Category: Small Group Discoveries

To say that New Zealand takes your breath away doesn’t quite say enough about how staggering its beauty is. Instead, you could say New Zealand stirs the soul. It makes your spirit soar. It fills you with a stupefying wonder for all that is divine and powerful. Well, you get our point. And you’re sure to agree that words simply cannot express the effect that this spectacular country has on everyone who visits.

It’s fair to say that, before director Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy—which was filmed amidst its scenic splendor—New Zealand wasn’t on the radar of many travelers. Now, we can’t get enough of it. So we’re happy to share with you six of our favorite places, the ones that are sure to take your breath away and even stir your soul. Here’s what they shared:

THE NORTH ISLAND: VOLCANIC SPLENDOR

Rotorua

A rocky plateau sits just above the city of Rotorua. An entirely different world bubbles and gurgles upon this mound:  the geothermal area of Whakarewarewa. Geysers erupt, hot springs steam and mud pools boil in this otherworldly landscape.

Whakarewarewa lies within the North Island’s Taupo Volcanic Zone, and it sports some 65 geyser vents and 500 hot-spring pools. Seven of the geysers are active, with Pohutu (Maori for “explosion”) erupting up to 100 feet tall about once an hour. The most fascinating thing about several of these active spouts is that they often erupt in concert—first the Prince of Wales Feathers Geyser, then Pohutu, followed by Waikorohihi. The reason for this symphony is that they all protrude from a common fissure regulated by a highly complex system of pressure and release.

Huka Falls

Rushing down the Waikato River in a torrent, the Huka Falls flow from Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. The river, as it leaves the lake, is up to 300 feet from one bank to another. Then, its waters are funneled into a dramatic canyon that’s just 50 feet wide. The result is a surge of water—often 58,000 gallons per second—through a very tight space. The river first courses over smaller falls of about 25 feet, followed by a more dramatic 35-foot drop into a beautiful (and very loud!) tree-ringed basin.

Tongariro National Park

The oldest national park in New Zealand and the fourth one established in the world, Tongariro offers spectacular vistas of snow-capped peaks, dense forests, open plains, and pristine rivers. It’s important to New Zealanders because it is one of only 28 “mixed” UNESCO World Heritage Sites, protected by the United Nations organization for both their natural beauty and their cultural heritage. You won’t have to look far to understand why this unspoiled and majestic land is worth protecting. It is a medley of nature’s best, and its wide sweeping vistas made for a stunning setting for Peter Jackson’s movies.

The park was in fact declared sacred in 1887 by paramount Maori chief Te Heuheu Tukino IV. Certainly, he wanted to protect the wilderness for future generations. But he also made his declaration in order to protect the many Maori religious sites within the park. The native islanders consider three of its mountain summits—Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu—as tapu, or sacred.

THE SOUTH ISLAND: DAZZLING ICE AND WATER

Franz Josef Glacier

Even the scenic road to Franz Josef Glacier is a wonder to behold. It traces the Clutha River Valley to the pretty town of Wanaka on the pristine waters of Lake Wanaka. From here, the mighty Clutha River has cut stunning glacial terraces into the landscape. Today, the Franz Josef Glacier is part of what’s left of the glacial system that carved this landscape. At 7.5 miles long, it is unique in that it has crawled toward the sea from the heights of the Southern Alps through the lush greenery of a rainforest.

The first Europeans laid eyes on this massive icefield in 1859, but it was a German explorer who named it after the Austrian emperor six years later. Of course, the Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous people, were intimately familiar with it and called it Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere, which means “the tears of Hinehukatere.” The name comes from a local legend in which Hinehukatere persuaded her lover, Wawe, to climb in these mountains with her. After an avalanche buried him alive, her countless tears flowed down the mountain and froze to form the glacier we see today.

Milford Sound

Rudyard Kipling called Milford Sound the eighth wonder of the world. So it comes as no surprise that it has often been ranked as the world’s top travel destination. The sound is a magnificent fjord flowing in from the Tasman Sea. Pristine waters glimmer at the foot of vertical, soaring mountains that rise up to 3,900 feet on either side. One of its peaks, called The Elephant, is shaped like a pachyderm’s head. Another, The Lion, resembles a crouching jungle cat.

Two permanent waterfalls cascade down sheer cliffs to plunge into the waters of the fjord: Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. After heavy rain, however, any number of waterfalls could suddenly appear from above and drape the forested cliffs in watery curtains. Lucky for us, it rains a lot in Milford Sound. With rain falling 182 day each year on average, it is one of the wettest places on Earth.

Lake Wakatipu

New Zealand’s longest lake (50 miles), and the world’s third largest in area, Lake Wakatipu is overlooked by the aptly named Remarkables mountain range. From the air, it is shaped like a sharp-curved “S.” At its greatest depth (an astounding 1,020 feet), its floor lies below sea level.

The setting of Lake Wakatipu is truly spectacular, and the people of Queenstown are fortunate to be right in its midst. Our Wonders of New Zealand spends three nights in this charming city, giving you ample time to take in the alpine beauty. A cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw takes you along the lake’s shores to admire the vistas. Keep your eyes open for Mallards, black-billed gulls, and pied shags, a type of cormorant native to the region. If the lake looks familiar, that’s because it was used as a backdrop for several scenes in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Discover the magnificent beauty of New Zealand on a Gate 1 Travel escorted tour!

New Zealand produces some of the world’s finest and most accessible wines. Among the country’s ten major wine-growing areas, the Central Otago Wine Region on the South Island is one of the most prolific. And Waiheke Island, a 35-minute ferry ride off the North Island, is one of the most unique. These two regions, and all the regions in between, encompass a huge geographic range that nourishes a palate-pleasing variety of red wine grapes, though whites are also produced.

Two qualities of New Zealand make its viticultural diversity possible. First, the summertime climate is marked by long days warmed by the sun and crisp nights cooled by sea breezes. This allows for slow maturation of the grapes. Second, the North and South Islands lie at southern latitudes that are equivalent to the northern ranges that stretch from Bordeaux to southern Spain.

Central Otago
The unique climate and rich volcanic soil conditions of Central Otago have transformed the area into one of the fastest growing wine producers in New Zealand. The area’s higher elevation (around 1,000 feet) is protected from the island’s maritime climate by surrounding, snow-capped high mountains. The result is a more continental climate that you would expect to find far from any coast.

That’s not to say that the climate is static. Each of the four seasons comes out in full force here, from hot and dry summers to cold snowy winters. It is the ideal place to grow the hardiest of grapes. However, the extreme shift in seasonal temperatures push the harvest out to late April (remember that New Zealand’s summer is our winter, so their farm calendar shifts a full six months from ours).

At first glance, the land in Central Otago may seem too harsh to support any kind of agriculture, let alone vineyards. The region is sliced in two by the Kawarau Gorge, a beautiful stretch of river guided along its course by rock ledges. This rocky landscape fans out from the gorge, quite naturally affecting soil composition. Heavy quantities of craggy mica and similar deposits mingle with other soils, preventing the earth from holding water for long periods. So for vintners to keep Central Otago productive, they must irrigate their land artificially. The result is some of the most elegant and nuanced pinot noir you’re likely to put to your lips.

Waiheke Island
In New Zealand’s warmer northern climes, Waiheke Island—three-quarters the size of Nantucket—has earned a name as the country’s “island of wine.” Unlike in Central Otago, these wine growers have embraced the maritime climate. Many of the vineyards blanket the eastern, more agricultural, half of Waiheke—a welcome slice of tranquility marked by land that is at once gentle and rugged. Here, among towering pohutukawa trees, a once-hipster culture has transformed itself into a community of high-end yet low-key wineries. Lucky for its wine-sipping visitors, they have found the perfect formula of climate and soil structure to grow classical grape varieties that produce wines with a distinct character.

The unique soil on the island has helped to create ideal conditions for Syrah, Bordeaux-type wines, and some Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. Syrah wines produced here regularly win awards. Many of the more than 27 vineyards on the island are considered boutique in size. Smaller vineyards yield fewer bottles year to year, and so these wines are sought after and therefore more expensive than mainland-produced vintages.

Explore the kiwi wine culture during our Wonders of New Zealand trip. Click here for trip details!

On the South Island, the harbor of Oamaru, the pretty seaside town lush with beautiful Victorian architecture, is home to some of New Zealand’s most interesting residents. As it happens, we’ve arranged to dine with them on our Wonders of New Zealand trip.

Our tiny “hosts,” a colony of blue penguins, may be small in size (adults reach a height of just 13 inches) but they attract big attention at the harborside restaurants of Oamaru. Perhaps it’s their unusual slate-blue plumage from which they get their name that draws bird lovers here. Maybe visitors are captivated by the most unusual congregation of penguin and human. Or maybe people flock here to see them simply because they’re so cute.

Our dinnertime visit is well-timed so that we’ll see them waddling to and fro on the beach. Many of them will have just returned from a busy day swimming and foraging for food. It’s not uncommon for them to have covered 30 miles in a day. Their menu—much simpler than yours for the evening—consists of a routine catch of squid, some small species of cod and herring, and other small sea creatures, some of which they bring back for their chicks during birthing season.

Of course, this tiny bird is also vulnerable to predators like sharks and sea lions; sadly, some may not return from the hunt. But evolution has given them their own camouflage suit. The blue feathers on their backs make them invisible to predators swimming above them. And their white bellies help them blend in with the shimmering surface of the harbor if predators are below them.

Like true domestics, they hunt close to shore, perhaps so as not to wander too far from their nests and their chicks. They can dive as deep as 60 feet, staying underwater for up to a minute. However, unlike true domestics and unlike some other penguin species, males remain loyal to females only during mating and hatching season. Afterward, they may move on to another nesting area for a new mate.

Interestingly, they don’t always make their own nests. In many cases, including in Oamaru, they are opportunistic squatters, taking up residence in burrows dug out by other animals or in manmade structures like inside hollow pipes, among loose timber, or in crevices underneath shorefront buildings. The colony at Oamaru consists of more than 130 blue penguins. Some of them have been breeding here for over 18 years, which is double the average life span of blue penguins living in the wild.

The Oamaru colony of blue penguins moved in as recently as the 1990s. When it became clear that they were here to stay, volunteers worked to make the area suitable for breeding and nesting. So successful was the effort to make the birds feel at home that the volunteers received the Otago Regional Council’s Environmental Award in 1995.

We think you’ll find them to be delightful dining companions.

If you’d like to dine with blue penguins, read more about our Wonders of New Zealand trip here!

We can thank the Maori people for New Zealand. Originally from eastern Polynesia, they arrived on these shores by canoe on several waves of voyages that lasted between 1250 and 1300 AD. Naturally, they brought their own culture with them, and over the centuries they developed their own language, mythology, customs, and crafts. We hope this glimpse into Maori culture will enrich your journey.

Greetings! You’re sure to feel good tidings and well wishes from the Maori you meet in New Zealand. Day to day, they greet each other with a hearty “Kia Ora,” a phrase that’s been adopted by other New Zealanders.

Greetings! (With an edge). However, traditional tribal welcomes (or hui) might seem quite unwelcoming at first. A warrior, armed with a fighting staff, might meet the guest with an aggressive challenge, then offer a token of peace, such as a fern. By accepting the offering, the guest demonstrates courage and charisma and is warmly received.

What’s in a name? In their own language, the word “maori” translates into “normal” or “natural.” It’s believed that early settlers used this term to humbly distinguish themselves from gods and spirits.

Keeping the peace. The British colonized New Zealand in 1840. As they asserted their power, tensions between the Crown and the Maori grew. Conflicts came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which recognized Maori ownership of their own land and gave tribes the rights of British subjects. The treaty is considered the foundation of New Zealand as a nation.

Traveling treaty. In order for all tribal leaders to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, copies of the documents traveled all over New Zealand. More than 500 chiefs gave it their signature, and at least 13 of them were women.

May I have this dance? The traditional haka dance originated as a war cry. Though it is still traditionally performed by men, often at the opening of rugby matches in an effort to intimidate challenging teams, it may also mark great achievements or celebratory occasions. Dancers slap their bodies, stamp their feet, chant words, display the whites of their eyes, and stick out their tongues.

It takes a village. Many tribal relationships and customs are still observed among the Maori. Several extended families, or whanau, for instance, might form a clan, or hapu. Members of the larger hapu might pool their resources, just as the ancient Maori shared food and raised families together.

For the people by the people. Maori societies, often within their hapu, meet for official tasks and ceremonies at the marae, a group of buildings gathered around an open space similar to a public common. Tribes are overseen by a governing body called a runanga, which manages tribal assets and serves as a liaison with the New Zealand government.

Top chefs. For a flavorful feast, the Maori might cook a meal prepared by hangi, especially for large groups of diners. The cooks dig a shallow hole in the ground and prepare a fire within it. They heat stones on top of the fire, then place meat and vegetables on the stones. Leaves are then spread on top and the entire “oven” is covered in soil to seal in the heat.

Tell it like it is. The history of tribal groups is passed on largely by oral tradition. Storytelling, song, chanting, and poetry play a critical role in keeping the collective memory alive.

Meet the Maori during our Wonders of New Zealand trip.

Kerala’s Mystical, Magical Backwaters

Kerala is one of India’s smallest provinces, but it’s big on discovery and magnificent natural wonders. Nestled in the southwestern corner of India, it stretches 370 miles at the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea and extends just 7 miles inland at its narrowest point and 75 miles at its widest.

The small city of Alleppey lies in the midst of a vast network of peaceful, isolated backwaters where life goes on much as it has for centuries. Within this magnificent, unspoiled maze of rivers, lakes, canals and lagoons – a circuitous labyrinth of some 600 miles that has earned it the nickname “Venice of the East” – rice paddy fields and dense forests teeming with wildlife blanket the shores; fishermen ply calm waters in traditional longboats or in vallams, a type of canoe; children splash on shallow banks; and kingfishers perch in riverside coconut palm trees waiting for an opportunity to snatch an unsuspecting meal from the waters.

Kerala is home to an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna. About one-quarter of all India’s plant species are here, remarkable for such a small region. Also roaming the forests are 102 species of mammal, including the Indian elephant and Bengal tiger; 476 types of birds such as the great hornbill; and 169 reptiles, including India’s legendary king cobra and mugger crocodile.

But it’s not only the natural beauty and simple living for which this breathtaking region is known. Within these forests, medicinal plants have been harvested over the centuries and given birth to the Ayurveda movement. It’s a long tradition rooted in the herbal oils and exotic spices that first drew Portuguese explorers to these shores. Today, the natural treatments first discovered here and the principles of Buddhism they follow form the basis of alternative health practices and philosophies of well-being all around the world.

In your Discovery Tours small group, you’ll board one of the kettuvallams that cruise among these serene waters. These elegant houseboats were originally used to transport rice, spices and other goods; thatched roofs protected the harvests from the elements. Later, a select few were converted to royal barges, extravagantly outfitted for the pleasure of maharajahs and their families. You will embark and get underway with your crew. As you quietly drift along, you’ll marvel at a way of life that you never dreamed still existed. You might even see some fishermen wading into the waters up to their necks, seeking out fish with their feet.

During your cruise, your expert crew will prepare a lunch of authentic Keralan cuisine, flavored with the spices for which this region has long been celebrated. Perhaps a curry or masala dish will enhance your backwater experience, with ample locally grown rice. You’ve never had a “farm to table” experience quite like this, in a setting so magical. It is an experience unlike any other.

Experience Kerala’s spectacular backwaters up close during our Spiritual Southern India tour!