Wish: Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

It's a location we're toying with visiting in the not too distant future and has always been a dream destination of mine since studying the location in primary school. I think a large part of it is the statues that can be found around the island, but as I get older it's also the possibility of another luxury accommodation site, although this is the part that is currently open for debate.

Explora Rapa Nui opened in 2007 and is an all inclusive accommodation option. With only 30 rooms overlooking the ocean, it's easy to see why they charge a premium and why it's a popular choice.

The second option, which I still would class as luxury, comes with a smaller price tag, but with obvious reasons (less inclusions). However, the Altiplanico is still nothing to turn your nose up at!

We'll have to see what we decide to go with, like always I'll keep you posted!

Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2008

November 2008

It seems like so long ago, looking back at the photos and thinking 2008! But in reality it's not that long ago and was our second trip to the beautiful Cook Islands (we've now had three trips and one planned for 2012!).

Stay: Edgewater Resort

It's a little bit old, but when you plan on spending your days snorkeling, reading by the pool and visiting family they meet all the basic requirements. The restaurant's food is quite good too, and the local bus stops inside making it easy to get to other parts of the island.

Food:
Island Night at the Edgewater - great buffet and great entertainment.

Lunch at Cafe Salsa in town

Trader Jacks - a great place by the water to watch time pass.

Tamarind House - my favourite place to eat on the Island. Gorgeous location, great food and friendly service. The Salmon sashimi I had just melted in your mouth.

Kikau Hut - near the Edgewater (walking distance) a cute little place with live music. It's apparently changed hands since we were there in 2008, but food is meant to have improved, who would have thought it could?

To do:

The Saturday markets down by the water in town. Always a great place to grab some fresh produce, eat some Ika mata (raw fish) and see what the locals are up to.

Captain Tama Muri Beach Lagoon Cruise. Great day spent on the lagoon, including lunch on a near by Motu.

Snorkel and feed the fish near the hotel - just stunning

Walks of the World

I'm not exactly as fit our adventurous as this post may lead you to believe, but there is no better way to see certain parts of the world than by walking. So these are my top 5, based on what I've gathered from conversations with my fellow travellers.

1. Bay of Fires, Australia

Named the hottest travel destination by Lonely Planet in 2009, for photos it's easy to see why. There are two options, the four day luxury method, staying in cabins and the Bay of Fires Lodge, or the independent method, BYO tent.

It's actually on our "to do and see" list for the not too distant future, keep your eye out.

2. Milford Track, New Zealand

My parents did this a couple of years ago, having said that it's not for the faint hearted (or the unfit). It's 55 km over 4 nights, and once again can be through the independent route, or via a group. I've heard great things about it from the handful of people I know who have completed the walk, but each one has said it would have been different if it had rained, and the spot is notorious for rain.

3. Inca Trail, Peru

Depending on what you read or who you talk to, this one can be described as moderate to worse than Everest...however at the moment DH and I are seriously debating do this one. Every person we've spoken to that has done it, said that nothing beats looking out over Machu Picchu on the morning of your last day. Only time will tell if we sign on for the 4 day, 42 km walk.

4. Kokoda Track, PNG

This walk is iconiclly Australian, due to the link during WWII. This is a walk I have never seriously thought of doing. It's difficult, it's long, it's humid. Those who have done it that I know usually have a family tie or are young. It's 96 km long and can take anywhere between 4 and 12 days. It is classified as a difficult trek.

5. Appalachian Trail, USA

This is a trail that goes over 14 states, so the beauty of it is that you can choose which part to walk, or attempt the whole thing. There's apparently a 2000 mile club, and while it sounds appealing, the distance to get to the trail from Australia hinders my desire to actually walk it.

Eat, Pray, Love

Ok, so I'm probably a bit late with this post, but I don't get to the movies much, usually I see them on a flight to somewhere. But this movie got me thinking on a number of levels.

First it made me feel a lot better that I'm not the only person with a box of travel brochures, articles and other items under my bed, of places I want to see and experience before I die (or get too old).

Then it made me add another location to my list. I'm a sucker for food, and OMG is Italian food Divine. Add the history and you have the perfect destination.

Finally it got me thinking what would be my three destinations if I decided to drop everything for a year and immerse myself in three locations. Mine wouldn't follow the same theme (except for the eat component), but Italy now of course, Cambodia and I'm not sure of my last location but maybe New York City.

What would your three be? I'd love to hear!

Wanaka and the drive back to Christchurch

January 2011

After the bus got back to Te Anau at 1 pm, we got in the car and headed off to Wanaka, stopping at the Cardona Hotel for a drink in what they call the "cute" beer garden.

Continued our drive and checked into the Wyhdam resort, which is just out of town on Mt Aspiring Road.

Walked through town and around the lake, stopping for a waffle cone ice cream at Tangos.

We enjoyed a superb dinner at The Reef, overlooking Wanaka Lake. Venison for me and the surf and turf for DH. If the weathers good, eat outside as the view is much better from this point.

We had a late breakfast the next morning  in town at Relishes Cafe, where predictably we both had the pancakes (warm, fluffy and packed with berries).

We then continued cour drive back to Christchurch, stopping at Subway in Geraldine for a quick lunch and arriving in Christchurch 5.5 hours after leaving Wanaka.

Doubtful Sound, New Zealand

January 2011

Just as our Milford Sound trip, we did Doubtful sound with Real Journeys. Unlike Milford, there are not as many options for Doubtful sound, and even less that offer overnight on Doubtful.

We were picked up from our accommadation in Te Anau and taken on the 20 minute drive to Lake Manapouri. Once there we picked up the tickets for our trip and had our lunch (BYO unless you pre-pay for the picnic pack) waiting for the boat.

We caught the 1 hour ferry ride across the lake to Deep Cove, before catching another bus down to where our boat will be. We stopped off on the way to catch the spectacular view of Doubtful Sound and was informed that they hadn't been able to see this view for 2 weeks!

We boarded the Fiorland Navigator, and then headed out to the sea entry to check out the seal colony. To our delight we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Little Blue Penguins, about six of them bobbing out in the water.

We then headed up the Bradshaw Sound to dock for the night at Precipice Cove. We enjoyed the soup course (first time in my life and probably the last!), before doing the evening activities of either kayaking or the 18 seater Zodiac boat, DH and I choose the Zodiac!

Shortly after our activity finished we enjoyed a buffet dinner of lamb, green lipped mussels and hot smoked salmon, the food was pretty good until we got into the Pavlova debate (that is who invented it, Australia or New Zealand).  We enjoyed a short nature talk with slides after dinner before heading off to bed.

Woke up about 6:30 am when the motor starts back up! Had a good buffet breakfast before heading outside to catch the great view.

Travel down to the end of Halls Arm and enjoyed a 5 minute Sound of Silence, no motor, no noise, just the birds and the water.

Arrive back at the dock, before starting our trip back to Te Anau.

I highly recommend this trip, which may have been aided by the great weather we had. These pictures do not lie, it was a spectacular experience.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

January 2011

We decided to do our Milford Sound tour with Real Journeys. There are many providers to choose from, but we chose Real Journeys as they had a bus service from Te Anau, which enabled both of us to enjoy the trip down to Milford Sound (as you'll see soon the drive is almost as spectacular as the sound itself).

We were picked up from our accommodation at 7:30 am in a large bus with windows in the ceiling. We stopped at the Mirror Lakes for pictures, but the wind was up a bit so they weren't a real mirror, but you got the idea.

We boarded the Wander for our 2.5 hours on the Milford Sound, which goes right out to the sea entry. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best, it was overcast so we never got to see Mitre peak and there was an overall drab feeling, but I enjoyed our trip and could see why people recommended only a day cruise not the overnight trip.

We got back on the bus and started the drive back to Te Anau (about 1.5 hours in good weather), stopping for a 20 minute walk at The Chasm.

We also got to see plenty of the cheeky Kea here.

Stopped again just after the Homer Tunnel to do the Homer Alpine Nature walk, in the pouring rain. I would just skip this 20 minute walk and take pictures from the car park, but that could be the rain talking.

We finished off enjoying the view on the remaining drive home, arriving back in Te Anau at 4 pm.