for you.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Awaroa. Photo: ActiveAdventures.com<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Highlights<\/h3>\n

Walks (2 to 3 Hours)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abel Tasman Coast Track<\/strong>\n Queen Charlotte Track<\/strong>\n Kaikoura Peninsula<\/strong>\n Hollyford Track<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cruise<\/strong><\/p>\n

Milford Sound<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plus …<\/p>\n

Whale watch in Kaikoura<\/strong>\n Delicious wines of Central Otago<\/strong>\n Exploration of Queenstown<\/strong>\n Helicopter flights to and from Martins Bay in remote Fiordland National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

FULL DETAILS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

For more information, Elegant South Tours<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The big payoff for all of your walking? Go to New Zealand and go on a walking tour<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-2019","category-fall-2019-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9197"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9565,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9197\/revisions\/9565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}