Turkey Vacation Packages

Although 7-day vacation packages are not really enough time to see all that a destination like New Zealand has to offer, I think I got the most out of it with lots of adventure.  Our group of 14 visited Kelly’s Underwater World in Auckland, and took the hop-on-hop off bus for a city tour, stopping for lunch at a quaint village called Parnell Village, with its varied shops and eateries.  I went to the top of the Skytower’s observation deck and photographed Mindy, one of the members of our group, take the SkyJump, leaping 192 meters from the Tower (teathered), down to the ground with a light landing.  The view from the top was spectacular.  The tower is actually 328 meters high.  That first night, 3 of us enjoyed a light dinner and drinks at Danny Doolan’s Irish Pub and listened to all my favorite music by a very talented duo. 

The next day we enjoyed a Kumeu Wine tour to 4 award-winning wineries, tasted wines, and made a very breezy stop at Murawai Beach for some great photo shots of the black-sand beach before taking the picturesque drive back to Auckland.  Sauvignon Blanc is the wine best known for this region, though I purchased a Pinot Gris I liked very much.

The next day we took the 2-hr drive to Rotorua and went to Waitomo Glowworm Caves.  What a strange phenomenon, with tiny glowworms shining like stars in the cave!  We checked into our Holiday Inn with rooms overlooking the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. The view was spectacular with steam rising from the hot sulphur-smelling springs.  In the afternoon, we rode Rotorua’s Skyline Gondola to the top of the mountain and zipped down on both the beginner and advanced Luge runs to the bottom of the mountain, riding the chairlift back to the top.  Our evening entertainment was Agrodome's  Mitai Maori Village for a succulent hangi meal, torchlight bush walk, and saw the elusive Kiwi in their little zoo.

The next day we experienced the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, which resembles Yellowstone with its bubbling mud pools and roaring geysers.  We stopped to visit the Rotorua Museum where we learned the building was originally built as a world class spa in the early 1900’s by a doctor that, I think, was completely mad.  He was using electrocution therapy for joints, etc.  The sulphur springs all around Rotorua were used for the therapies as well.  The building is massive with lots of treatment rooms--no longer used--and a cinema describing the devastation from the volcano in 1886.  During that time, the pink and white terraces, thermal pools like at Pumakkale in Turkey, were completely destroyed by the volcano.  I really liked the life-like cinema experience.

After lunch we went to experience The Zorb (photo).  This is a ride in a huge ball either harnessed dry inside as you roll down the hill in a straight line, or do as did, in a bathing suit, riding inside with some warm water in the bottom, sloshing around zig-zagging down a different course to the bottom.  I did this solo and again with 2 other ladies, sloshing down the hill.  It was loads of fun.  Then we cruised on Lake Tarawera with Clearwater Cruises for a relaxing and picturesque trip to the other side of the lake.  We got out and walked to a pool just a few steps from the lake and enjoyed  sitting in the sand in the shallow pool to soak up the warmth from the springs. After a quick change at our hotel, we were greeted by two stretch limos, complete with champagne, and drove into Rotorua to the Blue Baths-Dinner Show where we were serenaded on the steps, and led into this old Bath-house museum to experience a dinner show privately arranged just for us.  It was really a treat, and one I will never forget.  This was our last of 2 nights at Rotorua.

We drove back to Auckland for our flight to Queenstown for 3 nights, and were taken directly to the Shotover Jet experience, where we donned waterproof coats, helmets, and climbed into a sleek red jetboat for numerous 360-degree spins and exhilarating dives to the rocks on either side of the narrow rocky canyon.  What a rush!  This evening a group of us walked into Queenstown and enjoyed Winnie’s for Pizza.  The roof of this bar hydraulically opens at the peak to cool the building, or view the stars.  Queenstown is probably one of my most favorite cities.  The town is loaded with neat shops and night fun.

The next day we took in the Appellation Central Boutique Wine Tour, driving past the Kawarau Bridge and AJ Hackett Bungy jump, and not letting Mindy stop to take another jump.  We visited the Gibbston and Central Otago wine region.  Pinot Noir is the wine of this region; however, I found a nice Dry Riesling to take home.  This afternoon, we rode Queenstown’s Skyline Gondola and had an opportunity to do 2 Luge rides to the bottom and then the Ziptrek Kea 6-Line Tour.  With 6 of us on a team, we zipped from one tree platform to the next till we ended on the 5^th line tour, then walked a 15-minute steep walk down the mountain to Line 6.  What a memorable zip that was down a steep decline, having to be braked, and a net to catch us in case the brake didn’t hold.  I had done zipline in Whistler in Canada several years ago, but I enjoyed the Queenstown experience even more.  The night was capped by a beautiful and delicious buffet dinner in the Skyline Restaurant overlooking the lights of Queenstown. 

Our New Zealand adventure continued with a scenic 3-1/2 hour drive, stopping in Te Anau for a short walk in the rainforest to see the foliage and waterfalls before arriving at spectacular Milford Sound.  Although the boat doubles as an overnight boat for evening stays on the sound, we enjoyed a 2hr ride with waterfalls, pink dolphins, penguins, and seals.  Some of us wished we could have taken a flight back, but planes were not flying due to the rain earlier in the day, so we returned on the 3-1/2 hour drive back to Queenstown. About ½ our group were dropped off downtown and we decided on having a famous Fergburger.  These 8-inch burgers were super delicious.

This whirl-wind trip will be forever imbedded in my memory.  I hope others will like some of the same experiences I had on their trip to New Zealand! You can read more about New Zealand vacations on our website, and of course, if you're interested in a visit, we're happy to arrange yours.