Dear Crystal:
Since I love nature and enjoy my quiet time alone when vacationing, I am writing today to ask you for your opinion about finding a spot that is off the beaten path. I enjoy isolation, so I am looking to travel to places with incredible natural beauty. Can you suggest a vacation spot that can make me feel like I am the first visitor to ever discover? I’m looking for a place that only locals know about?
Singed: Jim-Bob
Dear Jim-Bob:
Thank you for your inquiry and I would be happy to talk isolation with you when it comes to exploring all of the planet’s natural beauty. Okay, so have you seen the movie Lord of the Rings? I ask that question because this movie offered a look at the natural beauty and isolation of a country worth exploring; the country I’m referring to is the beautiful southern coastline of New Zealand. The good news for you in Arizona is that travelers wanting to experience the deep south of New Zealand can now fly from Los Angeles to Christchurch, therefore making it possible to pick up your rental car upon arrival and experience the Southern Scenic Route for those individuals looking to get away from the crowds and experience the unspoiled beauty of the true New Zealand. I would suggest to you to begin in Dunedin, as it is about a five hour drive away from Christchurch. Dunedin provides a good base from which to explore the Southland, but it is a fascinating city in its own right. It is often referred to as the Edinburgh of the South and there are many fine old buildings in the city. Driving south from Dunedin, the highway splits after the town of Balclutha with one route heading inland northwest and the main highway becoming the Southern Scenic Route. As you continue south you will encounter an eco-adventurer’s paradise full of river, lakes, beaches, forests, caves and more.
Since you are looking for isolation and adventure this is a destination that is sure to please with no worries, just more adventures to be had just down the road. Feel free to contact me directly for rate and availability information as I too enjoy a little me time when looking to relax and enjoy all the beauty that nature has to offer down under.
If you have a travel question or problem you would like to submit, please forward it to Crystal Brockhan at [email protected] or call directly at 928-580-8473.