Really Nice Vacations

Most people would know New Zealand as a scenic land with lots of high mountains and vast green lands.

I discovered the mesmerizing beauty of New Zealand during my 7-day stay there. I traveled on budget and I found hotels in New Zealand were reasonably priced especially with some online assistance before I left. That way, I managed to spend most of money on air-ticket, food and a few souvenirs.

My favourite days were spent in Christchurch and a fiord trip to Milford Sound. Until now, I could see the blooms at Christchurch Botanic Garden vividly in my mind. The made-in-1863 garden is about 30 hectare big and is known for it’s ten sub gardens. I also remembered the fog that enveloped Milford Sound when it rained as our boat passed through it. I could feel the misty wetness even in my dreams. Although called a sound, Milford Sound is more accurately classified as a fjord. It was so breath-taking beautiful that Rudyard Kipling called it the eighth Wonder of the World. I also stayed one night at an Auckland farm but I thought it was just so-so. I guess it was too commercialized for me. Next time, I would pick a working farm and not a farm catered to tourists. I’m not there to watch circus performances and take photo only.

But to the rest of the world who has yet to visit the beautiful country, they actually have caught more than a glimpse though the Lord of the Ring trilogy. New Zealand born Peter Jackson filmed the entire three films in various locations around New Zealand. New Zealand is Middle Earth. This series of movies won four Oscars for “The Fellowship of the Ring”, two Oscars for “The Two Towers” and 11 Oscars for “The Return of the King”. However, the biggest winners is New Zealand. It took two years to film the LOTR trilogy but millions of years to build the all natural sets.

For Peter Jackson, choosing New Zealand to shoot his three films was logical. He lives there, and Wellington is home to his hi-tech digital studios (Weta Digital) and his film company (Three Foot Six). More importantly, he thought “New Zealand is the best country in the world to shoot this film, because of the variety of locations we have.” The rolling hills of Matamata became Hobbiton. The volcanic region of Mt Ruapehu transformed into the fiery Mt. Doom where Sauron forged The Ring. While Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital, was the setting for numerous scenes including the Eregion Hills and the Pillars of Argonath.

Can you imagine how these films draw tens of thousands of tourists to New Zealand? I had been to New Zealand but I wanted to go back there now that I knew I had missed out a lot of scenic locations! Whether you are checking out New Zealand as a backpacker, or a couple enjoying honeymoon, or as a family going on a vacation, you might want to do a few things before you leave.

1. Check the air ticket price. There’s a price war out there. Be sure to check your local travel agencies as well as online stores to get a comparison.

2. Check the weather. Obviously, folks who likes to pick fruits at orchard will not want to go during winter.

3. Check on local highlights and festivals.

4 Check on the availability of hotels. Again, for obvious reason – you will not find your ideal accommodations that easily during peak holidaying seasons. You can use this list that I had consulted:

Hotels in Auckland rices at Auckland hotels start from NZD$55.00, which is really cool if you want to travel cheap. Otherwise, pamper yourself at better hotels from NZD$135.00.

Hotels in Wellington: Prices at Wellington hotels start from NZD$75.00 or you can opt for those in the NZD$150-160.00 range.

Hotels in Christchurch: Prices at Christchurch hotels start from as little as NZD$45.00. Even the higher end hotels are rather affordable from NZD$120.00.

Do your research and have fun when you are in Middle Earth.

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