New Zealand Archives - Poplar Travels

Apr 24 2016

Six Scenic Flight Tours Around the World

One of the best ways to see a new city (or an old one) is from above. And I don’t mean staring through your tiny circular window as the wheels drop over a new destination. I mean preferably with the wind in your face soaring over the best natural and manmade wonders your location has to offer. After trying a few flying adventures, we can definitively say this one of our favorite types of exploration. You can gain a new perspective from the air: an improved sense of scale and...

0 Comments

Sep 10 2014

Hiking an Active Volcano: New Zealand

Adventure

by Eric

I gazed into the massive crater of the White Island volcano, holding my camera in one hand, trying to capture the wisps of steam and smoke creeping up the cliff side. In the other hand I held my gas mask tight against my face as a cloud of fumes engulfed me. When the cloud had passed, the chaotic beauty of white island's moonscape was fully exposed. In my recent travels to the North Island of New Zealand, my sister and I were looking to have an unique and exciting trip. With...

0 Comments

Aug 12 2014

New Zealand: Craters of the Moon

Adventure

by Eric

As I walked down the path into the craters of the moon I watched in awe as the wind threw wisps of steam from the billowing thermal vents into spirals. I could hear boiling mud in the distance as I ventured further into nature’s sulfurous spa. The Craters of the Moon is a must-see geothermal field close to Taupo, New Zealand on the North Island. Wooden walkways have been constructed over the hot soil and vents so that visitors may safely pass through the field and view the various craters and...

0 Comments

Jul 07 2014

First Skydive in Taupo New Zealand

Adventure

by Eric

"Keep your legs bent and whatever you do, do not throw up on me!" he yelled. These were the parting words of my tandem master as we jumped out of the tiny yellow plane and began our 15,000 foot plunge toward the earth. This was the literal high point of my skydiving adventure in Taupo New Zealand. Before I had even purchased my ticket to New Zealand to visit my sister, I knew for sure that I wanted to go skydiving. It had been sitting on my bucket list for far...

5 Comments

Jun 05 2014

New Zealand: Whiritoa Beach

Travel

by Eric

On my way down the coast to Tauranga, I happened upon the small beach community of Whiritoa. This small town has a beautifully sandy beach with large waves that are great for surfing.Whiritoa has a small permanent population of a few hundred, but there are plenty of guesthouses and rental homes to accommodate the peak season vacationers. The town has a library, fire department, a convenience store, and the only ice cream stand that I could find between Whangamate and Katikati.

0 Comments

Jun 04 2014

New Zealand: Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula

Adventure

by Eric and Evanne

During my travels to the North Island of New Zealand this year I made my first ever trip to Hot Water Beach on the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula.This beach is truly unique due to two volcanic mineral springs beneath the beach that push heated water up through the sand. Near the rocks at the southern end of the beach you can dig a hole in the spring area to create your own personal hot tub in the beach sand!

0 Comments