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Milford sound by land or by air - which is right for me?

1/25/2019

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Cruising Milford Sound. Ⓒ Rob Suisted
Milford Sound.  The Eighth Wonder of the Wonder.  Few would argue it doesn’t deserve a must do spot on any New Zealand itinerary.  There are several ways to visit Milford Sound, but I’m going to focus on using Queenstown as your base.  The choice of how to get there then becomes by motor coach or scenic flight. I have visited using both of these options.  Each method has its pros & cons. Both options will include a scenic cruise of Milford Sound.

The motorcoach tour option   
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When you travel by motor coach you get to sit back, relax, & enjoy the spectacular scenery.  The landscapes will vary from sparkling lakes, to rain forest, to glaciers. Your coach journey includes a rest stop in the charming town of Te Anau.  Te Anau sits on the border of Fiordland National Park & is home to the second largest lake in New Zealand Lake Te Anau. Here you can stretch your legs, grab a Flat White, & even do a little shopping.  From Te Anau you’ll continue thru Fiordland National Park ending at Milford Sound. Depending on which tour company you use you will have a photo stop or two in Fiordland National Park before you arrive at the visitor center.  Most cruises run about 1 hour & 45 min. Some ships give you the option to include a buffet lunch (pre booked & paid in advance), some have snack bars for you to purchase coffee, light snacks, beer, & wine. Some even offer you the opportunity to be dropped off for kayaking before being picked up later in the day.  If you would like to bring your own food on board most ships allow this. You could grab something in Te Anau or plan ahead & bring some food with you from Queenstown.

PictureMitre Peak. Ⓒ Rob Suisted
On board your cruise you will sail past iconic Mitre Peak which rises one kilometre out of the sea. You’ll see spectacular waterfalls as you make your way towards the Tasman Sea. Keep your eyes open for marine life such as dolphins, seals, & penguins.  ​
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PictureSo many waterfalls to see! Ⓒ Vita Vino Travel
At the conclusion of your cruise you’ll board your coach for the return journey to Queenstown.  There should be a restroom stop in Te Anau, but it will not be as long as the stop on the way to Milford Sound.  You’ll be moving along at a good clip to get back to Queenstown so don’t expect a lot of stops or breaks.

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​Pros & cons of the motor coach option

Pros - It’s the most affordable option (outside of driving yourself which isn’t recommended).   The drive itself is varied & spectacular. Te Anau & beautiful Lake Te Anau worth seeing & you’ll get to see Fiordland National Park.   
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Cons - It’s a very long day.  The journey is approximately 12 hours round trip.  It could be a little less depending on how long your stops are, but expect at least 11+ hours.  It will be evening by the time you arrive back to Queenstown. It could be late evening which means you’ll miss dinner unless you don’t mind eating late.  If you’re traveling with children don’t underestimate the amount of time on the bus. Be sure to bring activities & snacks to keep them happy & occupied.
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PictureReady for flight!
The fly/cruise/fly option
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The scenic flight option is another fantastic way to experience Milford Sound.  You’ll board your plane (there’s also a helicopter tour option) at Queenstown airport.  


Most scenic flight tours include a complimentary round trip transfer from your hotel.  Once on board your aircraft prepare to be wowed! The flight is approximately 35 min. Your flight route will vary depending on tour company & weather, but you may fly over Skippers Canyon, the Paradise region (many scenes from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy were filmed here), & the Donne glacier.  Before landing you will fly over the fiord of Milford Sound.
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Aerial view of Lake Wakatipu Ⓒ Vita Vino Travel
Upon landing you will either board a shuttle for a short 5 min. ride to the the visitor center or walk. The walk is short & scenic (about 15 min. at most). From here your journey continues on to the cruise portion of the trip just as it did on the motorcoach tour option.   Once your cruise is concluded you will be escorted back to the plane for your return flight to Queenstown. You will likely fly home by an alternate route (weather dependent) giving you more opportunities to see dramatic landscapes & glaciers.
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Aerial view of glacier en route to Milford Sound. Ⓒ Vita Vino Travel
Pros & cons of the fly/cruise/fly option

Pros - Time. Your total round trip time including the cruise is 4 hours.  That leaves you the rest of the day to experience another activity or just enjoy Queenstown.  The scenery from your flight is spectacular! Completely different from what you see while driving.  You’ll get up close to glaciers you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. You’ll get a great view of the Tasman Sea & Lake Wakatipu.  

Cons - The cost is higher.  You won’t get to see Fiordland National Park.  Scenic flights are 100% weather dependant. I’ll say that again.  Scenic flights are 100% weather dependant! If you have bad weather your flight may not be able to go up.  If bad weather rolls in at Milford Sound there is a possibility you might have to take the motor coach back.  There is no controlling Mother Nature. The tour company has no control over weather. Please be understanding of this fact.  They really want you to have your flight/cruise experience. However, their number one priority is your safety. They will never jeopardize that by operating in unsafe conditions.  I always recommend scheduling your flight as early in your Queenstown stay as possible. That way if your flight gets canceled due to weather you still have an opportunity to do it on another day.  I hope I haven’t scared you away from this option because it’s a great option (and my personal favorite). My flight went with no issues. It’s better to be prepared for worst case scenarios though to avoid disappointment later.

There are other ways to see Milford Sound & I would be happy to give you my recommendations based on your personal wants & needs.  I hope that you found this informative and are ready to make a visit to Milford Sound a must do on your visit to New Zealand.


​Cheers!


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the bucket list

10/16/2018

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The Bucket List.  The Dream List. The Life Goals List.  However you refer to it we’ve all heard it & know what it means.   It’s a compilation of all the things you’d like to see and do during your lifetime.  I’m here to tell you there is no reason to wait until you’re about to kick the bucket before making & more importantly getting started crossing things off that list!

I started my list many years ago, but family and work obligations often times take precedence over fun. This year I turned 50 and also became an empty nester. How did that happen?! I feel like I was the one just graduating from high school and now both of my sons have graduated and have moved on to college life.  Time for some new priorities and my priority is crossing things off my dreams list.

I previously crossed a few things off my list (like visiting Hobbiton), but 2018 was the time to kick it into high gear.


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This is the face of joy! What you don't see is me crying my eyes out right before this photo was taken. Tears of joy!
This year I have crossed 12 items off my list and I can’t tell you how much joy it has brought me.  In 2018 I traveled to the other side of the world and spent 2 weeks driving all over New Zealand by myself.  I visited Hawke’s Bay the start of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. The third time was the charm and I was finally able to hike the Hooker Valley Track at Mt. Cook National Park.  I overcame my fear of small planes and flew to Milford Sound. I’ve been dreaming of staying at one of New Zealand’s amazing luxury lodges for many years and this year I not only stayed at one but three!  I went horseback riding in New Zealand. I visited Budapest, Vienna, and Salzburg. I got the New Zealand tattoo of my dreams. I fulfilled my childhood dream of visiting the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and cried like a baby!   I finally saw “my castle” in person. Yes, I call Neuschwanstein Castle my castle. I’ve been obsessed with it for years and seeing it in person did not disappoint.

Now you may look at that list and say wow you’re so lucky or I couldn’t possibly do that.   My response to that is yes I do feel very fortunate and why not? What is holding you back from crossing things off of your list?   If you look over some of my photos what do I you see? I hope that you see what I felt at the time. Joy. Pure joy. You will never regret getting to see and do all the things you’ve dreamed of.  Now is the time to make it happen!

So what's on your bucket list?  Share in the comments below.  I would love to help you start crossing things off of your list.  Please contact me at [email protected] and let's start bringing that joy to YOUR life!


Cheers!
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Farm to table fabulous at the farm at cape kidnappers

9/26/2018

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Have you ever stayed at a hotel or resort and immediately felt at home?  It doesn’t happen often, but I’m still feeling the warm glow from my recent stay at the Farm at Cape Kidnappers located in Napier on the North Island of New Zealand.  I’ve racked my brain trying to find anything that I didn’t like about it, but nope I’ve got nothing! It’s a very special place where you will be made to feel like family the moment you set foot on their 6,000 acre property.
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Cape Kidnappers Main Lodge. Ⓒ Vita Vino Travel
During my stay I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend some one on one time with their Sous Chef Davey Howarth.   Your stay at the Farm at Cape Kidnappers includes a cocktail hour with canapes & dinner nightly. Whether you choose to dine in the Snug, the Library, the Main dining room or even your suite it is an experience for your taste buds & not to be missed.
Davey explained to me that each day the menu is created around what is fresh from their garden or sourced locally from Hawke’s Bay.   The food can be described as modern contemporary with an asian flair, but do not mistake that to mean asian food. You may find some fresh bok choy on your plate, but you will also find delicious local seafood and meats that represent the best of Kiwi cuisine.   It’s impressive enough that each day the menu is rewritten, but they also cater to each guests needs whether they be food allergies or just foods you don’t enjoy eating. That could mean many, many different nightly menus yet they do it all with great care and a smile.  I definitely challenged them on that with my own food aversions, but they couldn’t have handled it better.

Davey was kind enough to give me a personal tour of their vegetable garden which always has fresh, seasonal options popping up.  I was able to taste several different herbs I had never tried before and helped pick some edible flowers that showed up on my dinner plate & breakfast the next morning. How cool is that?!
The food at the Farm at Cape Kidnappers is nothing short of fabulous!  Oh and did I mention the wine? They have their own wine cellar which is available for private tastings or dinners if you’re traveling with a group.   I was also lucky to enjoy a private tasting with restaurant manager John Logan. My personal favorite was the 2013 Craggy Range Te Kahu. Yes, I am a very lucky girl!  

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers lives to please their guests whether that be through the food, wine, accommodations, or any special requests.  If they can make it happen for you they certainly will. I truly cannot say enough good things about my stay here. I will be recommending this amazing property for all my clients and I cannot wait to return myself in the future.

Cheers to the Farm at Cape Kidnappers!   

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Cape Kidnappers. Ⓒ Vita Vino Travel
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Sipping your way around hawke's bay

8/7/2018

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Is there anything more fun for wine lovers than a fabulous day out wine tasting?  Now imagine doing that in one of the most beautiful areas of New Zealand. That’s taking it to a whole other level!  
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Ⓒ Vita Vino Travel. Oak Estates Chardonnay Vines.
PictureⒸ Vita Vino Travel. Church Road Winery.
Hawke’s Bay sits on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.  It’s warm, dry climate is perfect for producing award winning, full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, & Merlot.  Never fear white wine lovers as you’ll also find great Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, & Rosé here too.  Hawke’s Bay is the starting point of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. I recently had the opportunity to take a full day wine tour and it was everything I could have hoped for in a great wine tour.
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My full day tour included visits to 6 different cellar doors, a plated lunch, and ended with a tasting platter.  Yes, you read that correctly.  6 wineries!  How did I manage to visit 6 wineries & still be standing at the end?  We’ll get to that later.

My tour began with a complimentary hotel pick up.  Our schedule for the day included stops at Moana Park, Church Road, Mission Estate (including lunch), Te Awa, Sileni Estates, & Oak Estate (including a tasting platter).  Each winery was unique in their own right. Some were boutique & offered vegan wines (Moana Park).  Some were quite large & offered interesting insights into how wine is produced (Church Road).  Church Road has a very interesting wine museum which I recommend you include on a visit there even if you go on your own outside of an organized tour.  You’ll even get to taste some wine straight out of the barrel.  It may look a little scary, but it tastes good! Oak Estate is owned by a husband & wife tag team who not only make the wine, but they also make all of their own food.  Their freshly baked bread with burnt butter was to die for!  Trust me on this.
PictureⒸ Vita Vino Travel. Oak Estate tasting platter.


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​Food is a big component of the full day tour & as with all the food in New Zealand you will find it be be incredibly fresh, locally sourced, & delicious!   If you’re doing a full day tour it’s important to make sure there is a food element included. You’ll need something in your stomach to absorb the alcohol.  As I mentioned Oak Estate makes all of their own food. This was probably one of the best tasting platters I have ever eaten. A thing of beauty!


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One thing I have learned about wine is it’s very subjective & personal.  I am not a wine expert.  Wine lover, yes. Wine expert, no.  I definitely had my favorite wineries, but my palate & preferences are unique to me as yours are to you.  I’m not going to single out my favorites.  All I will say is they all offered a great atmosphere, great tasting room staff, & great wine.  You should plan a visit Hawke’s Bay & decide for yourself!  I highly recommend doing an organized tour.  Yes, you can do it on your own, but you’ll need to have a designated driver.  New Zealand has very strict drunk driving laws.  Just don’t do it.  Plan to go on an organized tour so you & everyone in your party can fully enjoy the day.​
PictureⒸ Vita Vino Travel. Te Awa vineyards.
​Now back to how to properly enjoy a visit to 6 wineries & still walk away sober.  Most tasting will be anywhere between 3-6 different wines.  Now multiply that by 6 stops.  That is a lot of wine!  So what do you do?  Use the spittoon!  That is what it’s there for.  Every tasting room will have a spittoon out or will instruct you on where to spit or dump.  It’s not poor form or an insult to the winemaker to sip & dump.  Not every wine will be to your taste & that’s ok.  Finish the ones you love, but dump the rest after taking a small tasting sip or two.  Pace yourself & you will still be able to enjoy what you’re tasting by the time you get to your final pour. This picture was taken very close to the end of the day.  Still sober! ​

I thoroughly enjoyed sipping my way around Hawke’s Bay.  Although I did visit 6 wineries I barely scratched the surface of fabulous cellar doors open for tastings.  I can’t wait to return again to try them all!
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Cheers!

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    Julie Sullivan

    As the owner of Vita Vino Travel my mission is to ensure your vacation is seamless & perfect for you!  You're unique.  Your vacation should be too.  The world was meant to be explored so get out there & explore it one sip at a time!  Cheers!

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