Find Cheap Flights Plus Hotel Discounts

I couldn’t hold in my excitement as we drove up the dirt driveway to the Wanaka Lavender Farm. The view to the right was a riot of purple against a pale blue sky, with dark green trees and summer-dried mountains between. As we got closer to the lavender, the hum of bees began to fill the air. I’ve always wanted to visit a lavender farm, but I never thought I’d be doing it during our honeymoon in New Zealand! Running (carefully) through lavender fields is something I’d pictured more easily in somewhere like France, so when we found out about the Wanaka Lavender Farm from our Airbnb hosts, I really wanted to go. The area around Wanaka is well known for outdoor adventure and adrenalin-inducing activities, so taking time to chill out and soak in a bit of the beautiful surroundings at a peaceful location sounded ideal. Plus. Lavender Farm. Need I say more? Started about 6 years ago by two brothers, Tim and Stef Zeestraten, the lavender farm in Wanaka consists of 10 acres of lavende...

When it comes to travel, I will always nominate myself to do the research. There’s nothing I love more than losing days to poring over hundreds of articles and photos, scouring guidebooks, gazing at maps and plotting itineraries. No matter where I am in the world, I always have dozens of ideas of where to head to next. I often have people confused because I can talk about places I’ve never visited as if I’ve spent months travelling through them. New Zealand was the first country I visited where I’d done little research. With a Kiwi boyfriend who knew far more about his home than I could ever hope to, I was happy to take a backseat for once, and let him do all the planning. For everyone’s safety, Dave would also be in charge of logistics, leaving me to spend an awful lot of time napping enjoying the spectacular views. Much of what I saw in New Zealand was therefore a surprise. I knew about the main tourist attractions — the glowworm caves of Waitomo...

There’s no doubt about it — Doubtful Sound can give Milford Sound a run for its money. Doubtful Sound, a misnamed fjord located on New Zealand’s South Island, may not be as popular or as well-known as the country’s crown jewel, Milford Sound. Milford is easily the country’s top tourist destination, and droves of people flock to cruise through its picturesque waters each year to gawk at its towering peaks and abundant wildlife. But you know what? I think Doubtful Sound might actually be better. Visiting Doubtful Sound Located further south in Fjordland National Park than Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound is just as impressive as Milford in any weather — but it’s far less touristed . And it’s also more fun to get to. RELATED: New Zealand Fjord Smackdown: Milford Sound vs. Doubtful Sound If you’re heading out on a Milford Sound tour from Queenstown, you’ll leave before dawn and take a 5+-hour bus ride along the Milford Road, cruise the fjord for an hour and a half, and the...