Have you ever dreamt of swimming with a pod of playful dolphins, watching  the gentle whales up close, spotting the shy, yellow eyed penguins.....Sounds like a scene straight out of the National Geographic Channel, right? Unbelievable but true!!  Ranging from a diverse scenery of gently rolling, green farmlands dotted with bundles of fluffy, white sheep to spectacular steep, snow clad mountains. Blessed with a scenic wonderland, pristine environment and unique landscape, you can imagine nothing but 100% Pure NewZealand - a country more committed to protecting the environment than other developed nations.

March 2014 won me a place in the top 51 agents from South and South East Asian countries, who travelled to NZ on a mega familiarisation trip. Here, I narrate my tryst with nature during the 10 wonderful days that I spent exploring and experiencing the South Island of New Zealand.

THE TIAKI PROMISE Let's begin with the Tiaki Promise -  a commitment to care for New Zealand while travelling in NewZealand.  To preserve NewZealand’s culture, landscape and environment, so we can protect the country for generations to come.  Connect with me for more details on how YOU can make a difference!

Christchurch

Imagine a caterpillar transforming into a dainty, pretty butterfly or a snake shedding its skin only to display a shinier, beautiful, new coat.  The power of renewal and transformation was evident in Christchurch, which was ravaged by two major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 respectively. 

From a horrific event, an incredible movement of another kind emerged. Even before the rubble was cleaned and new buildings built, public art and other displays were springing up everywhere. From sculptures and murals to gardens and giant games, I understand the central city was more beautiful than ever. Christchurch flaunted and unfurled her English heritage evident in the Gothic architecture and manicured gardens as we set out to explore the city. 

Visit to Quake City - a must for anyone interested in understanding the impact of earthquakes. Witness stories through photography, video footage and various artefacts including remnants of the beautiful Chrischurch Cathedral's celebratedrose window.

Punting on the Avon - an activity which I most looked forward to, but unfortunately could not undertake as Mother Nature decided to pelt us with a shower of hail. An out of the box, ecofriendly 30 minute cruise to explore the inner city's revitalised Avon River Precinct. It involves a handcrafted flat-bottomed boat, poled by your Punter dressed in Edwardian attire - a great way to see the Garden City!  

Alternately, we took a panoramic tour of the city on the beautiful Christchurch Tram, which offers a unique experience combining history and sightseeing. For those exploring a novel experience to dine, look no further. Experience the luxury of the 36 seater colonial style dining tram and treat yourself to the finest service, cuisine and beverages that NZ has to offer. Incorporate a unique dining experience with a sightseeing tour showcasing the vibrant city. Truly romantic!!

There is more to Christchurch than meets the eye.  Dig in deeper and you will find the soul of the city in its many squares and street art in the inner city. Visit the International Antarctic Centre for an enjoyable Hagglund snowmobile ride among other things or meet the native Kiwi at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Don't miss out on the famous Cardboard Cathedral.  Christchurch is a great hub for day excursions to the Hanmer Springs for a relaxing hot tub after an exhilarating Jet boat experience or a day at the vineyards sampling the local wines at friendly cellar doors.  Discover the enigmatic Moeraki Boulders Beach.  But the most popular would be a whale watching cruise at Kaikoura as you come face to face with these gentle giants. Connect with me for some out of the box ideas, if you have more than a day in Christchurch! 

Are you a cycling enthusiast?  NewZealand is one of the most breathtaking and beautiful cycling destinations in the world.  Offering a diverse cycle trail network, cyclists can connect with local communities, while exploring the best that the country has to offer.  From the subtropical forests in the far north to the glacial lakes reflecting Alpine vistas in the south - there is an adventure that awaits each one of us.  Let me help you find yours. 

Lake Tekapo

Snuggled in my comfortable coach seat this chilly March morning, I was about to witness a display of changing scenery, as we drove off to our next destination - Lake Tekapo.  Christchurch to Lake Tekapo is easily one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand.  A straight drive to Geraldine mostly dotted with prosperous, agricultural villages unfurled to rolling hills, winding roads and tight bends. Enroute, we encountered the odd traffic jam caused by a flock of grazing sheep bundling across the road, unhurried to greener pastures!  

A photostop at the Burke's Pass, where the scenery changes once again and then - Welcome to High Country - Mackenzie Country. The first glimpse of the Southern Alps silhouetted against the clear sky and the beautiful, azure Lake Tekapo rolled out like a shimmering carpet on the expanse of the Earth. Simply breathtaking! 

One can easily spend a night in this splendid location which offers a host of activities, the most popular being stargazing due to the clear skies.  However, my packed schedule allowed for a quick visit to the Church of Good Shepherd and soak my feet in the ice cold water of Lake Tekapo.  I couldn't resist collecting some well rounded pebbles from the shores to take back home and paint into little ladybirds, sheep and penguins - a treasured reminder of my visit to Lake Tekapo!! 

Insider Tip: For 4-5 weeks at the end of each year, the centre of NewZealand's South Island bursts into splashes of bright hues ranging from purples, pinks, blues to yellows as Lupins sprout up along the shores of the lakes and riverbeds of Mackenzie Country.  It makes the already stunning views even more incredible.  Look for these refreshing displays of nature around Lake Tekapo, along the Ahuriri River from the Lindi Pass to Omarama, around lake Wanaka and the Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Queenstown to name a few.  As is always the case, there is a folklore behind it.  Allow us to unfold this story as you travel through NewZealand with us. 

Aoraki Mt Cook

Famished by the time we reached Mt Cook,  a hot, gourmet lunch awaited to delight us, accompanied by the most spectacular views of the Southern Alps.  And did I mention, this slice of heaven (I mean the scenery) can be enjoyed with a glass of some of the world's finest wines of NewZealand!

There are many ways to explore Sir Edmund Hillary's training ground.  No, you don't need to be an accomplished mountaineer to enjoy the scenery.  Take a short alpine walk or a cruise on the Glacier Lake .........

Cruising the Glacier Lake. Shhh! Listen!! Hear the rocks and snow rolling down from the peaks above.  The gushing of the water.  These are the sounds of change - of glaciers retreating and mountains being torn down.  These signs of change are all around us, evident during the short 30 minute trek to the Glacier Lake. Glacial ice left behind is still visible at the far end of the lake, a sad reminder that probably a century ago the Tasman Glacier filled the valley floor.  Today the glacier is all but hidden up the valley.  The cruise itself is spectacular with mountain scenery and icebergs of all shapes and sizes dotting the tiny lake.  Touching and tasting the 300-500 year old ice crystals completes this unusualexperience.

Stargazing: For an out of the box experience, stay a night in a glass-roofed SkyBed, the ultimate in secluded stargazing in this International Dark Sky Reserve. The darkness of the sky at Mt Cook is unbelievable. Each night is unique in its experience, as the stars, planets, moon and Earth itself are not stationery.  Each night displays a different array of twinkling lights in the heavens above.  Get immersed in a stunning digital view of the universe and beyond as an experienced guide guarantees an unforgettable journey though the Southern night sky.

Queenstown

Serving up plenty of fresh air, fun and sunshine alongside magnificent scenery and must-see sights, we headed next to the Adventure Capital of the World - Queenstown,  offering a dose of adventure suitable for all ages, abilities and interests.

We had an action packed two nights scheduled at this beautiful lakeside resort town starting with an orientation tour of Queenstown and its neighbouring quaint Arrowtown after which we headed for a jet boat spin on the Shot Over River!!  Exhilarating, fun and absolutely safe for any age, a must do on your visit to Queenstown.

The following morning began with a wake up call at 5 am.  Armed with a  cup of hot coffee and a warm blanket, I headed to the verandah of my luxurious apartment at The Reese, to witness the changing hues of the sky as the sun came up from behind The Remarkables, swathing the entire horizon from a dark, dull blue to a blaze of colours rangingfrom deep shades of reds, pinks, burnt oranges and flaming yellows.  I sat there watching nature paint the sky eventually to a clear blue with powder puff clouds against the snow clad mountains  towering protectively over the still sleepy Queenstown.

Lined up in the first half of the day was the most awaited excursion to Milford Sound. The quickest way to get to Milford Sound is to take a roundtrip scenic flight from Queenstown. This option means you can get there and back within a few hours while a bit more expensive. When travelling by road from Queenstown, visiting Milford Sound takes a full day, but you are guaranteed some incredible scenery along the way.

As for me, my window seat awaited on the scenic flight,  a modern aircraft  with expansive windows, allowing me unobstructed views of the stunning scenery below. Our knowledgeable, highly skilled, local pilot provided interesting and informative commentary during the flight of a lifetime. 35 minutes of flying over the Coronet peak Skifield, historicSkippers Canyon and the Shooter River.  Panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and glacier fed braided rivers pleased the eye as we progressed along the Dart River Valley into the World Heritage area of Mt Aspiring National Park - an unforgettable experience. 

The breathtaking scenery continued into Fjordland National Park and soon we descended at Milford Sound Airport.

Now for the much awaited cruise which lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes aboard a spacious modern catamaran.  We were privileged private, exclusive seating giving us the best views as we set out to discover the natural wonders of Milford Sound. The fjord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins, who love playing in the wake of the boat.  Travelling the full length of the Fiord and out to the Tasman Sea, with stunning sheer cliffs on either side, a stop under awaterfall, combined with a full commentary from our skipper, the cruise is a fantastic way to experience the Fiord. To our delight we were served a picnic lunch, which ranged from Japanese Bento Box to Indian Dal Chawal and the popular samosas.

The spectacular journey continued as we met our pilot yet again who flew us to Queenstown, this time with a different flight path and some more stunning scenery.

Ziptrek Ecotours - Next stop was Bob's Peak, the little mountain of Queenstown, great on activitiesa! Mountain biking, luge, gondola ride and the most exciting - Ziptrek.  A combination of a 6 line course interspersed with walks and hikes down the mountain.  

This was my very first time at zip lining.  Although I was super excited, there was an element of fear as I was about to leap out of my comfort zone into something totally not me!!  The harnesses, safety checks and instructions were robust.Our expert guides were entertaining as well as informative  educating us on zip trek's sustainability  practices.  With each level, we were coaxed into a different challenge - going handsfree, next upside down, crouching with knees up to the chest.............it was nothing but FUN and the views were incredible. 

Preparing to soak up some incredible views of Queenstown from the top of Bob's Peak, we took the Gondola once again. After appreciating 220 degree panoramic views, it was time to take part in a traditional Maori cultural experience.  The Kiwi Haka takes you on a journey through mythical legends and into the spiritual world of the Maori - a befitting way to end a beautiful day that will remain etched in my memory for many years to come.

A delicious buffet dinner awaited us at the Stratosphere where once again we had VIP seating, that allowed us some fabulous views of Queenstown!  

The sun set on yet another spectacular day in NewZealand's South Island.

Insider Tip: If you are a burger aficionado and are prepared to queue up for a rewarding meal, then a must visit in Queenstown is the busy Ferburger. Known for high-end, inventive burgers made with beef, chicken, and other exotic proteins, you are sure to find one that suits your palate and diet.  

Cromwell

A self drive holiday through NewZealand, credits a night at Cromwell.  The initital existense of Cromwell was gold mining.  Over the years though, pastoral farming, horticulture and more recently viticulture have added to the local economy.  It is the fruit growing area and is often referred to as the "fruit bowl" of the South.

Go Karting: We had only a day to explore Cromwell and what it has to offer before heading to Dunedin and I can vouch that the time spent here was well worth it.  So, our first stop for the day was at the Highlands Motorsport, to experience some exceptional and insane, adrenaline pumping fun as we went high speed in our single Go Karts to top speed laps in a Porsche GT3, all on an international level Grand Prix racing track!   There is a lovely sculpture park as well as a small motorsport museum that walks you through the history of transportation from classic vintage to the present day ultra modern displays.

Fruit picking at an Orchard: Apples, peaches, nectarines, plums - I could actually smell the sweetness of the fruits as we drove in a small golf cart through one of the fruit orchards of Cromwell.  Picked directly from the trees,  your midmorning, healthy snack can't get any better or fresher than this. There are 3 things I took away from the little fruit stall here - fresh, juicy, sweet fruits to eat on the way, some lovely preserves and the fabulous honey - bottled and bubble wrapped to carry back home. 

A food and wine tour is a must when visiting Central Otago.  Our next stop was  a vineyard for a lesson on wine and food pairing post lunch. Food and wine was always a complicated subject for me.   Though not a wine drinker myself, Idid take away a few basic lessons - white wine with white meats and red wines with red meats; young wines served before old; white wines chilled and red at room temperature.  A variety of wines were paired with a host of delicacies like blue cheese, wild rabbit and more.  Delicious education I would say!!

Dunedin

Wearing its Scottish heritage with pride, Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of NewZealand.  Located in the Coastal Otago region, Dunedin is one of the best preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere, quite evident as we toured this surprise package.  My introduction to the city began with a visit to the Olveston House, a historic home depicting the life of a wealthy merchant family in the early part of the twentieth century.  A time capsule - little has changed inside the house since it was first occupied.  The Taieri Gorge Railway station - If you like train journeys, then a trip on the Taieri Gorge railway is highly recommended.  We visited just the railway station at Dunedinwhere the trip commences, a distinctive stone building with a touch of grandeur and history.  The journey itself is through huge Otago hills, dramatic viaducts on an old world charm train, making it a memorable  experience. The Otago Settlers Museum in the city centre makes for a great day visit for adults and kids alike, with a whole lot of hands on experiences and and insight into the Maori culture.  It also houses a stuffed replica of the Moa - a bird native to New Zealand, but sadly long extinct.   Just a short distance away is the Lan Yuan Chinese Garden,  with its landscaped gardens and fountains makes a good photo stop. The Cadbury's chocolate factory is another great stop.  The chocolate waterfall is delightful and each one of us came out like happy kids with a goodie bag of chocolates and other knick-knacks which we picked up from the in-house chocolate shop.  Our final stop for the day was at the Speight's Brewery, one of the oldest and largest brewing history in the country.  The expert guide took us through an interactive brewery tour which ended with a tasting where we got to enjoy samples of beer ranging from different stylesto different flavours.  They do have the non alcoholic fruit beers as well. 

After an early dinner at a steak house, we opted to hit the ornately decorated Dunedin casino, before calling it a day!

Our last day in South Island, promised to be action packed and one that will expose us to some of the most diverse wildlife of NewZealand, just a stone's throw away from Dunedin.  After breakfast, we headed out to Larnach Castle.  The drive itself was breathtaking as our luxury coach cruised along the crest of the Otago Peninsula offering amazing views of the land and sea.  Perched at the very top is the unusual structure set amid extensive gardens.  A guided walk through the 43 rooms of the castle finally ended in the Ballroom, where we were treated to a mid morning typically English High Tea of delicate pastries, paper thin salmon and cucumber sandwiches and warm,  freshly baked scones with a dollop of clotted cream and fresh strawberry preserve - I was definitely in food heaven!

Family run and family owned, driven by restoring the natural world for future generations, Nature's Wonders is Otago's most unique conservation project.  We hopped onto one of the  all terrain Argo 8 wheel drive with Perry Reid himself at the helm, to ride us across the Reid family farm to the breeding habitat of the Yellow eyed penguins, Blue penguins and the NewZealand fur seals.  The enthusiasm and commentary accompanying the exhilarating ride reflectedPerry's passion for this untouched piece of land and the wildlife inhabiting it. 

The astounding knowledge of farming life and future of agriculture in NewZealand was impressive and comes only out of deep wisdom from working on one.  This can be witnessed as sheep's fleece are expertly shorn by award winning shearers at the sheep shed, special signals used to muster sheep around the farm and more. 

Creamy hot, pumpkin soup with home baked bread was the right comfort food on this cold, breezy afternoon out on thefarm, after which we headed to the Royal Albatross Centre.  The Royal Albatross Centre is the only mainland breeding ground of the Northern Royal Albatross, where you get fascinating insights into these majestic birds - compare their huge 3 meter wingspan with other birds, view them raising their young from the observatory, hold a dummy chick to know how much it actually weighs and watch them gracefully navigate the winds.

Our final tryst with nature for the day was a wildlife cruise, a short way out into the Pacific Ocean to spot rarely seen ocean birds like the albatross, comorants and petrels.  The rocky outcrops are a great photo opportunity to capture the fur seals as they  fight and play.  We were enthralled by the antics of a pod of dolphins that kept us company and lucky enough to spot a sea lion sunbathing on one of the sandy beaches.

So here I was on the eve of my last day in South Island, as we drove back to our hotel, thinking - what am I taking backwith me from this part of the world?  An enriching experience of  warm, friendly people proud of their country, strivinghard to keep the balance between nature and urbanisation.  As a travel seller, it is my responsibility to introduce the Tiaki Promise to visitors, so that together we can conserve NewZealand's culture, landscape and environment and perhaps some day be conscientious travellers as we visit other parts of the World too!

If you are planning a holiday to NZ in the near future, here is a very important link to read up on even before you leave your country.  New Zealand's Biosecurity regulations - mpi.govt.nzu