New Zealand
I studied abroad for three weeks during the summer of 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. Here are a couple places we visited that are totally worth the trip if you are heading to the North Island anytime soon!
Hobbiton: Although I had never even seen the Lord of the Rings movies until after I went to Hobbiton (I know, I am the living worst), this was one of my favorite things to do in New Zealand. You can pay for a full tour of the set, which has been updated since its use for the movie, and see everything from the Party Tree to a hobbit hole. The best part, however, was finishing the tour with a cup of barley soup and a flagon of ginger beer at The Green Dragon.
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Auckland's SkyTower: Right in downtown Auckland is the SkyTower, which not only gives you the most incredible view of the city and the harbor, it gives you incredible opportunities to jump off a really, really tall building. Although I personally did not jump off the tower, six of my friends did and loved every minute of it.
Cathedral Cove: For those of you nerds who have seen the second Narnia movie about Prince Caspian, this is paradise. For those of you who haven't, it's still paradise. This beautiful beach is a 30-minute downhill hike. Bring your lunch and spend the day. There were people pushing strollers through the hike, but I would not say it's the easiest thing ever. Additionally, the hike back up is exclusively uphill.
Rotorua: Filled with adventurous things to do, Rotorua is a great spot to visit for a one-day adrenaline rush. The group I travelled with Zorbed (rolled in a hill in a giant plastic ball), went on a speed boat and saw this beautiful waterfall, and got to go to Skyline Rotorua, which offers ziplining and luge tracks. Skyline was by far my favorite experience during my whole trip in New Zealand.
Auckland's SkyTower: Right in downtown Auckland is the SkyTower, which not only gives you the most incredible view of the city and the harbor, it gives you incredible opportunities to jump off a really, really tall building. Although I personally did not jump off the tower, six of my friends did and loved every minute of it.
Cathedral Cove: For those of you nerds who have seen the second Narnia movie about Prince Caspian, this is paradise. For those of you who haven't, it's still paradise. This beautiful beach is a 30-minute downhill hike. Bring your lunch and spend the day. There were people pushing strollers through the hike, but I would not say it's the easiest thing ever. Additionally, the hike back up is exclusively uphill.
Rotorua: Filled with adventurous things to do, Rotorua is a great spot to visit for a one-day adrenaline rush. The group I travelled with Zorbed (rolled in a hill in a giant plastic ball), went on a speed boat and saw this beautiful waterfall, and got to go to Skyline Rotorua, which offers ziplining and luge tracks. Skyline was by far my favorite experience during my whole trip in New Zealand.
Australia
SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef: My five friends and I had the incredible opportunity to SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef, which was one of my bucket list items. I am certified, but my friends were not and they even had a blast. Tusa Dive in Cairns took us out on a giant, beautiful boat to two different locations, fed us lunch, and provided one-day training so my friends could go on an exploratory dive. Plus, we got to play with Crush. So, it was the best.
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Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge: Just being in downtown Sydney was a treat. We went out several days in a row without a plan and found plenty to do from walking the Sydney Harbour Bridge to taking a one-hour tour at the Sydney Opera House (this is actually super interesting). From eating at delicious restaurants at the Rocks (an area downtown) to watching the sunset over the harbor, we were never bored in Sydney.
*This page is a constant work in progress and will be updated as necessary.
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