Rory Walshe and his mate Phil have been getting in the thick of it in New Zealand, quite literally! Their attempt for the summit of Ben Loman near Queenstown turned out to be major adventure that included rescue crews.

It was the morning after the night before and me and my friend Phil decided - with slightly impaired decision making skills - to climb Ben Loman, a mountain above Queenstown.

We set off at 11am expecting the whole trip to take around six hours including a victory beer at the summit. We made the peak at 3 o’clock and then started to head back down where we met another track heading to Arthur’s point via moonlight track. This we figured would be a better route home since this side of the mountain was still in the sunlight. Bad idea number one.

About two hours later we lost the sunlight and shortly after that we lost the path. Before we knew it we were wading through thorns like toothpicks by the light from our mobiles, occasionally coming across sheer cliffs only a meter ahead of us. By now we were truly lost and decided to climb upwards to get a better view – bad idea number two.

Once we realized this was too dangerous – after almost stumbling over several cliffs - we stopped to have a break.

Unfortunately the rock Phil decided to sit on
wasn't a rock, it was in fact a carcass of a sheep.

It gets better… since we were now almost four hours overdue our friends back in town had called search and rescue to find us!

Eventually the moon rose high enough so we could see better and several hours of walking we found our way out on a goat track.

In total we were walking for 12 hours and when we finally reached a road the search and rescue guys were there to meet us. After a quick interview the police gave us a lift home and we drunk the second and slightly more deserved victory beers.

All in all it was a wicked adventure and although slightly scary at parts we got to see the mountains and scrubland at dusk as the sun set with absolutely no idea what a bind we were in. The hills around Queenstown are spectacular and are a must see for any southland visitor but they can be dangerous if, like us, you take your safety for granted and don’t look before you leap.

Cheers guys and enjoy New Zealand!

- Do you know of good places for New Zealand working holiday makers to visit? Let us know in the comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Nineteen-year-old Bronwen Rees started uni this year, but realised it was the wrong place and wrong time for her to study. She has now taken a gap year and says she has never regretted that decision.

An unplanned gap year is currently turning out to be the best year of my life!

I've been to Austria and worked in a 5-star chalet as a chalet hostess and then if it couldn't get any better I am now umpiring and working in the land of the Kiwis, while living with my man.

A year ago, I was what you would call an average student, taking my A levels expecting reasonable enough grades to get me in what I thought was the uni of my choice. In fact this year I did start uni, however, it didn't last. Once there I realised almost immediately that this is not what I wanted, so to the disapprovement of most of those who surrounded me, I quit. But now I can only say one thing and that's figures up to them.

I have just completed a ski season in Austria - no I don't speak German, no wasn't the most amazing skier but, hay, I liked the sport and well why shouldn't I give a new language a try? I've learnt one haven't I?

I'm going to be completely honest with you, it wasn't easy I have never been that far away from family for such a long period of time but the surroundings were so beautiful, the people I worked with were just lovely (most of the time), the chalet was phenomenal and an A for me, I was kept busy most of the time. I worked five days out of seven, working evening and breakfast shifts, and sometimes changing rooms; that left me the entire afternoon to do what I pleased, and well of course I skied. From Dec to April, I was skiing four to five days out of the seven and now consider myself quite good at skiing.

This is not only area where I have improved, I'm far more confident and have the people skills that most working environments require as well as a huge amount of work experience under my belt. Now I can't forget the most important things: the mountains had so much skiing available to me both piste and off piste; the social life was OK,  I have to admit it was ideal for me as I'm not a huge drinker but there were so many local towns offering much more to do. I can honestly say that this was the greatest experience and time of my life.

Until now that is ... I am currently living in New Zealand and yes it has not stopped raining for nearly a week, and its freezing cold and only going to get colder but I come from England so let's be honest its no worse than what I'm used to. And I have just visited the adrenaline filled town of Queenstown and Milford Sound, a place that contains the most stunning scenery in the world, so I am happy to tell you that the weather has not and will not dampen my spirits.

I will be working in Dunedin until July in a Thai restaurant, waitressing will be my trade. Then for what all this is for, one month to travel the two beautiful islands and do all those things that should be done in a place like this. We plan to hire a campervan and visit those must-see places and do those must-do things. I am out here with my boyfriend, he is playing rugby, I have been welcomed into his club with the wonderful Kiwi hospitality that can only be raved about and in fact tonight I am heading out as a flapper to one of their socials. I, though, have chosen to leave the rugby to the boys and decided to experience the most popular girls sport here. Netball. 

I both play and umpire the sport back in England and while being a popular sport with girls there, I can simply say I have never seen anything on the scale New Zealand has. I have been umpiring at The Edgar centre in Dunedin  where they play over 50 games just on a Saturday, I'd say that's a tad few more then eight a night. I have not had the opportunity to play but that has not bothered me in the slightest, I have been encouraged to work for my regional level of umpiring. As mentioned the hospitality of the Kiwis has just been wonderful and through my boyfriend's rugby club we have been invited to dine with many members, offered weekends away and invited to the homes of many of the lads when they break up for their holidays to both stay and experience their hobbies and family. I am most grateful for where I am and who I have met even if it does rain for my entire stay.  

I can't say much more on New Zealand at the moment, however in a few months time I hope to be talking non-stop about the place, I simply cannot wait for the rest of this experience. My only fear is that it will end far to soon and  I will have to return back to my home and start uni this September.

What surprises me most is that this is the last thing anyone expected me to do, I was told again and again by college, friends and certain members of my family to complete uni and then do as I please. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't listen to any of them and well just simply followed my heart and head. My advice to anyone in even just considering a gap year or seriously thinking about it is ... DO IT!

- Where are you on your New Zealand working holiday? Don't forget to send us your blog entries!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Emma Searles has written a blog post for us once before, in November last year, and won herself a tidy stack of prizes including free hostel nights at BASE and Escape Rental campervan hire. Here is a blog post she sent in from a recent trip where she took full advantage of the Queenstown Rafting white water rafting trip prize we sent her.

For those visiting the South Island there is a lot to see and do. 

In March, I left my Christchurch base and spent an evening at Lake Tekapo. Having booked in advance, I was able to attend an 'Earth & Sky' Stargazing tour. You are taken to the top of Mount John and guided on how to use the telescopes, and your own eyes, to see an incredible amount of stars and constellations. It was truly breathtaking, especially being able to see Saturn and the rings around it! 

Awakening the next day to views of Lake Tekapo's aquamarine waters was also astounding. Taking photos of the 'Church of the Good Sheperd' is a must. From there, it is a scenic drive to Wanaka where 'Puzzling World' will keep all ages entertained for hours, whether in their split level maze, puzzle cafe or Illusion rooms. On route to Queenstown, a stop at the picturesque former gold-mining town of Arrowtown is worthwhile. It feels like a slice of the past thanks to the workers' cottages, timber-framed shops and tree-lined avenues.

Soon enough, via some giddy heights, you will reach infamous Queenstown. There is so much to do if you enjoy being outdoors. Highlights for me were the Gondola and Luge (racing aplenty), T.S.S Earnslaw steamboat trip and my favourite, white-water rafting. Despite the early start and wetsuit shennigans, we boarded our dinghies, paddles in hand and set off. Due to the shortfall of rain, the Shotover River - the wilder of the two - was closed so our trip took place on the Kawarau. It is gorgeous. The day was a perfect balance of paddling, swimming, rapids and sightseeing. I heartily recommend it.

The planned trip to Milford Sound had to be cancelled due to weather conditions so I would advise having a back up as it's not the first time I've enountered this. Instead, I chose to head to Dunedin to take a self guided tour of the city, which I followed the next day with a trip to the nearby Otago Peninsula. Here, it is possibe to see seals lounging blissfully unaware on the beach and, if you time it right, penguins. The peninsula is also home to New Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle. The grounds are stunning and the views from the castle are really impressive. Makes you wonder how so much tragedy could happen at such an amazing place...

All of this was done in a speedy six days, so be prepared for some long car journeys when in New Zealand.
However, they are truly worth the effort.

- Do you know of good places for New Zealand working holiday makers to visit? Let us know in the comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Niki Willems and her partner in crime will be trading in a life in Belgium for a life-changing experience in New Zealand this week, and swimming with sharks in Auckland is just one of the things they are looking forward to.

Kia Ora!!

The left side of our closet is completely reserved for New Zealand stuff. Sunday next week is D-Day! And we can feel our nerves tickling. I just hope that we will make it and that our plane won't crash or something.

First stop is Auckland, then up to the North and travel through the Northern Island, cross Cook Strait and a visit to the Southern Island.

In Belgium, some declared us nuts, but we think it's going to be a life-changing experience. We thought a lot about it, and both of us think that it is now or never. We are in our early twenties and the Kiwi way of life appeals to us on several levels. We really need this experience to decide what we expect and want of life.

A lot of nature and adventure is exactly what New Zealand promises. I've already decided to go bungee jumping. It seems that Taupo is a good spot to take the leap into the deep. My partner in crime is in love with the shores and beaches that we've discovered online during our many researches. And we are really looking forward to a real, live rugby match because we have never seen a game before.

Apparently it is also possible to go swimming with sharks in Auckland!! So that's also on our to do list. Climbing a volcano is something I'm really looking forward to. I can only hope that my physical condition is up to it.

We are kind of impressed with the way Kiwi's (yes, we think it's awsome that people in New Zealand are proud of their cute little national animal) are dealing with some problems like environmental issues. So we were over the moon with joy about some projects concerning Kiwi's in their natural habitat. We are planning to visit some of the centres that try to do some good for those little cuties.

We think that our biggest problem will be traffic. We drive on the right and give way to right in Belgium. In New Zealand, it's the left side we have to worry about and we don't really understand the “give way to right rule”. We are hoping that a friendly Kiwi will explain it to us!

But most of our trip is about tramping. We bought a book with a lot of helpfull tips, but we think that we will just have to figure out the most of it ourselves. There are some tramps that we have planned, like the Cape Reinga tramp and exploring Rangitoto Island. We really are ready to go and time is going too slow. Our families are ready, our backpack is standing by and the New Zealand sunrise is waiting.

- Got some packing or travel tips for New Zealand working holiday makers? Let us know in the comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Kate McPhee's top 10 things to do in New Zealand included white water rafting and she braved the challenging Queenstown Rafting trip down the white waters of the Shotover River through the tight corners, twists, turns and cliff edges of the old mining canyon.

I’ve always thought I was someone who pushed the boundaries, stepped out of my comfort zone and tried to live life to the limits, but just quietly I am a bit of a chicken. Having grown up on the East coast of Australia, I’ve lived in the water so when my friend ask me what were the top 10 things I wanted to tick off my list in New Zealand,  I knew that whitewater rafting was right up there.

When I arrived in Queenstown, known as “the adventure capital of the world”, I was quite nervous just thinking about what my friend had in store for me. There are so many things to do in this town; it’s crazy and also quite overwhelming. Although I’d love to do them all, the content of my wallet disagrees. I don’t mind using that excuse when I get asked if I want to through myself off a bridge, but the one activity that I was without a doubt doing was rafting the Shotover River.

We arrived at Queenstown Rafting shop to check in and the bus took us out to the rafting base where we were to get changed into the most horribly unattractive piece of equipment ever, the wetsuit!

Once we got over the fact that we were doomed to look ridiculous for the next four hours, we jumped on a bus into the river. What I ride, I’ve never had so much adrenalin running through my body on a bus. The only way to drive to the river is through Skippers Canyon; an old gold mining road that has sheer drop offs and rock ledges that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

We arrived at the river and the trip leader proceeded to tell us all the ins and outs of rafting. All I could think about was how am I going to move in this wetsuit?

We meet our guide who is hilarious, I didn’t stop laughing the whole time and even though I’m a confident swimmer it’s still nice to feel as though I’m in safe hands. As we get closer to the big rapids you feel the build up of nervous energy in your stomach as you hear the roar of the whitewater to come. As we approached the rapid I realised I’d forgotten everything the guide had taught us earlier. The whitewater hits my face and the guide is shouting “forward paddle”.

Suddenly I remember what it is I’m meant to be doing. I looked over at my friend as we were paddling through the rapids and she had the biggest grin on her face. I was asked to help the instructor guide the raft from the front of the boat as we entered a 170 meter long tunnel.

In complete darkness, everyone else was on the floor of the raft but I was sitting on the front listening for when the guide wanted me to paddle. We reach the end of the tunnel and get completely submerged in the white water at the last rapid of the day.

What a brilliant way to finish the trip, all I wanted to do was go back to the top and do it all over again.

- Got a must do New Zealand working holiday adventure experience like white water rafting with Queenstown Rafting?  Comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

  

Feeling like some excitement?

A white water rafting trip with Queenstown Rafting down spectacular Shotover River in the historic Skippers Canyon could be just the thrill you need! This is just one of the fabulous prizes up for grabs if you send us your blog post.

Your blog post could be tips for newbies, witty stories, interesting yarns, or just reflections on your New Zealand working holiday so far, and you could win a white water rafting trip, three days' campervan hire from Escape Rentals, and three nights' accommodation at BASE.

It is easy to enter, too.  Just send in your blog entry via email, with photos or edited video attached and the word “New Zealand” in the subject box, to bestblogintheworld@visabureau.com.

Include your full name and a contact phone number, but don’t worry we won’t be publishing that last detail but we might need it to help issue the prizes.

Don’t forget to read the Best Blog In the World terms and conditions, just so you know how everything is going to work.

- What's the best adventure sport you have done on your New Zealand Working Holiday? Comments are open!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Emma Searles has been chilling out in New Zealand for almost two months now, quite a change after the stress of preparing for the trip and organising her life into one suitcase. Now happily settled in and working Emma has some tips for new arrivals.

If there was a ratio to discern the time we took on our preparation for living in New Zealand versus the time we spent packing up our lives in the UK and getting ready, it would be 1:10.
 
We applied for our visas, got approval and spent the next six months saving up, packing up and letting every company, relative and neighbour know our intentions. The week before we left was spent manically packing and labelling boxes, saying our goodbyes and trying to figure out exactly what we most needed from our house full of stuff to put into our one suitcase each. Yes, it was a stressful time.

I think my point is that we lost sight of what we'd actually do when we got there. Touching down in New Zealand was an amazing feeling and not just because we'd spent three days on and off planes to get here. It is a terrific feeling to know that all the preparation is over, all the ties of responsibility and normality are gone. Then life can truly begin.
 

My advice, if wanted, to new arrivals who (like us) will be here for a year or two is to get out as much as possible. We did this on foot so we got our bearings really quickly and saw what Christchurch had to offer.

Next we started to ask questions of anyone who would listen; tourist info, YMCA, hotels, restaurants, theatre, library, etc. We received priceless tips that we wouldn't have gotten from travel guides, such as where was a good area to live. Job ideas like buy The Press on Wednesdays and Saturdays, use Trademe and Seek on the web although agencies are a really good bet and offer the flexibility visitors look for. Also, look out for local events advertised around the city or in the papers.

We recently went to an art exhibition spread out over a farmstead. It was a beautiful location on a warm day as we casually strolled around the site, eating brownies with tabla music in the background.
 
After seven weeks here, we're starting to feel much more settled. We bought a second hand car so we can explore further afield now and get out to more events. Now we have jobs so we're getting into the Kiwi way of life. Plus I've joined drama and dance clubs to meet people and do things that I never set time aside for back home. It is a different pace of life and while some things may seem too relaxed compared to home, it's really nice to just slow down and appreciate what's going on.

It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end
- Ursua Le Guin

- Interested in hearing more about Emma's New Zealand working holiday adventures? Let us know in the comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The most famous tree in New Zealand is Tāne Mahuta, a giant Kauri tree in the Waipoua Forest of Northland Region, New Zealand, that is between 1,250  and 2,500 years old.

It’s pretty old, although in the scale of old trees it ranks about middle aged.

The oldest (non-cloning) tree in the world is Methuselah in California, United States, at around 4,800 years. It gained the title as the oldest tree when a scientist cut down Prometheus, a 5,000 plus year old pine from Nevada for “research” in 1964. For now obvious reasons the exact location of the now-oldest known tree, Methuselah, is kept secret by the US Forest Service.

But I digress.

Tāne Mahuta deserves the meaning of its name ‘Lord of the forest’ with a trunk girth of 13.77 m (45.18 ft), trunk height 17.68 m (58 ft), and a  total height 51.2 m (167.98 ft.

It’s a remnant of an ancient subtropical rainforest which once grew on the peninsula. On New Zealand’s North Island a forest of ancient Kauri trees can be found buried and preserved under peat some 50,000 years after an unexplained natural event at the end of the last Ice Age flattened them.

These ancient Kauri (or swamp Kauri) trees, some which grew for nearly 2000 years before they were buried, have been perfectly preserved by the peat and the timber is a  rich, deep brown.

Swamp Kauri is extracted (no easy task these trees are huge!) and reclaimed, often finding its way to furniture makers, boat builders, and the wood artisans who make nick-knack souvenirs and household kitsch as well as the ones who do fierce guitar bodies. 

- What's the best Kauri item you have found on your New Zealand working holiday adventures? Let us know in the comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The blog prize for October could see you charging down a river with one of Queenstown Rafting's white water rafting trips, taking off on a driving trip with Escape Rentals, or a comfy place to rest your head with BASE. One blog entry for the month of October will win these prizes!

Three days campervan hire Explore New Zealand with three days campervan hire from Escape Rentals! Escape Campers is not your average motor home hire company, because each of their campers are uniquely painted and fully fitted out with everything you need. Visit: www.escaperentals.co.nz

White water rafting trip Experience the excitement of white water rafting with Queenstown Rafting's expert guides down the spectacular Shotover River in the historic Skippers Canyon or the equally beautiful but more gentle Kawarau River. The prize with Queenstown Rafting is valued at $175. Visit: www.rafting.co.nz.

Three nights’ accommodation at BASE Chill out with three nights’ accommodation to be redeemed at any BASE hostel located in the North Island. Choose between BASE Auckland, BASE Rotorua, BASE Bay of Islands, BASE Taupo, or BASE Wellington. BASE Backpacker Hostels are a revolution in beds, bars and entertainment. BASE hostels are located throughout Australia and New Zealand and are specially designed for you, the modern day global travellers, with state of the art facilities, superior comfort and friendly services all at an affordable price. What are you waiting for? Visit: www.stayatbase.com.

Want to get your hands on the goodies?

See how to enter and send us in your blog entry!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

 

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.