New Zealand is undeniably one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Situated on the south western part of the Pacific Ocean, the island nation is renowned for its fabulous scenery, exciting festivals and exquisite cuisine. Despite all this New Zealand remains free from the crowds found in other vacation spots and tourists can enjoy their holiday in peace. However, the island is receiving more and more tourists each year, all of them keen on exploring the country’s various nature trails. In addition to hiking and trekking, NZ is famous for a variety of adventure sports such as kayaking and skydiving.
The Marlborough Sounds is the name given to a vast network of submerged valleys that remain open to the sea (this type of formation is called a ria). They are formed due to a combination of rising sea levels and land subsidence. The valleys are located on the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. According to Maori legend, the Sounds are actually supposed to be the prows of the sunken canoes of Aoraki. With over a thousand kilometres of coastline to be explored the Marlborough Sounds is ripe for adventure.
The Sounds main channels are quite calm and are just perfect for sea kayaking. As kayakers navigate the serpentine channels, they will come across breathtaking landscapes. Some of the narrow channels have especially strong tides and it is important to hire an experienced guide to avoid accidentally wandering into them. One can also visit the nearby Queen Charlotte Track, widely regarded as the best in the nation. Offering wide, clean paths and beautiful scenery, the Queen Charlotte Track is the ideal place for hiking and mountain biking. As parts of the trail pass through private land, there is a fee one must pay for passage.
Those planning on taking a tour of the entire country can book their New Zealand hotels with a chain like the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels NZ. This will minimise all the hassle involved in coordinating accommodation and will ensure that the hotels New Zealand will provide the same quality of service.
