Ideas for adventurous family trips – Part 1
November 19, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourists Attractions
Families looking to take an adventurous trip tend to be those who wish to gain new and exciting experiences, whilst spending time together. These trips can be the highlight of the year for all the family, increasing confidence, life experiences and awareness of each individual’s strengths and weaknesses. An adventurous family trip will develop every family member in some way.
When I think of adventurous family trips I imagine exciting and unusual destinations around the world such as Africa or New Zealand. Adventurous ways of traveling, such as by overnight train or in a camper van also spring to mind. Adventurous activities whether stand alone or the basis to the holiday are also high on the list ideas for adventurous family trips.
Different destinations around the world provide adventurous trips for the family. However it’s important to recognize what you are used to, to allow you to assess how adventurous a new destination may be. For my parents in the 1980s, just making it out of the UK was adventurous. I am amazed even now, how many Americans that I meet who have never been out of the US. So to go to any other continent would be adventurous. However, if you are looking for a destination which is only open to the more adventurous traveler then high on the list would be Africa, New Zealand and Australia, Thailand, Iceland, Eastern Europe or South America. All these destinations offer a little of the unknown and require an adventuresome nature to experience what the country has to offer, ranging from adrenalin rush sports and amazing scenery in New Zealand to unusual cultural experiences and architecture in Thailand. Africa of course offers the opportunity to do a safari, South America, some unusual environments and Eastern Europe, a chance to see places where life is still relatively undeveloped and unaffected by the modern world.
Different destinations will be suited to different age ranges within a family. Whilst a safari would be an amazing and adventuresome experience for many family’s, I would not include toddlers in the age bracket to enjoy this adventure! Australia and New Zealand offer something for all the family with unusual flora, fauna and geological formations. Last year we took our three year old son to Australia (Melbourne & Sydney) and New Zealand. We all had such an adventure, we all fed kangaroos and koalas for the first time, walked on deserted black sand beaches, walked in the treetops along the great coast road and stayed on
Three Reasons Why You Should Travel To New Zealand
April 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
If you are unsure about where to take your next vacation then perhaps you should consider New Zealand. It is a beautiful country that has a variety of wonderful scenery and terrain. From the forests in the north to the many beaches in the south, New Zealand offers just about every thing that the visitor could want. This article aims to provide an insight in to just a small selection of the places that you can visit once you decide to go.
Current statistics show that the population of New Zealand is approximately four million people, of which just over a million live in its biggest city, Auckland. The capital city is Wellington which has a population of around 400,000. The vast majority of the urban areas of the country are situated on the North Island and generally people visit the South Island to enjoy the rural environment.
Auckland
If you decide to visit Auckland on your trip then make sure you visit the Sky Tower. It is hard to miss as it stands 1,066 feet into the air. Built in 1997 its primary function is for telecommunications. However, as one of the tallest buildings in New Zealand it is also a favorite place for tourists and locals alike to visit. There are restaurants and shops within the tower and the views can be breathtaking, particularly the sunsets. If you are feeling adventurous then you might want to consider trying the bungee jump off the tower. The Sky Jump will drop you 192 meters at a speed of 83 kilometers per hour in approximately 11 seconds!
Christchurch
This is the largest city on the South Island and is a great place to visit. With its relaxed environment, pleasant suburbs and wonderful scenery it is not difficult to understand why this is a popular city to visit. During its history, Christchurch has become known as the gateway to the Antarctica as it traditionally has been used as a base for explorations into the area. Famous explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton have used the area previously and it is still used for these purposes today.
Christchurch also has amazing botanical gardens. They were established in 1863 and possess a vast array of different and unusual plants. The great thing about this is that entry is free, so if you do go to the city you have no excuse not to visit.
Fiordland National Park
This wonderful place was named a World Heritage site in 1986 and is New Zealand’s largest National Park. The area covers approximately 1.2 Million Hectares and is a vast variety of beautiful natural landscapes.
There are plenty of places to explore within the National Park. Doubtful Sound is the deepest fiord and it is here that you can discover penguins and seals. It is also possible to go Kayaking or enjoy a cruise in this area. Milford Sound is the only fiord that is accessible by road and offers a wonderful drive, one perhaps you are unlikely to experience anywhere else in the world. If you visit this area then you must find the time to see the underwater observatory. It is situated some 10 meters below the surface and offers a wonderful view of the undisturbed natural environment under the fiord.
