New Zealand. Adrenaline Capital of the World!
On a boat tour of the Bay of Islands. One of the areas explored by Captain Cook in 1769.
I arrived in New Zealand on December 15th. After stepping off the plane, I was so happy to see my dad waiting for me at the airport. It felt amazing to be back in a country where everything felt normal and I was able to relax with my true teacher, Tom—aka Dad. Tom is a true teacher in that he always leads by example and understands the power and necessity of carefully chosen words. After listening to people jabber on for a month about the “science” of life even as they contradicted their own words, it was refreshing to remember that the best kind of teacher is one who demonstrates valuable life lessons by simply being him or herself.
Tom enjoying the view of Whangarei bay.
Dad and I spent our first day in Auckland walking through its downtown and exploring its wharf. There was plenty of locations we wanted to explore, so the next morning we headed north to the Bay of Islands. Our first pit stop was at Whangarei, which made me quickly realize that I would never be bored in New Zealand. The booklet at the information station offered information on everything from surfing and hiking to wildlife reserves and native history. As I browsed the brochure, it became immediately obvious why New Zealand is known as the adrenaline capital of the world.
The summit of Mount Mania
We climbed Mount Mania, a 460-meter ascent that rewarded us with a spectacular view of the Whangarei Harbour. The mountaintop has five stones that, according to local legend, were produced when the “God of Thunder” transformed a chief and his family into a permanent fixture on the mountain’s peak. This one-hour hike was a nice warm up for the next trek listed on our itinerary, the Tongariro Crossing.
Mount Mania. The five stones are resting on the peak of the mountain.
The next day we went on a boat tour of The Bay of Islands and had the chance to see the first landing location of Captain Cook, where he traded with the local Māori people in 1769. New Zealand’s history of its explorers and their interactions with native people is vast and unique.
Bay of Islands. Known as "Hole in the rock" this rock formation used to provide a training apparatus that was used to initiate young Maori boys into manhood.
Unfortunately, its story resembles the stories of so many other places around the world; that is, the natives were ostracized and forced off their land in exchange for “treaties” that eroded their ability to keep their traditions and culture alive. It’s so disheartening to think of the many inimitable traditions that were lost because of humankind’s greed and need for constant expansion. Returning to my visit, after we completed our cruise we set off for Tangaruri, which required a 7-hour drive across the sprawling hills of the countryside.
The hills rolled on forever along the country side.
The hillsides are dotted with dairy farms, which fuel the largest industry in New Zealand. Little else occupied the land except for herds of cattle, which have replaced the flocks of sheep that used to dominate the region.
The east coast of the North Island just outside of Whangarei.
The first day in Tanguri, we went on a 17-kilometer mountain bike ride through Tree Trunk Gorge. When we were renting the bikes, the woman working the reception desk enthusiastically described this “easy trip” and its great view. This ride required crossing seven creeks, as well as regularly walking our bikes up hills covered in muddy ground that made it almost impossible to gain any traction.
Tree Trunk Gorge
The four-hour ride was grueling at times, but its route through a dense forest offered us a rare opportunity for total seclusion; we didn’t encounter a single person for the entire duration of the ride. All in all, the trek was great; but definitely more intense than we were expecting.
The first of seven creeks we crossed.
The next morning we drove early to the Tongariro Crossing, which is rated by many as one of the top ten hikes in the world, and after completing it, you can easily appreciate how it gained this distinction.
Sun rise over Mount Tongariro.
The first resting point a quarter way into the trail.
The summit of Mount Tongariro
The trek covers steep volcanic terrain between Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe. Proper hiking gear is definitely required to complete this trip. The total distance is 19.4 km and takes on average about 7 to 8 hours to complete. The high point is 1,886m at Red Crater, which is still an active and steaming vent. Just past the high point are crystal blue lakes with the wafting aroma of sulfur surrounding them. The most amazing part of the hike was seeing the variety of people that were able to complete the adventure, ranging from the very young (including two parents toting a baby) to elderly people. It’s so motivating to see someone completely unexpected take on such a demanding hike and complete it. When people set their mind to accomplishing something, almost anything is possible. For me, walking down that final stretch of the path was one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve had in recent memory.
The sulfur lakes appeared on the decent.
This lake was the perfect location to enjoy a well deserved lunch.
We were nearly finished the hike and the views only became more beautiful.
After our long trek, we drove back to Auckland and then flew to Queenstown. Within moments of stepping off the plane, I immediately fell in awe of the mountain range that greeted us—the same mountain range that served as the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings films. Everyone I know who’s visited New Zealand has made a point of visiting Queenstown; when the crystal clear lake came into view through the windshield of the rental car, it was easy enough to understand why.
Queenstown lake
With its heavy focus on tourism and its streets filled with restaurants and shops, Queenstown bears a significant resemblance to Banff. Taking in all of the entertainment options in and around Queenstown was overwhelming! I convinced my dad to try the famous Canyon Swing, which freefalls 60m before swinging 200m out over the canyon. It was impressive to watch him harness up and prepare himself for the adrenaline rush. When it was my turn, I felt my heart rate increase as I focused on the moment. When you’re accelerating at the speed of gravity, it’s easy to feel how tremendous this force truly is, and how reliant we are on something mostly forgotten in our daily lives. That arc out over the creek was definitely reminiscent of the feelings I remember as a child on the arc of the swing. Enjoying the same activities as children is definitely a great way to stay young
The Canyon Swing platform
Harnessed and ready!
After the Canyon Swing, we drove over to AK Halcket Bridge so I could try the first commercial bungie jump ever opened to the public (in 1988). Since then, the sport has become immensely popular the world over. The free fall was amazing, a fast hurtle toward a river that plunged my head straight into the water. It’s crazy to think how many people, myself included, enjoy past times as chaotic as jumping off a bridge. But it seems our X-games driven culture has reached a similar conclusion—confronting death is one of the most exhilarating ways to feel alive. We spent the rest of our time truly relaxing and enjoying the scenery Queenstown has to offer. If I were asked to choose my favorite travel destination, Queenstown would definitely top the list.