Australia is home to more than 60 wine regions throughout the country, several of which are world-renowned for their top quality tastes. One of the Australia’s largest wine regions is located in the great state of Victoria, about an hour outside of bustling Melbourne.
Auckland was my introduction to New Zealand, and a well-received one at that. This city gets a lot of flack from travelers and Kiwis alike, but I felt it had much to offer, particularly with all of the islands to explore dotting its harbor. I arrived late into the city and settled in, ready for the next day’s trip to Waiheke Island.
Waiheke Island is located 40-minutes west of Auckland via ferry and features great skyline views of the city on the ride. I purchased a round-trip (called ‘return’ over here) ferry ticket and all-day bus pass for $45. Not a bad deal, except I had to wait for the bus several times to get around the island. It’s much larger than you’d think and requires some mode of transportation. I’d recommend renting a bike or scooter instead.
Known for its beautiful beaches and unique wine region, Waiheke Island was an easy choice on my itinerary. The island is filled with small, quiet beaches and numerous vineyards throughout. On one beach in particular, I had an unexpected surprise. While aiming for the perfect shot to capture the gentle crashing waves along the shoreline, I noticed an older gentleman on crutches hobbling toward me. As I tried to focus my shot while cropping him out, I realized he was fully nude! Apparently this portion of the beach was clothing optional. Not the image I was looking for.
After my morning of sun and sand (and naked old men), I waited for the bus to head over to a few of the island’s vineyards, choosing to jump off at Wild on Waiheke. This vineyard was adorable with beanbag chairs, barrel tables, giant chessboards, and archery. I sampled a selection of wines and found myself most enjoying the Pinot Gris. I’m typically a red wine drinker but this glass was filled with fruity and light flavors, perfect for the warm summer day. I relaxed here for a bit before making my way back to the city in the late afternoon. A day well spent.
I’d finally found sheep! I’m four days in to my trip and the only livestock I’d seen were cows. This country is filled with 40 million sheep, none of which seem to live anywhere I’d been so far. Rotorua is a town located in an active volcanic area and is filled with bubbling mud and hot water pools. It smells of sulfur (read: rotten eggs!) and steam can be seen billowing up out of the ground in several areas around town. Rotorua is also home to the largest Maori population, New Zealand’s indigenous people, and is the best place to learn about their history and culture.
One of the optional activities in Rotorua was an overnight stay at the fortified Tamaki Maori Village, with dinner and a show included. I chose to participate in this overnight stay and it was one of the best things I did in New Zealand. The stay began at about 4pm with the nomination of a chief and a welcome into the village. A group of about 45 of us had opted to participate and were expected to select a chief among us to introduce our group to the Maori leaders. Our chief represented us for the remainder of our stay, being responsible for several other roles throughout the evening as well.
After our introductions, our Maori “guides” told us about their tribe’s history, offered us tea, coffee, and cake, and helped us settle in to our accommodations. I was thrilled to find that our stay consisted of large log houses with single beds, air con and real towels! Pure luxury for a backpacker! Next, we split into two groups to learn a song (to be performed in front of 150 strangers at dinner) and play a few traditional stick games.
As we moved into the evening’s events, we had the opportunity to meet each joining group’s chief. Just as we had done earlier, each visiting group (or busload of patrons, really) had to nominate a “chief” to represent them as well. Before meeting the leaders, we were warned that this was a traditional and serious introduction; the tribal warriors would take any sort of movement or smile as a challenge. This was meant to be a simulation of what it was like for tribes to approach each others’ villages many years ago.
The tribal leaders and warriors arrived via canoe and challenged our newly appointed chiefs to determine if we had come for war or peace. After a few moments of intimidation, a peace gift was placed on the ground by one of the warriors. We knew that if our chief picked up this gift, we would be welcomed inside. If not, things would become much more interesting…thankfully our chief picked up their offering and we were all welcomed into the village.
We spent about 45 minutes inside the village, moving from one hut to the next, learning about the Maori peoples’ history and customs, including the Haka. As described on NewZealand.com, “the haka is a type of ancient Maori war dance traditionally used on the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace. Haka are a fierce display of a tribe’s pride, strength and unity. Actions include violent foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant”. Today it is used in ceremonies and celebrations, just as I would see during my visit. The national rugby team has even adopted it as part of their tradition before a match.
After our time in the village, we sat down to a brief show filled with song and dance before heading to dinner. The evening’s meal consisted of chicken and roast as well as salad and veggies, all of which were delicious and filling. The dinner ended with a few more songs, including our own performance of the song my group learned earlier in the day.
My favorite part of the evening happened next when it was announced that one of the team members was leaving the “village”. As a way of saying farewell, several men performed the Haka, with the departing team member joining in as well. At this point, I had seen the Haka performed several times, but none was as emotional or moving as this. It was heartfelt and gave me chills. The men were no longer performing; they were putting their true emotions into it as they said farewell to their friend and colleague. It was an honor to watch.
This marked the end of the night for most of the guests but us over-nighters jumped in the hot tubs and grabbed a few drinks to end our evening. The next morning we were treated to breakfast and a ride back into town to end our visit. It was truly an experience that I will cherish always.
Taupo is a small town located on the lake of its namesake. Lake Taupo is massive – larger than all of Singapore – and offers the typical lakeside activities including catamaran cruises and parasailing. The most popular activities in Taupo though are skydiving and tackling New Zealand’s best day hike, the Tongariro Crossing. Can you guess which one I did?
My 4:30AM alarm seemed to come too soon and shortly after I herded onto a shuttle heading to Tongariro National Park for my 19.5km hike. The Crossing took 6.5 hours to complete, not including the two optional mountain summits. The hike consisted of several challenging stretches as well as easier walks. The scenery throughout was beautiful, much more than I’d imagined. I was familiar with Mt Ngauruhoe, affectionately known now as Mt Doom, as well as the Emerald Lakes, but apart from that, I didn’t know what to expect.
Our shuttle driver handed out a one-pager explaining the various parts of the walk including each segment’s difficulty level and estimated travel time. After reading about Mt Ngauruhoe’s “dangerous ascent” I knew that optional summit was off the table. I had every intention of taking on the second summit though – Mt Tongariro – said to be a “moderate ascent”. However, by the time I walked up to the turn off, there was no way I was adding on any extra time.
The most challenging part of the hike was up the Red Crater Ridge. Not only was it a steep incline, the ground was made of small rocks rather than a man-made track and I either slid or tripped every few steps. After reaching the top, the descent was not much easier because it was mostly volcanic sand all the way down. A sand board would have been incredibly useful here!
While this portion was the most difficult of the day, it was also the most rewarding. Walking across the red crater felt as if walking on another planet and the actual mountain itself was stunning in its deep red color. Upon reaching the summit, the Blue Lake came into view followed by the Emerald Lakes, each sparkling in the sunlight. The air smelled of rotten eggs due to the sulfur and my shoes filled with volcanic rock as I cautiously trekked downhill, but the view was well worth it. Simply amazing!
The final hour led us downhill, through the valley’s forest. By this point, every part of my body from the hips down was aching. I was ready to cross the finish line. After nearly an hour of switchbacks through the valley and numerous steps down through the forest, the trees cleared and I saw the car park ahead, my muscles rejoicing. The end was a welcomed sight. Our hour-long shuttle ride back was packed with 50 accomplished hikers, all fast asleep.
One of the greatest aspects of Kiwi Experience is all the small town stops and unique destinations you are privileged to encounter. The tiny rural town of Taihape is one of those excellent small towns. Located in the Ruapehu region, Taihape is home to River Valley Lodge, nestled along the Rangitikei River. Our bus traveled down a long, narrow, winding road leading deep into the valley and to the isolated lodge. What were we doing there, you ask? White water rafting, of course!
I joined my tour group at 8:15AM the next morning to suit up, feeling a bit nervous, as this was my first time rafting. Thankfully my river guide, Janie, was calm, experienced, explained each section of the river and rapids, and made me feel confident. The rapids ranged from grades three through five, making it a lot of fun to travel down stream. Our 2.5 hours on the river seemed to fly by and without any feeling of danger. This was another of my favorite activities of the trip and it provided excellent photo mementos, too!
Wellington, located at the bottom of the North Island, is New Zealand’s capital city. As we arrived into the city, our bus driver explained that Wellington is the second windiest city in world as well as the shakiest city with multiple fault lines running through it. Wellington was the first place I noticed having instructional signs for what to do in the event of an earthquake. The signs made me both nervous and intrigued, interestingly enough. Lonely Planet dubbed Wellington the “coolest little city in the world” and with its immense coffee culture, hipsters, urban street art, lane ways, and arcades, it pretty much is.
The minimum days on a Kiwi Experience ticket only offers you one night in Wellington. Being the city girl that I am, I knew I’d want more time and opted to stay an extra night. I had a full day to explore the city (as well as do laundry!) and I spent it walking down lane ways and popular streets like Hannah’s Lane Way and Cuba Street. I loved the harbor and mountain views with the cool breeze running through, a breeze up from Antarctica and through the Cook Strait no less.
I decided to take the famous cable car up to the mountain to the cable car museum, planetarium, and botanical gardens. For a cheap $7, you get awesome views of the city and a fun ride on the car. Originally created to transport locals up the steep hills, the car is a popular tourist attraction now as well. That night, I treated myself to an Italian feast. Two ladies dining next to me struck up a conversation, asking why I was eating alone if I was traveling with a bus full of other people. I explained to them that that was exactly why I was dining alone. I’d been saving money by cooking in the hostels thus far and deserved a night out on me. Sometimes you just need to treat yourself, you know?
Kia Ora (Maori for ‘be well’), North Island! I love your cities, beaches, rolling hills, and sense of adventure. Off to the South Island next – read about my (mis)adventures here.
In my opinion, the South Island is significantly more stunning than the North. With the Sounds, Fjords, and Southern Alps, the natural beauty of the South Island cannot be paralleled. Beauty aside, my ten days in the South Island was filled with hits and misses. While I had perfect weather every day, a handful of my desired activities were cancelled for various reasons. I had to chock that up to the ebbs and flows of travel…plus, I was in NEW ZEALAND. I really couldn’t complain.
Continue reading “(Mis)Adventures in the South Island, New Zealand”
As a newbie to the wonderful world of travel, I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of countries around the world is limited; New Zealand is no exception. I booked my trip two months prior to my departure date, selecting a one-week stint before returning back to Australia. One week! I am embarrassed now to admit it. This is how little I knew.
Continue reading “My Kiwi Experience: 3-Weeks in New Zealand”
Have you ever stepped into a new city and felt several other cities staring back at you? This is what happened to me during my first week in Melbourne, Australia where I felt a strong connection with a city I’ve called home, New Orleans.
Now, to be fair, there are numerous aspects of Melbourne that are nothing like New Orleans, and maybe – just maybe – I was feeling a little homesick, but allow me to make a case for why I think Melbourne is New Orleans’ secret sister city.
The Great Australian Rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney runs deep and with only one week in the Victorian city, I have developed a few opinions of my own, most of which I will not delve into now. I will say though, where Sydney is rich with natural beauty, Melbourne is beautifully designed.
Melbourne is a city that was well-planned with artistic structural achievements and creative usage of spaces. Here you’ll find lane ways filled with urban art, small bars, and cafes as well as parks and colorfully designed buildings on every block. While living in Sydney, I asked Sydney-siders how they would compare the two cities. And while Sydney reminded me of the big city life like you’d find in New York or San Francisco, Melbourne sounded like the cultural hub that is New Orleans. Yes, I arrived with preconceived notions, but the arts & cultural vibes you in New Orleans are what I’ve felt here in Melbourne, too.
Browsing local artist stalls, sampling tasty foods from all around the city, purchasing fresh produce, and sipping some wine – yes please! New Orleans knows how to do this best but I was pleasantly surprised that Melbourne has this down, too.
Day one, I stopped by the Queen Victoria Night Market and instantly fell in love. The market was bustling with young people who were there to browse, shop, eat, and drink. It was my kind of scene and, of course, reminded me of many a market back in NOLA.
Without much foresight, I planned my move to Melbourne during the Australian Open and on my first full day in the city, I ventured over to the tournament’s grounds. Assuming that I wouldn’t be able to afford a pass, I admired from the gates and continued on my way. A few days later though, I was back. Granted, I was there late and caught the last 10 minutes of a match but I was in!
Melbourne is the annual host for the Australian Open as well as numerous other major sporting events just as New Orleans hosts Superbowls and National Championships in the Superdome. Both cities are nationally and internationally known for their welcoming venues and sporting arenas as well as world-class attractions around the city for visitors.
Sure, other cities have this tourist attraction, too but I couldn’t leave it off the list! I’ve enjoyed seeing these carriages around Melbourne, especially because the horses are trotting along with feather headbands!
Every major city has street performers but does every city have good performers?! This is where NOLA and Melbourne shine. I’ve walked down various streets in Melbourne to find musicians playing and singing on multiple corners, some even with a CD for sale and most with large crowds standing to listen. A breath of fresh air, if you ask me.
Not only that, both cities also prominently feature the street car images on t-shirts, magnets, tote bags, stickers, mugs, you name it! They’re an iconic part of the city and one of my favorite sights in Melbourne*. Ahhh, it feels like home.
*I will say that Melbourne has a bit of an edge on this one though as their “city trams” are FREE to ride. They stay within the city center and take you to all the top spots for nothin’. Gotta love free!
The Yarra River and the Mississippi River are vital water sources in their respective countries and have helped shape the cities in which they flow. Both rivers are essential for their ports and are the busiest in their countries. Melbourne and New Orleans were built up along these rivers and offer excellent river-side views and water activities for their locals.
While New Orleans is a popular foodie destination for creole and southern delights, Melbourne is a culinary hot spot in Australia. It’s hard to find a bad meal in either of these cities.
Melbourne’s cocktail bars are constantly on the short list for best in the country, and boy, do they know their drinks. Watching these bartenders mix up a cocktail is like watching an artist at work. It’s no wonder these bartenders have been given the name of mixologist and New Orleans is no stranger to the perfect drink.
Home to the annual Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans hosts mixologists and cocktail lovers from around the world for this week-long spirit industry event. Melbourne mixologists are likely to be in attendance (or really want to go!).
Final verdict: While New Orleans and Melbourne have their own unique characteristics, there are also many defining characteristics that they have in common, too.
Want to know more about Melbourne? Check out my posts on Wine Tasting in Yarra Valley and Your Hit List for Australia’s Capital Cities.
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Dear Sydney,
We’ve spent four beautiful months together and created memories which I will cherish forever. I’ve hiked your coastal cliffs, sailed your harbors, explored your neighborhoods, wined and dined in your restaurants, viewed your highest points, and tanned on your beaches. I can’t imagine a better place to spend my first few months in Australia and am forever grateful for our time together. And now, as I reflect back and set my eyes on the future, I think it’s time for us to move on, to see other people and places. Thank you for being the city I’ve grown to love, with my five favorites included below.
“There will be over a million people!”
“You will need to arrive early and make a day of it.”
“Most of the good vantage points are ticketed and will cost at least $150.”
“All the free spaces are alcohol-free.”
In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, my head was spinning with information overload. This was my first, and likely only, time in Sydney for the celebration and I was determined to see the world famous midnight fireworks…I just didn’t know how I would pull it off.
One of the best parts about living in a new country (or even a city sometimes!) is picking up the local lingo. Here in Australia, there’s heaps of fun Aussie slang and slight variations to my American English language. After a short three and a half months in Oz so far, I’ve learned a few new Aussie words and phrases. And, while I haven’t incorporated them into my daily speak quite yet, they’re still fun to hear and share.
A friend of mine introduced me to Travel Massive before I arrived in Australia. She lives in New York, is a travel blogger (@TheGlobeGetter), and is part of Travel Massive’s New York City chapter. Knowing that I too have a travel blog, she suggested I join the Sydney chapter to meet up and network with travel industry people in my new city. Travel Massive’s mission is “to unearth and connect travel insiders in every city in the world in order to empower change in travel”. Thus far, I’ve participated in two of Travel Massive’s events in Sydney, one of which I was privileged enough to have my friend, The Globe Getter herself, join me!
On January 1, 2015 I made a life changing decision. I have never been one to set resolutions, but I knew this year would be different. I decided 2015 would start with a promise to myself and I declared the new year to be “the year that lived”. Wow – did I keep my promise! I am proud to say that not only did I explore several amazing cities in the United States this year, I also took a leap of faith by quitting my job, leaving my city, and moving to Australia to begin an adventure of a lifetime.
It’s difficult to narrow down all my wonderful, meaningful, adventurous experiences of 2015 into a list of 10, but I’ve done my best to present them here. I am truly blessed and grateful for all that I have, all that I’ve done, the people I’ve met along the way, the family and friends who continue to provide endless love and support, and all that’s yet to come. Join me as I journey down memory lane to my top 10 travel moments of 2015.
I didn’t have to travel far this year to experience the glory that is Mardi Gras. Every year the entire city of New Orleans shuts down to celebrate together and I’ve been privileged to enjoy the celebrations for the past 6 years. With house parties, neutral ground tailgates, plenty of drinking, colorful parades, and an endless supply of beads, Mardi Gras is one of my favorite holidays in New Orleans.
While some tourists come for the boobs and beads on Bourbon, the rest of the city joins together to eat King Cake and revel in the week-long party with friends and family. This year one of my sisters joined me for the main event and we spent our days wearing colorful wigs, catching signature throws, and attending high society balls. Mardi Gras is a must-do for any travel bucket list.
I have visited Washington, D.C. approximately 7 times in my life and toured many of our country’s great monuments and museums. On this year’s trip I decided to explore another side of D.C. My friend and I went to a vineyard in Virginia, a concert in Maryland, and explored the new M.L.K. Jr. museum by night in DC.
My favorite activity of the trip was kayaking along Potomac River on a twilight tour of the monuments. Viewing the famous buildings from the water as the sun set behind them was nothing short of magical. I love experiencing new things in a familiar city.
Austin, Texas is known for great small bars, delicious restaurants, up and coming indie bands, and an active population of young people. The weather was perfect on this April visit and I took to Hill Country in search of another famous Texas experience, barbecue.
Driving through Hill Country is beautiful with its rolling hills bursting with blue bonnet flowers and grazing Texas longhorn cattle. I wasn’t there just to enjoy the view though, I was in search of Texas barbecue! I made my way to a well-known restaurant called The Salt Lick and sat down to a massive plate of barbecued meats including chicken, ribs, and brisket and a few sides coleslaw, beans, and potatoes. I left feeling absolutely glutenous and satisfied. This was Texas at its finest.
Puerto Rico was the destination of choice for Spring Break this year. I was lucky enough to travel with three beautiful ladies to the tropical island. We enjoyed a blissful week of rum punch, gorgeous white sand beaches, and delicious meals. Most of our days were spent beach hopping and, in turn, we found one of my now favorite beaches in the world, La Chiva.
Located within a protected park, La Chiva requires a car and a lot of patience to find. As we pulled up to the beach’s parking area, we noticed several warning signs. The signs were posted in Spanish and warned beach goers of the potential explosives danger. Explosives?! I wasn’t so sure about this beach anymore but we refused to be deterred. With a foam noodle leading the way, we cautiously made our way out to the beach.
La Chiva is easily one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen with gorgeous turquoise waters softly crashing up on the white sugar sand. We spent the day relaxing in the sun and thankfully went explosives-free! Worth the risk!
I could carve a space on this list for my entire trip to Tasmania, but instead I’ll highlight my favorite moment. Continuing with my list of beautiful beaches around the world, my hike down to Wineglass Bay comes in at #6 travel moments this year. While my time was rushed, I got to spend about 45 minutes on another perfect beach. I am now starting a new tradition of taking jumping pictures at my favorite beaches around the world — Wineglass Bay is #2.
Hawai’i is a breathtakingly beautiful addition to the United States and it’s been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. When I booked my one way to Australia, I decided to add in a few days in Hawai’i to break up the trip and see the islands. I spent 5 short days experiencing the magic of Oahu and hope to get back to see the remaining islands soon.
One of the many gorgeous sites in Oahu is the Diamond Head crater, observable from the beaches of Waikiki and an iconic destination. I walked to the national park from Waikiki and spent a few hours hiking up the mountain to outstanding views of the island and Pacific Ocean. I did the hike on a Saturday and while it was incredibly crowded with people on the same mission as myself, the views alone were worth it.
The Sydney Harbor is Sydney’s most iconic landmark and one of my favorite sights in the city. My first views of the Harbor remain a perfect memory but last week I took my Harbor experiences up a notch by jumping aboard a sunset catamaran cruise, thus landing the #4 spot. Departing from Darling Harbor, the catamaran chartered under the Sydney Bridge, alongside the Opera House and over to a secluded beach to dock for the sunset. Watching the brilliant colors dance across the sky behind these iconic buildings was a moment I’ll remember forever. It didn’t hurt that I was in excellent company with a crew of travel industry professionals and several bottles of wine as well.
One of my favorite trips overall this year was my birthday present to myself – a 30th celebration in Costa Rica. I joined a G Adventures tour and convinced a friend to come along with me for an 8-day adventure in pura vida. I did everything from salsa dancing to hiking in a cloud forest, horseback riding through the mountains, swimming in natural hot springs, and zip lining (see #2!). I celebrated my actual birthday in La Fortuna and was treated to a birthday cake, flowers, and drinks by my guide and hosting restaurant. A friend of mine also sent a birthday dollar pin along for me to wear, a New Orleans birthday tradition. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate a big birthday!
One of the most amazing and terrifying experiences of my life, zip lining above the canopies of Monteverde, Costa Rica easily takes my #2 travel experiences spot this year. With a large harness strapping me to a cable, I soared over the trees like a bird on the longest zip line in Latin America. I remember moments of being completely terrified followed by moments of pure adrenaline and awe. Thankfully there were people ahead of me and waiting in line behind me, otherwise it may have been harder to step off the ledge. It is easily a top moment for me this year and an experience that I would recommend to anyone traveling in Costa Rica.
A childhood dream come true! Last month I continued my theme of floating through the air by joining a hot air balloon ride across wine country. The Hunter Valley has rows and rows of lush vineyards that, in my opinion, are best viewed from above. I was a little nervous during our ascent, but my nerves were quickly calmed as we floated gently across the sky like a cloud. The 45 minute flight was by far my best travel moment of 2015.
Cheers to an amazing year and to all that 2016 may bring! Happy New Year, everyone!
ALI IN OZ