Page 66 - Khabar Magazine (February 2020)

Travelvel
Tra

is the country’s largest wine region, with exquisite
Pinot Noirs to intense Chardonnays, while Central
Otago is the world’s southernmost commercial wine
growing region.

Looking at glow-worms, not the stars! The author and her husband
at Waitomo Caves, a notable attraction.

Queenstown is idyllic, not just for nature lovers but also for
thrill-seeking adventurers.

New Zealand as a travel destination.
South Island is home to New Zealand’s highest
mountain range, the Southern Alps, which offers film-
ing opportunities at relatively low elevations and quick
access to the peaks.
Snowy mountains, alpine lakes, longest glaciers,
and evergreen forests make Queenstown an idyllic lo-
cation for honeymooners, nature lovers, and adrenaline
seekers. This hip town is known as the adventure capi-
tal of the world and offers a myriad of activities that
can push you to your limits, including jet boating, bun-
gee jumping, rock climbing, canyoning, abseiling (rap-
pelling down a rock face), paragliding (jumping from
a plane or cliff to glide under a fabric sail), heli-biking
(taking a helicopter up and biking down a mountain), Mt. Aspiring National Park: A helicopter or seaplane ride is the best
skiing, and snowboarding. way to get a bird’s eye view of New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery.
One of the most magnificent sights to me was a Around here, you can also sail around the Marlbor-
field of blooming lupin flowers against the backdrop of ough Sounds’ 1,000 miles of coastline, bays, beaches,
the milky, turquoise-colored Lake Tekapo, and-snow and native forests, fishing for green-lipped mussels,
covered Mount Cook towering behind. Part of a UNES- oysters, salmon, whitebait, abalone, and crayfish. The
CO Dark Sky Reserve, this region of Canterbury is also area is abundant with wildlife, from penguins and rare
a good spot for stargazing. At Mount Cook Lakeside Re- King Shags to dolphins and fur seals.
treat, my host family offered a rare opportunity to see New Zealand is a bucket list destination for many
Saturn, Jupiter, the moon, and constellations from their travelers. Even though it’s a small country and a long
6” refractory telescope from a wine cellar observatory. way to get to, it offers a variety of experiences. Wheth-
New Zealand wines have gained international er you enjoy nature, adventure, food, wine, or culture,
accolades, and vineyard tours are a huge attraction there is something for everyone.
for wine lovers from around the world. Marlborough
>>

64 • FEBRUARY• 2020 KHABAR MAGAZINE