Comments on: A New Zealand Bucket List for Twenty-Somethings

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:11:25 +0000

Awesome thanksf or the additions! Can’t wait to get there myself!

By: Rob W.

Rob W. — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:10:51 +0000

Being a kiwi myself living outside of my country since 1997, I have been back twice (for pleasure). The first time my wife and I spent a month in the North Island and the second a month in the South Island and even then we felt like there was so much more that we could have seen or done.
Add to your list:
Have a hangi (traditional maori food cooked in the ground)
Visit White Island (that smoking one in the Bay of Plenty)
Waitomo Caves are a bit touristy though still different. There are cool caves nearby (forget the name).
Do a vineyard crawl (like a pub crawl, though only drinking at vineyards)
Go Zorbing (where they put you in a big plastic ball and roll you down the hill)
Do everything possible in Queenstown (do the bungy there at least)
and the list can easily go on….

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:53:28 +0000

haha thanks Matt- I will get there sooner or later! miss you too.

By: Chloe Johnson

Chloe Johnson — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:50:01 +0000

Loved reading this and chuckled a wee bit that you liked Speights (it is pretty good, and the marketing of it is even better!)
As a Kiwi I highly recommend you add some taste testing of traditional Maori-New Zealand food to the bucket list.
(If you are brave!)
Check out these 7 foods you should try: http://tiny.cc/dm3ym

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:19:22 +0000

Only just realized that Stephie just re-tweeted this link and the post is from long ago. I take back that whole “best change of heart” bit.

We miss you!

By: Nicki

Nicki — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:08:30 +0000

NZ is awesome! If you make it there, another fun thing to add to your list is wine tasting by bike! My friend and I went and had a fabulous time!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:07:28 +0000

So after weeks stuck in a sardine can in the rainy Outback you’ve decided to reconsider your decision to skip NZ on your round-the-world trip, huh, Stephie? I’d say that’s the best change of heart you’ve ever had.

Great post, Michelle! Abel Tasman was one of my absolute favorites. Beach/rain forest hiking is a rare opportunity.

I’d add…
- ZORBing in Rotorua
- climbing Franz Josef (or Fox) is a must
- once you get a taste of Speight’s Old Dark, you’ll never want to drink American beer again
- take in All Blacks match if you’re lucky (or the local Union team)
- drive through the Catlins (very underrated)
- a little bit of everything in Queenstown
- black water rafting in Waitomo caves
- visit Sandfly Bay in Dunedin (hidden treasure beach with penguins, sea lions and incredible views)

and now I’m longing to go back…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:02:05 +0000

Hi There!!!

I came across your article this morning, very cool.

We are building a new brand up here in Portland around the idea of a Bucket List and the gear that goes along the adventures. If you have some free time, I would like to invite you to share some of your adventures with our community. You have done some cool things and they would make a nice addition.

http://www.YourLUME.com

Best,

Andrew

By: Steph

Steph — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:15:22 +0000

wow that sounds really really cool as well! I’m going to become best friends with all the animals in New Zealand.

By: Becs

Becs — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:05:55 +0000

If swimming with animals is your idea of a good time, I have to reccomend swimming with the seals in Kaikora. A totally unique expirence. You can swim with dolphins in a variety of places in NZ (did in both Bay of Islands and Akaroa and I highly reccomend Akaroa!) but seals, I can’t think of anywhere else in the country you can do that. I had the best time!

And sticking with the animal trend, I loved the Penguin Parade in Oamaru. Totally touristy, but I quite enjoyed it!

Sidetrack from the animals, totally see the Pancake Rocks on the West Coast. Free and beautiful! The best combo.

And those are my adds for the South Island.

North Island needs a whole seperate post:-).

By: Steph

Steph — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:05:07 +0000

Hey Matt, it looks like I’ll probably be in NZ starting Oct.1 for about three weeks. Would love to meet up at some point. Bungee jumping is on my to-do list and I could use a friend to push me over the edge!

By: Steph

Steph — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:03:51 +0000

Very neat! My cousin plays in a rugby league in DC but I’ve never seen professional rugby and I bet it’s a cool experience.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:17:54 +0000

Glad you enjoyed NZ! Great bucket list – I hiked Abel Tasman and hope to kayak Milford Sound. I’m told that it’s the best way to see the area – sandflies aside!

Steph, any idea when you’ll be getting here next fall? Hopefully we can plan a meet up. Perhaps tackle a bungy together … ?!
.-= Matt´s last blog ..A Look Back … 40 Years of Friendship in Turkey =-.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:57:39 +0000

I am in NZ right now and your list looks great. Let me suggest one more for your future bucket list. . . the Wellington Sevens Rugby Tournament. Go check out my blog on it. . . and the pictures. Almost ALL the spectators dress up in full-blown costumes to go to the event.

http://mobilelawyer.blogspot.com/2010/02/heard-and-seen-at-wellington-sevens.html

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:18:12 +0000

Cool list! I keep hearing about New Zealand. That's so great that you'll be there in the fall! .-= Nancy´s last blog ..Where and how do you write? =-.

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:01:05 +0000

I agree, I am getting so excited ot be there in the fall!

By: Gray

Gray — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:22:59 +0000

New Zealand is such a beautiful country, just going there would be sufficient for my bucket list!
.-= Gray´s last blog ..Solo Travel with Danube Express Journeys =-.