My first (and only) holiday to New Zealand started off as a visit to Auckland for the 100th edition of the Les Mills BODYSTEP program, because - surprise surprise - I used to be a group exercise fitness instructor! Yep. Man.. this was less than 10 years ago and it already feels like a past life!
EDIT - Dad read this blog and shared with me a video from my instructor days.
First - some shots from the filming -
But I definitely did not want my holiday to be just about the filming. After all, a country like New Zealand has so much more to offer. Not to mention one of my best friends from university lives in Auckland with her husband and her baby girl. I also knew that I would be moving to Barcelona shortly after, and hence wanted to take the opportunity to visit Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton, and Queensland.
A brief rundown of the destinations:
Auckland is such a diverse city - apart from a beautiful skyline, it also has a great waterfront. Not to mention vineyards, sheep farms like the Agrodome where you can witness sheep shearing, and gorgeous lakes and waterfalls just a short distance away.
Rotorua is famous for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. We visited a Maori village where we learned more about the different cultures and had a fabulous dinner cooked underground, via the heat from the geothermal activity. Unreal.
Hobbiton - what's a visit to this part of the world without a stroll around Hobbiton?! You don't need to be a big fan to find joy in walking through The Shire. It's easily accessible as a day trip from Rotorua or Auckland.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world! I wanted to come here for the scenic views AND to skydive. Til date this remains the most daring yet most fulfilling thing I've ever done, and what better place to do it than Queenstown, where you see a beautiful mix of lakes, mountains and trees as you fall 15.000 feet from the air?!
Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. Think Norway but with better weather. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins
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