Where - North Island New Zealand
Capital - Wellington
Biggest City - Auckland
Language - English, Maori
Currency - NZ Dollar
Time Zone - UTC + 12
Quirky Fact - Sheep outnumber people in NZ 15 to 1Hey guys,

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rachel and I’m a Travel Consultant for Backpackers World Travel. I work in our Brisbane Elizabeth Street branch and I am soooo excited to be able to write all about my favourite place in the World…NEW ZEALAND!!!

My purpose is to inform all readers on everything that is happening over in NZ’s North Island. Keep checking this page for regular updates. If you have any specific questions, just drop me a line and I promise to get back to you ASAP.

This is my first blog entry so I’ll just start with the biggest city … AUCKLAND.

Otherwise known as the city of sails, Auckland is NZ’s main air gateway. Imagine an urban city, surrounded by beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and a beautiful harbor. Add in some Polynesian culture blended with modern city lifestyle and voila, you have Auckland.

Once you arrive, catch the airbus. It runs 7 days a week, all year and costs only $15 one way. It departs every 20 minutes and drops off at most major Hotels and Backpackers.

Accommodation:
BASE Backpackers - clean, modern and centrally located. Fantastic Bar and ensuite rooms. Dorm rooms start at $24.

Auckland Central Backpackers - right in the heart of Auckland.

What to do:
Absolutely, Positively, you must do Auckland’s famous SKYJUMP!!! Come on I know you want to!!!

Why not begin your Kiwi Adventure by taking a 192m leap off the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. That’s right, free fall for 15 seconds at speeds of 85kph before gently landing smoothly at the bottom. Yes you will live and what a rush. Unforgettable!!!

Well that’s it for this week guys but keep reading for more new and exciting NINZ info

Cheers
Rach

Surfing and the lifestyle is a major part of Australian culture with Australia being home to some of the best waves on this blue planet. This is the place if you’re looking to learn or for the ultimate surf trip.If a surf trip sounds like you then the East Coast is the place to be with plenty of coastline to choose from. The East Coast of Australia is home to famous spots such as Bondi, Byron and Burleigh Heads.

Pretty much all of the New South Wales and Queensland coast has 100’s of great surf spots and a variety of beach, reef & point breaks. The weather is great and the sea temperature are generally warm.

If you are an inexperienced surfer or wish to progress your skills, jump on board either a 1 day surf lesson or up to ‘the ultimate 5 day Sydney to Byron odyssey’. Learn from the masters and enjoy spending your days surfing some of the country’s most pristine beaches whislt sleeping in cabins metres from the beach.

So you’re thinking of travelling to the centre of Australia? Brilliant! There’s just something about heading to the middle of nowhere and exploring a land that’s beyond comparison, that draws so many visitors to this beautiful area.When travelling in this area you have 3 main places that you definitely, 100% cannot miss - Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon.

Uluru: Probably the most iconic image of Australia and our greatest reminder of the spiritual connection Aboriginal people have with the land. Standing at 863 metres above sea level, the rock is something that is impossible to be missed. Walking around the base takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours alone! For those that just need to climb everything, you can also climb the rock …however keep in mind that the Aboriginal community strongly suggest you do not climb it. In the end its UP TO YOU!

Kata Tjuta: About 25kms from Uluru, Kata Tjuta (or the Olgas) is made up of over 25 impressive domes and can be seen from the rock. There are 2 main accessible walking tracks. The Valley of the Winds Walk (7kms) and the Olga Gorge Walk (2kms). By taking these walks you will get up close to the rock formations and see some remarkable scenery from the lookouts. If you plan on doing these you will need to leave early in the morning because the temperature can easily reach 35 DEGREES after 10am.

Kings Canyon: Located about 4 hours drive from Uluru, is 270m high and like the Olgas has 2 main walks. The main 1 is a 3 ½ hour walk which winds up and down the perimeter of the Canyon. Along the way you will see lush vegetation and a lake (the Garden of Eden) and beehive rock formation, almost looking like coins stacked on top of each other (the Lost City). From the top you get some of the most breathtaking views of the landscape and appreciate how huge this place actually is.Getting There!

OK so you know what’s there and the basics of what to see …now how do I get there? Qantas flys to Alice Springs or Ayers Rock everyday from any major city. Once there, shuttle buses will take you to most hostels for about $14.

Trains service Alice Springs from Adelaide and Darwin via the Ghan network. This is the most iconic train trip within Australia and takes in some of the most remote parts of the country.

From Alice Springs you can take tours to the centre that take anywhere from 2-5 days. The minimum recommended time is at least 3 days. This will allow you time to see each of the highlights for longer periods of time. You need to spend as long as possible at each spot to truly appreciate the beauty.

Just on tours, there is 1 that also leaves from Cairns and is Australia’s most remote road trip. It takes 3 days and takes you through some of the harshest outback country and through small towns. Truly a remarkable experience for those who have the time.

By road you can take the Stuart and Lasseter Highways between Alice Springs and Uluru and takes approximately 5 hours to drive. Keep in mind when driving however, that there’re few places to stay near the rock and can be a little expensive.

Well beach side living doesn’t get much better than this! Byron Bay is a small seaside town that is popular with many - locals, tourists and celebrities.

Whether you want to skydive over the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Bay, learn to surf, hand glide or simply chill out on the beach and work on that Aussie tan, Byron Bay has it all! If you’re looking for a unique hostel then check out the Arts Factory, you can sleep in a teepee