Out of 10,000+ pictures from our RTW, this may be my favorite
This post is part of the Blog4NZ project in which bloggers from around the world are doing our part to promote tourism in New Zealand after the devastating Christchurch earthquake.
The title says it all. While I usually don’t subscribe to “best ever…” posts that many other bloggers and writers throw out there so haphazardly, in this case, it’s warranted. There are times when traveling, particularly long term, when you just take things for granted. Then there are times when an experience smacks you right upside the head and makes you realize how lucky you truly are. The latter is exactly how we felt during a few hour drive on the Inland Scenic Route on New Zealand’s south island. We realized just how lucky we were to be in a place with such amazing natural beauty.
Our time in New Zealand was a major, major highlight of our year long RTW trip. The sheer beauty of the land, the friendliness of its people, the laid back culture, the sheer beauty of the land, the food, the wine, and did I mention the sheer beauty of the land? Well it all contributed to a fantastic 5 weeks in this amazing country.
The highlights are many, and here’s a small sampling of our activities: bungee jumping from 450+ feet, ice climbing on Franz Josef Glacier, a boat tour of Doubtful Sounds, wine tasting around Blenheim, ziplining and climbing in the Waitomo caves, and checking out the other-worldly terrain and geothermal surroundings of Rotorua. While those were all awesome and memorable, perhaps none was more amazing that an afternoon drive our 4th day in the country.
We rented a Spaceship for most of our 5 weeks in NZ, and our journey began in Christchurch. Luckily for us, the woman who rented us our vehicle was super cool and let us in on a drive that most tourists don’t take. Why this hasn’t caught on, I have no clue, because if you love road-trips, and you love stunning scenery around every turn, this is the drive for you.
Nothing says bad-ass like a pimped out minivan
Nothing says bad-ass like a pimped out minivan
The Route
The actual route starts north of Christchurch, but since we began our journey in Christchurch, we headed west on Highway 73 out of the city until it ran into 77. We then drove down 73/77 past Mt. Hutt all the way down to Geraldine before veering west again and staying the night in Fairlie.
Why This Drive Kicked Ass
Amazing views were around every turn
While I know we are far from the most well traveled people, we have been around the block a time or two. We love taking road trips in the US, and we’ve been on plenty of great ones, including out to and through Colorado, the southwest, parts of Vermont, Maine, and the Northeast. We also rented a car and drove through the beautiful Irish countryside. And while taking a bus or train isn’t quite the same as driving yourself on a road trip, we have taken some form of transportation through Patagonia, the Peruvian Andes, the Bolivian Southwest, the Indian Himalayas, parts of Switzerland and northern Italy, and down the coast and highlands of Vietnam. All had some very memorable highlights, but NONE compared to the inland scenic route in New Zealand.
The scenery was something out of a fairy tale. We spent much of the day just driving on the Inland Scenic Route, which is hands down the most beautiful afternoon of driving in my 30+ years on Earth. The stark contrast of bright green grass, dark green forest, and huge, rocky, snow covered mountains created a unique landscape that is just not seen in very many places in the world.
The drive itself was rather short mileage wise, but it took us hours. We couldn’t help but pull over and stop in amazement after nearly every turn. The beauty was jaw-dropping, and it was then and there we decided that simply driving around New Zealand was an activity in itself. If you love road trips. then New Zealand is the place for you. The lack of traffic, the barrenness at times, and the “Oh my God!” moments around every turn all contribute to a nice, peaceful, memorable drive.
Why You Need to Go to New Zealand NOW!
If you’ve thought or dreamed about a trip to New Zealand, now is the time to do it. Don’t let the natural disasters scare you off. We all know a disaster can happen anywhere at any time. This is when the country needs its tourists to come visit most.
This drive that we too, during a few hours of this one afternoon in the 5 weeks we spent there, encompasses all that I love about this country. The stunning landscapes, the lack of crowds, and the helpfulness and friendliness of the people. Just know that if you’ve been considering a trip to this magical land, you will not leave disappointed. It lives up to all the hype and then some. Just check out the pictures:
