top 10 tips for hiking the milford track

View from Mackinnon Pass.

Someone once said that the Milford Track is the finest walk in the world. I don't know whether that is true or not, but I certainly enjoyed it. There are two ways to hike (or as the Kiwis call it, tramp) the Milford Track. The first is to do it independently, where you carry your own food and stay in shared accommodations with others. The second is to walk with a guide and stay in nice lodges with hot food and nice bottles of wine after the end of a long day. I have no specific tips for independent walkers because I did a guided tour with Ultimate Hikes, currently the only outfit that provides guided walks in the Milford Track. But, I have tips applicable to anyone hiking it.

travel zen on tuesday - mackinnon pass in new zealand

Where is this place?

how to get around in new zealand

A view from the Mackinnon Pass on the Milford Track.

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited in my recent travels. Views of mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, fjords, beaches and rolling hills unobstructed by man or man-made structures inspired plenty of quiet reflection as well as lively discussions about the wonders of nature. At the same time, the melding of nature and man-made structures, like Hobbiton, stimulated the imagination. Finally, the cities (like Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch) were full of mostly lovely people willing to assist lost travelers like me and Mr. SR, and in some cases, invite us to their home. All this waxing poetic about New Zealand has a purpose. To get to see all this beauty, one needs to get around. And, how does one get around?

what to expect in hobbiton

A view of Hobbiton and the Party Tree from the Green Dragon Inn.

This post is an unapologetic nerd out moment. When I was a wee girl, I read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (it was a short book), and became immediately immersed in the goings on in Middle Earth. As a young lass, although I attempted to finish reading the inches thick Lord of the Rings trilogy by Mr. Tolkien, I must admit that I never got through them (I must have been distracted with a deep desire to play outside with friends). 

Several decades after I last cracked open a Tolkien book, Peter Jackson birthed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. I absolutely adored all the movies so much that I watched every single movie -- in the movie theaters and the extended versions at home -- multiple times. But, this time, Mr. Tolkien's stories and the visual imagery on the screen made me hunger for more -- more stories, more Tolkien, more movies, more New Zealand.

So, during a trip to New Zealand as part of our mini round-the-world trip, I not only forced Mr. Sazy Rock to watch one of The Hobbit movies in New Zealand with me (I thought it added cinematic context), but I also insisted that we visit Matamata, a.k.a. Hobbiton, in the North Island.

Hobbiton.

There are a few things I learned about Hobbiton that you may find useful:

top 5 reasons to visit wellington, new zealand

Wellingtonian activity.

Most folks who visit New Zealand spend a lot of their time in the South Island -- and I don't blame them. The South Island is beautiful and full of fun activities. That being said, I hope I can make the case for why travelers should not skip the North Island, and particularly, Wellington.

1.  It's a pretty town. Just imagine yourself in a small but cosmopolitan town next to the water and with hills overlooking the city. Many art installations dot the boardwalk by the waterfront. From the boardwalk, you can see kayakers, joggers, and other folks out and about. When you go up the hill either via furnicular, car or your own two feet, you can visit the botanical garden with not only beautiful flora but also an awesome Henry Moore sculpture you can get up close and personal with. There aren't any tall skyscrapers (probably as high as 35 stories) but the building architectures range from your funky beehive to gothic to modern. The streets are ridiculously clean and the air crisp. Now, wasn't that a pretty town?

freebies around the world

Traveling could be expensive. In a series of posts, we will let you know about places that allow you entry into famous, fascinating and/or worthwhile sights or activities for free. Yes, gratis. 

For sights, we are not including public spaces (such as Central Park in New York or the medinas of Morocco) but we may include public (i.e, government run) buildings (such as the museums in London).

So, let’s start with a few freebies, shall we?

United States of America

Los Angeles, CA

1. The Getty – Enjoy a lot of paintings, photographs and a garden that changes with the season for free, but you have to pay for parking.

You can get up close and
personal with the steel curves of
the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

2.  The Getty Villa – You can see Greek, Roman and Etruscan art for free, but you will need to sign up for a (free) ticket. Also, parking isn’t free.

3. Walt Disney Concert Hall – Renowned architect Frank Gehry designed this wonderful jumble of shiny steel. You can roam the grounds – don’t miss the “Rose Garden” in the back of the Concert Hall – and enter the building for free but you have to pay to watch a show. Enjoy being up close and personal with the curved steel.

4. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) – Only the permanent collection and non-ticketed exhibitions are free on the Second Tuesday each month. 

5. Los Angeles Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels – Renowned Spanish architect Rafael Moneo designed this gem.

6. Bradbury building – You may have seen this building in movies like Blade Runner and (500) Days of Summer, among other things. This beautiful, light and airy building is free to visit up to the first floor landing. Beyond that, the tenants don't want random folks roaming around their space.

queenstown, new zealand for the non-thrill seeker

Queenstown has a reputation for hosting people who jump off stuff and do other crazy things. The reputation is well deserved. After all, commercial bungee and commercial jet boating started in this fair town. It somehow also seems appropriate that the beautiful mountain range towering over Queenstown is called “the Remarkables,” and another mountain nearby is called “Mount Difficulty.”

I first went to Queenstown with the idea of jumping off a bridge. I’ve previously jumped off a plane in Oxnard, California, and glided off a cliff in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. So, I thought jumping jump off a bridge wouldn't be that different. Unfortunately, the weather, my nerves or both (more likely, nerves) stopped me from doing something that would have been the basis of an awesome Facebook/Twitter profile photo (or at least something I could have put on Instagram).

Left without an extreme sport to partake in, was there anything else to do in Queenstown?  Absolutely.  For those who are not so extreme sports inclined, there are other un-extreme types of adventures and thrills to be had in and around town like the following: