Experience the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks with this short video. Walk from the Divide near Milford Sound to Glenorchy at he head of Lake Wakatipu. Explore both Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks on this three day hike. To get your own taste join us on our Rugged West tour and hike this yourself. We think it’s one of the best hikes in New Zealand!

Create your own Middle Earth experience.

Travel to New Zealand with True New Zealand Adventures and let us show you a magical place where dreams come true.

Looking for the perfect destination for a romantic adventure?

• Space: (Shhh!) It’s not crowded here. You won’t find yourself tripping over tourists.
• Cuisine: From fresh, local produce and cheeses to seaside fish markets and world-famous lamb, your taste buds will be thrilled.
• Wine: North to South Island New Zealand wines will surprise and delight you — as will our beautiful vineyards.
• Scenery: It really doesn’t get any better. From mountains to pastures, beaches to rainforests … stock up on photo albums.

New Zealand’s geographical diversity and stunning natural beauty (combined with world famous wines and luxury specialty accommodations) make it a clear choice for a truly unique and romantic destination.  And, let’s not forget, our awesome adventurous opportunities for recreation and the fact that our country isn’t overcrowded like some other destinations.

Take the time to enjoy each others company

During the day,  choose from once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventures such as a tandem bungy jump or skydive. Tour local vineyards by bike and hike to a romantic destination away from the crowds for a relaxing picnic.

Sit back at night and gaze at the stars as you sink into the scenic beauty that is New Zealand.  You’ll stay at hand-picked romantic lodges and boutique hotels while you take time to share in each other and your time away with an indulgent spa treatment.

Discerning and adventurous couples are looking to New Zealand as a destination for a romantic holiday, to honeymoon or even propose. Let True New Zealand Adventures create a custom tour for you and your special someone, or alternatively join us on one of our regular tours, and we will find you the perfect place to propose. True New Zealand Adventures will help you create those shared lifelong memories and romantic moments. After all its your honeymoon.

Want to read more on why New Zealand is the perfect romantic destination of your honeymoon, proposal or special vacation? Click here

Rosco's Milford Sound Kayak tour

The best way to explore Milford Sound, New Zealand is with Rosco’s Milford Sound Sea Kayaks. There is nothing like getting up close to the beauty of this place from the seat of a kayak, rain or shine: it is truly the best. Having spent 4 years as a professional sea kayaking guide in the Sound, it is, without a doubt, my favorite place in the world.

Rosco’s has a number of guided trips depending on your comfort level and experience. If you are new to the whole paddling thing then the Sunriser Classic is the way to go — a leisurely paddle exploring both sides of the fiord. For the more experienced and physically fit there are also trips that utilize a water taxi to travel out to either the 151 meter (495 feet) Sterling Falls or all the way to the mouth of the Sound and the Tasman Sea for a 16 km (10 mile) paddle trip.

Whatever tour you decide to do, there is nothing that beats the appreciation of the magnificent beauty of this place that you get from a kayak as you paddle under towering mountains and waterfalls while exploring local wildlife. True New Zealand Adventures has two tours which allow you to explore Milford Sound: our 6 day Southern Shot and 14 day Rugged West. Check out these tours on our trips page.

 Quick facts:

Costs: Sunriser Classic $130 $NZ, other packages range up to $199 $NZ

Drive time: Te Anau to Milford Sound 119 km (74 miles) — about two hours (without scenic stops).

Where to Stay: The only accommodation available in the sound is the Milford Sound Lodge.

]]> http://truenewzealand.com/2012/03/kayaking-milford-sound-new-zealand/feed/ 0 http://truenewzealand.com/2012/02/17000-new-zealand-photos/ http://truenewzealand.com/2012/02/17000-new-zealand-photos/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:28:07 +0000 admin http://truenewzealand.com/?p=2073

We love this video of a timelapse tour around New Zealand. It shows the diverse and immense landscape.

With 17,000 photos condensed into less than 4 minutes, this awesome video captures why people travel to New Zealand. Come see this remarkable country on a tour with True New Zealand Adventures.

Photo Courtesy SkiNZ.com

Winter Skiing in Queenstown, New Zealand

Now is a great time to get deals on your flight to New Zealand.

Air New Zealand has return fares from as low as $958 (Los Angeles to Auckland).

But hurry, you only have a few days left to book, sale ends February 14th.

Flights are valid from 2 May to 4 June or 25 July to 19 September.

Come experience a New Zealand winter. You can sea kayak on Milford Sound for the day then return to Queenstown by plane, flying over glaciers and alpine lakes. Later, night ski at Coronet Peak.

True New Zealand Adventures runs custom trips to suit your needs and adventure level for your New Zealand winter holiday. So, if skiing is your passion we can tailor the trip to hit some of the best ski fields New Zealand has to offer. All the popular actives such as rafting, bungi jumping, sea kayaking and hiking are still all on the table, even though its winter. If anything, New Zealand is better in winter: expect smaller crowds, better weather and cheaper international flights … plus, the envy of all your friends when you tell them what you are doing!

Get some friends together and book that flight today, then call us to create a custom tour for a New Zealand vacation of a lifetime.

While photos can capture the beauty of a place, they only sometimes do it justice. New Zealand can be like that, no matter were you look, there is another photo opportunity. The best photos though are the ones in your head. The memories and feeling conjured up from the trip you just took to New Zealand with True New Zealand Adventures. You know, the trip where you kayaked with dolphins in Milford Sound, hiked the Routeburn Track beneath towering mountains and watched the sunset from the West Coast while sipping a New Zealand wine … these experiences are the best photos.

If you can’t make it there yet, here is a little eye-candy to help you keep working toward your dream.

Only in New Zealand ... this one makes us chuckle every time.

A beautiful day hiking to Salisbury Lodge on our 12 day Mountains to Sea adventure tour.

Sunset while kayaking the majestic Milford Sound fiord. Experience this on our Rugged West or Southern Shot adventure tours.

Check out our fearless leader Gavin Pond (top left) running a paddling trip in Milford Sound.

You’ve finally booked your flight to New Zealand. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get an upgrade into business class or even first class?

There are two types of upgrades: free ones and ones you pay for.

A paid upgrade is when you use your flight points, either through the airlines travel membership or your credit card mileage program. These are usually only confirmed at the  last minute and are not guaranteed on every flight. One word of advice – save them for the long haul flights, you’ll get more bang for your buck.

Free airline upgrades don’t happen often. They are often based on an airlines frequent flier programs and are usually handled by the airline computer system. These upgrades occur usually because seats have been oversold or a plane change has occurred, requiring some shuffling of the seating plan.

Here are 5 tips to help you on your way.

1. If you’re not a member already, join your airlines frequent flier program. If you travel a lot it may also be worth joining your airlines travel club – Air New Zealand’s is know as Koru and features many great benefits.

2. Fly at times when an airline is more likely to be overbooked, hence they are looking to upgrade. For flights to or from New Zealand this is typically Friday, Saturday or Sunday depending on whether you are coming or going. If flying from the United State for one of our adventure travel tours, a departure day of Saturday evening from Los Angeles will land you in New Zealand Monday morning, ready for our friendly tour pick up.

3. Ask – there is no harm in asking nicely, do this at check-in … depending on the airlines policy you may find yourself sitting with more room.

4. Dress the part. It never hurts to dress up, especially if the check-in staff have some leeway in seat allocation – a positive first impression can get you a long way. Just remember to bring something comfortable for the flight.

5. If you’re traveling on your honeymoon or for some other special occasion, let the staff know. It may just help you get that seat upgrade or at least special attention on the flight.

While free upgrades are very rare these days, you just never know your luck. For more information on traveling to New Zealand see our FAQ page or check out our travel options for Air New Zealand on our blog.

New Zealand has been listed in National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of the Best of the World 2012: a must-visit destination for your 2012 travel adventures.

We enthusiastically agree.

No matter if you are looking to explore the culture, scenery and kiwi-lifestyle or looking to explore New Zealand’s outdoor opportunities (such as hiking) True New Zealand Adventures has a guided tour for you.

Come explore hot pools, snow-covered mountains, glaciers, rainforests and volcanoes and, at the end of the day, sit down, put your feet up and sip a New Zealand wine while you sample local food.

Te Araroa, a 1,864 mile hiking trail has just opened in New Zealand. Traveling the full-length of New Zealand this hiking trail takes 120 days to complete.

New Zealand’s newest hiking trail Te Araroa  ” The Long Pathway”, officially opened December 3rd.

A whopping 3,000 km (1,864 miles) trail stretching from the top of the North Island (Cape Reinga) to the bottom of the South (Bluff), “The Long Pathway” incorporates existing and newly constructed trails but has the privilege of being the first official full length through-hiking trail in New Zealand — starting and finishing north and south at the sea.

Taking approximately 120 days to hike, you’ll pass through cities, towns, traverse mountains and volcanoes, follow valleys, streams and rivers and circumvent lakes. The trail traverses a wide range of geological features and environments. It’s is a true New Zealand experience in the purist sense: You are literally walking New Zealand after all.

If you don’t have 120 days to hike the length of New Zealand don’t worry, there are plenty of other tracks to explore. Our favorite is the Routeburn Track, a three day hike over 32 km (20 miles) crossing the great divide and right in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Check out our 14 day Rugged West, South Island, New Zealand tour for more information on how you could be hiking this amazing “Great Walk.”