Agent Blogs
New Zealand Wonders
By Kim and Dan Baldwin
October 2009
New Zealand has capitalized on its position as the best place to film a movie. You may have heard of some little films called Lord of the Rings. Perhaps Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian? Maybe even X-Men: Wolverine or Jane Campion’s The Piano? I was a little doubtful at first. After all, doesn’t Hollywood make even stunning natural beauty look better?
No need to tamper with New Zealand, as the snow-capped mountains (appropriately called The Remarkables) that surround Queenstown and protect the green hills of the southern island look more real than anything I have seen in the movies. The beaches are so picturesque; you’ll want to stage your own little dramatic moment right there against the surf. The beauty of New Zealand creates enough drama to make even Hollywood jealous. Plus, you will discover plenty of new and inventive ways to achieve maximum adrenaline rush!
My husband and I decided to treat ourselves to some of New Zealand’s drama and take a whirlwind two-week kamikaze trip from top to bottom (well, almost the top): Auckland to Invercargill and everything in between. Here are a few things we learned along the way:
Auckland is NOT indicative of the rest of the country. New Zealand’s biggest city sprawls and feels like several cities tossed together with a lot of water and a string of five different public bus companies holding it together. Stay for one or two nights in the city and poke through the shops of Parnell or Ponsenby. Bungee jump off the Sky Tower if you are so inclined. It’s outside of Auckland where the real drama occurs.
It’s green. Really, really green. The rainforests outside of Auckland are chock-full of native birds, stately kauri trees, and many other examples of native flora and fauna that intrigue the senses. I was struck by the difference in the bird calls and the shape of the leaves on the native trees. Hike through the Waitakere Ranges and walk along the black sands of Kare-Kare beach.
Rotorua is possibly the only place on earth where you’ll associate natural beauty with the scent of rotten eggs. The geothermal activity here is the draw, not the town itself. Take a leisurely walk through Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. After your hike through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, head to the visitor’s center to view the “before” pictures. A massive volcanic eruption in 1886 created lush forests worthy of the Lost World.
It sounds like the name of an 80’s children’s toy, but the Waitamo Glowworm Caves are a must. I had no expectations other than a tacky tourist attraction, but I left amazed that these tiny glowing creatures still survive in this age of extinction, pollution, and global warming. The silent boat ride through black caves with strings of glowworms serenely waiting for their next meal was a welcome respite from Auckland’s in-your-face adventure.
Flying into Wellington is like taking a bungee jump, only instead of a rope, you’re held aloft by two large turbines and a fuselage. The city is known for wind and a short runway, so pilots who can’t stick their landing the first time just circle around and try again. Walk along the harbor, spend the afternoon at Te Papa (the best museum in the country) and have dinner at one of the restaurants along the wharf.
Stay tuned for our South Island adventures…
Life has been good to me lately, especially in the travel department. In September I flew to Paris to hang around with a girlfriend for a week; and because I felt so guilty leaving my husband, Chris, at home, I took him to Hawaii for his birthday on October 9. We spent 4 ½ wonderful hedonistic days in one of our most favorite hotels in the world, the Halekulani. Everything about the Halekulani is perfect: the room, the service, the staff, the beach chairs and umbrellas. Ice is in your room at just the right hours – they are always one step ahead of you with their impeccable service. People don’t realize that Waikiki has great snorkeling. We always see thread fins, angel fish, box fish, humuhumus and the rest I can’t name.
Chris was completely spoiled by everybody including the ‘spa girls’ – they gave him a beautiful spa bathrobe for his birthday. What a lucky man! He’s a water baby – loves the sun and sea and nothing pleases him more than Hawaii.
Paris on the other hand was just awful – just kidding! Actually I was there for my birthday, Sep.9 – no intention on doing so but it was convenient to meet my friend at that time. I have been to Paris probably 20 times and I never tire of this magnificent city. The very first time I went to Europe with a 6-week Eurail pass in hand, I landed in Paris and didn’t go any further. The Eurail went unused so you can see that Paris has been a big favorite in my life. This time was just as perfect, and once again I saw so many sites I had not seen before. The repeats like the L’Orangerie exhibit of Monet’s water lilies once again gave me goose bumps. My friend Phyllis had never been to Paris, so it was really neat showing someone else all the things you love.
My husband and I go to Paris at least once a year, and in the past few years we’ve been staying in the Marais district. The Marais has suited us for its quietness and I have to admit, another favorite hotel, the Pavillion de la Reine. We are not people who say we don’t care where we stay because we’re not ever in our room, we do care where we stay and enjoy our room, the ambience of the hotel and its staff.
There have been many a time when we’ve arrived at a hotel, and I’ve said, I refuse to stay in this room, which always upsets Chris, so I just leave him in the room and go out a search for another hotel. After the ordeal is over, he’s always so happy that I moved him but it’s a difficult situation when it’s happening. This time with Phyllis, I returned to the Left Bank and stayed at Le Tourville in the 7th Qtr. I wanted her to wake up, walk outside and see the Eiffel Tower – that’s something! We ate, drank, shopped, walked, did nothing in moderation and had a great time.
Another favorite hotel in Paris – Hotel des Grandes Ecoles
The
difference in temperature and humidity is immediate. The pace is a little slower. You will notice that “y’all,” “yes, ma’am,”
and “no, sir” are as automatic as the bottomless glasses of sweet tea at any restaurant. The trees are different, the streets are
different, and even the history is different.
Savannah, Georgia definitely makes you feel like you have
gotten away from it all. Despite the
drastic change in humidity and sometimes dramatic pop-up thunderstorms, August
is a great time to visit. 
I highly recommend staying in one of the historical downtown bed and breakfasts and taking a narrative trolley tour to learn your way around the city. Otherwise, Savannah is a very walkable city and no rental car is needed if you stay in the city proper. There are plenty of shade trees in each of the 20+ squares of the city. Relaxing with an iced tea and a copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil on one of many park benches through each square would be a nice finish to a day of walking tours or exploring the many SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) galleries. This well-respected college has really taken pride in revitalizing some overlooked areas of Savannah.
A
walk down River
Street
reminds you that Savannah does get its fair share of tourists. I admit it, I was a tourist who wanted to eat
at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons restaurant.
I was not disappointed, as the food was excellent (I recommend the
buffet!) and the service impeccable.
Everything truly is better with butter! 
If you have the time, a day trip to Charleston, South Carolina is worth the 90-minute drive. Fort Sumter will appeal to the history buffs, while a walk along Broad Street or the Battery will make everyone wish they lived in the days before the Civil War. The houses are truly magnificent, and the wrought-iron gates and balconies are works of art.
A kayak trip through the tall grass cuts of coastal Tybee Island is a must for any visitor. The relaxing half-day trip allows you to get close to dolphins and other magnificent local wildlife. Be sure to ask the kayak company if they offer low tide and high tide trips, as the landscape is totally different. I recommend Savannah Canoe and Kayak Company.
Visitors to Savannah will feel as though they have experienced a truly unique and special place full of rich culture and history.