Last night I didn’t want to even move. Today I ache all over.

After walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing yesterday, well half of it then back, I’m pretty pooped and finding it a struggle to move any part of me. But I had such an amazing day, I just had to share at least a few photos and thoughts from the day.

Tongariro National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first national park in New Zealand and fourth in the world. I heard and read about the park, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Northern Circuit before even arriving in New Zealand. However, since I’m not really a heavy hiker, I didn’t think too much about visiting before I arrived in the country.

New Zealand brought out the tramping spirit in me. The country is known for its amazing walks and the Tongariro Crossing is one of its best.

At 2,287 meters, Mt. Ngauruhoe is the second tallest active volcano in the park and was used as Mt. Doom in The Lord of the Rings. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The Crossing takes about seven hours to complete starting from Mangatepopo car park and ending at Ketetahi car park or vice versa. We didn’t want to pay for a transfer back to our car, so opted to start at Mangatepopo, walk to the Emerald Lakes and walk back. I think this actually may have taken longer though.

In this shot you can see the Blue Lake to the left and three Emerald Lakes in the center. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

I can’t go on enough about how special this walk and park is. Home to three active volcanoes, it almost feels as if your walking on a different planet at some points on the track. From staring up a brown, black and red ashy Mt. Ngauruhoe all day to catching a glimpse of the Blue Lake settled atop a hill with Lake Taupo in the background to finally reaching the three teal-green Emerald Lakes, the whole day was quite spectacular.

But it didn’t come without a lot of work!

Let me start by saying, that anybody in moderate health will be able to complete this walk. But how long it will take to complete depends on how in or out of shape you are. I am very out of shape. Other than a few runs recently and two hikes up Mt. Maunganui in the past two months, I haven’t really worked out in almost over a year.

I struggled a lot at Tongariro. About half of the walk is on a steep incline and these inclines are covered in rock and gravel, so it’s pretty slippery. As I mentioned, I don’t hike, so I did the walk in running sneakers, which isn’t the best for going up or down a slippery mountain. I fell about three times. The air is thinner on the walk too, so I became short of breath more often than I would on land too.

This is what my water bottle looked like when I pulled it out of my bag today. The last time I opened it was at the Emerald Lakes. Because atmospheric pressure is lower at higher altitudes the bottle crushed when it came back down to sea level.

The walk was worth all the struggle. It felt good to reach Emerald Lakes and make it back. But I have a feeling I’ll be paying for it over the next few days. In my bed-ridden state, I’ll be writing a much more in depth post on the Tongariro Crossing, with loads more photos!

Grab something comfortable, add a bit of color, pile on the bracelets and let’s head to Thailand.

There’s not much you can’t get away with in regards to fashion in this country, outside of the wats of course. Smoldering hot most of the year and boasting some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, some rules to remember here is to never forget a swimsuit, almost always prepare for heat and cover up when need be.

There’s almost a uniform for backpackers in Thailand: loads of bracelets showing where and what parties you’ve been too, colorful singlets declaring the same, baggy pants and Havainas. It’s fun to finally get that singlet declaring to all those people down the road, “Yes, I’ve been there!” and no country does it as cool as Thailand, but remember to add a bit of your own personal flare.

The main rule to your Thailand packing list is to bring as little as possible. Not only will you probably end up wearing the same thing most days, but shopping in Thailand is dirt cheap and free space in your bag means room to bring interesting wearables home, where the Thai backpacker style isn’t uniform. I’ve picked ten key items to bring on any backpacker holiday to Thailand. These ten items may be all that is required for some. My suggestion, wait until you arrive in Bangkok to purchase most of these pieces, they are easier to find on Khao San Road and much more affordable.

Jean shorts: Make sure they’re comfortable. These little bottoms are nice to throw on after a day at the beach or for a wander around the city.

Loose singlet: Like jean shorts, these are nice just to throw on any time, but you’ll find a colorful singlet is almost mandatory at the Full Moon Party. Koh Phangan has oodles of themed clothing stores selling their version of this piece all the way into the wee hours of the morning.

Swimsuit: Obviously, you’ll need this. Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Unlike the rest of the items on this list, I suggest you purchase this item at home. I actually didn’t see a ton of swimsuits on sale in Thailand and the ones I did were really small.

Sunnies: Don’t bother buying anything too expensive, chances are you’ll lose quite a few pairs in some body of water. Make sure your sunnies are comfortable, they’ll be on your face almost every day here.

Massive linen scarf: This is a must have if you don’t want to keep renting clothes at wats. Some buildings or places of worship in Thailand require you cover up. It’s really important to be respectful of the countries you visit. But Thailand is really hot, so it’s not practical to stay covered up all day. A big scarf can cover your shoulders, sometimes even your legs if large enough and it’s easy to carry around. Linen is the ideal material for keeping cool.

Fisherman pants: This is probably the most well-known Thai fashion item worn by tourists. Back West, people usually save these pants for yoga class, but in Thailand they can be and should be worn daily. The pants are really comfortable, especially on long bus rides. Match these with a fitted singlet.

Bracelets: Don’t bother buying any. You’ll collect plenty all around SE Asia and if you don’t then go back, because you mustn’t have traveled the area properly.

Genie pants: Some will cringe at this pant/skirt combination. There was a time when I did. But these days they’re probably my most worn piece of clothing. So comfortable, so versatile and so fun. You can’t get away will them everywhere, so make the most of them in Thailand.

Gladiator sandals: They’re just a bit nicer than your average flip flops and they go with the scenery in Thailand. Why not?

Colorful beach dress: Another great item to throw on after the beach, but also stay in throughout the night. Having a simple and comfortable dress like this that transitions easily makes day to day travel a lot easier.

Erected in the 9th century, Angkor Wat has seen a lot over the years. The world’s largest religious monument, the structure has had a Buddhist, Hindu and cult following.

It’s had addition after addition added until the 15th century, stretching 400 km2 across the center of Cambodia. The funny thing is, if you didn’t know it was there you probably wouldn’t be able to find it amongst the country’s forests.

More than anything the monument has survived the test of time, the Khmer Rouge that tried to destroy all of Cambodia’s cultured past and even mother nature who still tries to rip through the architectural wonder today with its mighty roots.

We spent about an hour and a half just walking around the main temple in Angkor Wat. It really felt like a trip back in time. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Angkor Archeological Park is home to all the temples that make up Angkor Wat. Today the UNESCO World Heritage site that had been ignored for so long is getting the attention it rightfully deserves. Tourists from all around the world visit the site each year to see its crumbling religious structures.

Seeing how massive Angkor Wat is, makes the detail even more incredible. Here are wall carvings of Khmer soldiers in the main temple. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

I visited in May 2011 and was in shock of the size of the place. The guesthouse I stayed at set up a tuk tuk to pick my partner and I up at 4:30 a.m. We hired the tuk tuk for half a day for only $20, a bargain considering he drove us around for six hours that day and my partner and I split the price.

Ric and our tuk tuk driver inside the Park. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Entrance into the Park costs $20 per person for one day, but multiple-day passes are discounted. Though most the guidebooks and blogs I read recommend visiting for at least three days, I decided to just try one day and see how I felt. Inevitably I would have liked to have seen more, but like castles in Scotland, I was starting to get a bit temple-weary at this point in our trip around Southeast Asia.

The sun warming the walls of Angkor Wat's main temple. We walked around here just after sunrise. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Our tuk tuk driver had a schedule of temples for us to visit that day, but also considered ones we point out in a tourist book I bought there for $5. We visited Angkor Wat for sunrise, which was worth the early wake up. Besides being an amazing building, a pond in front mirrors the image of the sun rising behind it. We visited Bayon (the temple with many faces on it), Ta Prohm (the most photographed temple for trees growing through it) and about five more temples that day. The three mentioned are probably the most well-known, but there is so much more to be discovered in this park.

I had seen so many photographs of this spot in Ta Prohm over the years. It was hard to get the photo I wanted of it though, because now there is a massive platform in front of it. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Luckily, there are plenty more gorgeous spots to photograph here. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

It's ironic that the lure of Ta Prohm is actually the thing that is destroying it. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Not much of the park that I visited was cut off to visitors at the time. A lot of it was being restored while I was there, which was great to see. I have to say my favorite temple is Bayon. It was such an amazing structure and fun to walk around. Everywhere I looked a stone face was smiling back at me. Visitors will spot quite a few monkeys hanging around this area of the Park, which are cute, but still wild so treat them as such.

Bayon was definitely my favorite temple to visit. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

No matter how lost you get in Bayon, someone is always watching you. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

People were restoring a lot of the ruins in Angkor Wat while I was there. Here is a wall near elephant terrace pieced together. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

We saw so many monkeys on the drive from Angkor Wat to Bayon. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

There are plenty of places to buy food and water. A strip of food carts operate by the main temple. Each cart is named after a celebrity like Lady Gaga or Angelina Jolie.

There are plenty of spots in the Park to buy souvenirs. Cambodia is very poor, but I met more children and people who were selling goods rather than just begging around Angkor Wat. I bought a few bracelets from children and books from land mine victims in Siem Reap. I would really recommend this as a way to give back to a place with such beautiful people and land who have suffered so much.

A little kid runs through the pillars of Angkor Wat. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

People interested in visiting Angkor Wat should base themselves in Siem Reap. The busy Cambodian town is located about a 20-minute drive from Angkor Wat. All you hear about in the town is Angkor Wat, but make sure to take a few days to just enjoy Siem Reap. It’s a gorgeous city with markets, cafes and great restaurants.

I wouldn’t bother arranging anything until arriving in Angkor Wat. You’ll most likely get scooped up by a guesthouse at the bus station anyway. They’re really good in organizing tours and very friendly. Make sure to haggle though and always be aware that scams do happen.

Angkor Wat is a magnificent place to visit and it’s an incredibly cheap trip in terms of travel around the world. Have you ever visited the Park? What was your experience like and what are your tips for those who have never been?

CONTEST CLOSED!! Will BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER SOON.

If New York City were an actor, he’d have one hell of a career. A leading role in everything from When Harry Met Sally to Sex and the City, the Big Apple is constantly used as a backdrop for major moments in films and TV.

People cried when they saw Annie catch Sam at the last moment on the top of the Empire State Building in Sleepless in Seattle. They bought a new wardrobe after seeing Andy’s transformation into fashionista in The Devil Wears Prada. They even came to believe in Santa Clause after seeing Miracle on 34th Street.

Now you have the chance to visit some of the many New York City small spots and large icons that have been used on screen throughout the years.

Times Square, New York City Photo by Richard John Hackey

What we’re giving away:

Heels and Wheels is pleased to announce we’ve teamed up with On Location Tours to give one lucky winner two tickets to one of the tour company’s many New York City tours.

On Location Tours offers Sex and the City, Gossip Girl and Sopranos sightseeing tours as well as a general New York TV and Movie Sites tour and more. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the winner will receive two tickets to any On Location New York City tour he or she chooses.

How to enter:

This contest opens now and will conclude Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 5 p.m., EST. The winner will be picked randomly using Random.org. To enter you must:

• Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite New York City moment in films, TV or from a personal experience.

That will enter your name in the contest just once.

How to enter multiple times:

You must enter with a comment before adding entries. If you want to earn additional entries, you can:

• Tweet about this contest with Shareaholic below or tweeting the following sentence, “I just entered to win two tickets with On Location Tours in New York City from @HW_Travel – http://bit.ly/GzAyp3″ Either way, make sure @HW_Travel is in your tweet, so we are notified about it.
• Become a fan of Heels and Wheels on Facebook, if you haven’t already.
• Check on our Facebook page for for more chances to make additional entries.

To enter multiple times, you must follow the directions exactly as listed above so we can keep track of your entries. The winner will be announced Monday, April 23, 2012 at 9 a.m. EST.

Ric in front of NBC's Rainbow Room. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Bobbi in front of FAO Schwarz. Photo by Richard John Hackey

Limits and restrictions:

There are only two, but here they are:

• Each participant can only enter his or her name in the drawing up to five times.
• I cannot win this contest, nor can Ric, nor can my immediate family or his. Sorry guys.

I will give an example entry in the comment section below. Look forward to reading all the many New York City moments and giving one lucky winner an On Location Tour of the city. Good luck!

Thanks to On Location Tours for partnering with us for our very first competition. Visit their website for TV and movie tours of New York and Boston.

Driving through Matamata’s grassy hills and counting sheep, you would never believe a multi-million dollar motion pictute was filmed here, but that it was in 1999 and again in 2011. Hiding out in this farm town is Hobbiton, better known as “The Shire” from Lord of the Rings.

Yes, it actually exists and not in a movie studio.

Welcome to the Shire. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Doors are hobbit size and painted colorfully. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

During an aerial search of places to shoot the film around New Zealand, Peter Jackson spotted Alexander Farm and approached them about using the farm in his film. Imagine getting that knock on the door. The owners agreed and site construction began.

The road that Gandalf arrives on. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Enlisting the help of the New Zealand army and a massive film crew, an entire tiny village was brought to life complete with Green Dragon Bar, mill and of course Bag End.

To the pub. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Before the film’s release in 2001, the set was kept secret and extreme measures were taken for it not to be exposed. People behind the film went as far as taking away the licenses of any pilots trying to sneak a shot from the sky. However, after the film’s release, they couldn’t stop fans from making pilgrimages to Hobbiton.

While the set was meant to be completely destroyed, the farm owners approached the studio about keeping it intact for tours. They agreed and it came in handy as the set was used again last year for Lord of the Ring’s prequel, The Hobbit. Parts of the set were destroyed after the first Lord of the Rings, but tit’s been restored for The Hobbit.

Naturally homes of Hobbiton fishermen were placed right on the water and right under the Party Tree. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The Party Tree. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Today Hobbiton runs seven tours daily to visitors from around the world. Starting across the street, people are taken by bus to the film set, which is hidden very well. One could be on the other side of a hill to Hobbiton and have no idea it was there.

Guides point out where makeup and wardrobe tents once were and talk about the farm on the way. Once on set, the tour goes on foot for a 90-minute guided walk around the village, which gives visitors plenty of time to take photos.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

On the tour, groups see several Hobbit houses, The Green Dragon and mill, the road Gandalf rides in on, The Party Tree, Sam’s home and Bag End, which is at the top of a hill, complete with an oak tree growing above it. Our guide was very friendly and great at pointing out which places were featured at what point in the film.

Visitors can look at The Green Dragon and Mill, but only from across the water. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

This humble home is Sam's house. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Overlooking the Shire is the Baggins' residence. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

What I liked most was learning about all the thought that went into create the film set. Everything from making moss using yoghurt and other products then throwing is on random spots to make the town look older to shipping in an oak tree to go on top of Bag End. It was really amazing to see all the detail to the film set and hear how much work went into perfecting it.

Unfortunately, they did not create actual Hobbit homes here. Most of the homes are just a front, behind their doors, only dirt. Two homes that could be entered, but only as far as their doors would open, were Frodo Baggins’, though not by people on tour, and a random Hobbit home, which tour members could stand in and take photos.

Oh, hello. Photo by Richard John Hackey

The Hobbiton tour costs $66 and runs seven times daily. The last tour is at 5:20 p.m. People can purchase tickets online or at the farm’s front office. Located next to there is The Shires Rest, which serves breakfast and lunch items, including “Second Breakfast”. People can also feed and pet the farm’s sheep on their visit.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Calling Milford Sound the most spectacular sight in New Zealand is a pretty bold statement.

Have you seen New Zealand?

It’s quite possibly the most gorgeous country on earth. Everywhere you look is amazing.

But for me, Milford Sound was the climax of our two week scenic tour of the South Island.

Located in the mountainous Fiordland, Milford Sound is a fiord located 15-kilometers from the Tasman Sea. It’s jaw-dropping from land, but the best way to experience it is by boat.

Several cruise operators offer Milford Sound tours, including overnight, morning, and afternoon tours. Prices range, but I found Jucy Cruize to be the most affordable option.

Starting at $65, the 90-minute tours leads its passengers from the Milford Sound Visitor Center and Boat Harbour to Dale Point, which is where Milford Sound opens to the Tasman Sea, and back. Along the way a guide will point out some of the most well-known sights, including Stirling Falls, Seal Rock and Mt. Pembroke.

The cruise felt just right on all levels. Jucy’s boat is smaller than other boats docked in the harbor, but they don’t cram it with people, allowing passengers to move around freely. The length of the tour was enough so that passengers really saw Milford Sound, but could spend the rest of the day exploring the area on foot or driving to their next destination. Most important, the price is unbeatable for backpackers.

Further, the staff was really friendly and they offer free tea, coffee and hot chocolate. We spent a night in Milford Sound staying at Milford Lodge, but for people who can only visit for one day, Jucy sells a cruise trip and return coach journey from Queenstown package starting at $159 for adults. Altogether, Jucy Cruize was a really informative and affordable way to see Milford Sound. Here are some highlights from our trip.

A classic Milford Sound shot with Mitre Peak in the background. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The white-tipped mountain in the back is Mt. Pembroke, the tallest mountain to look down on the fiord. It's glacier is over one million years old. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Stirling Falls from a distance, the magnificent waterfall drops 146 meters. This photo was taken at about 10 a.m., so the waterfall is shadowed by surrounding mountains. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Clouds surround the mountains in Milford Sound. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Speckled with forestry, rocky mountains surround the fiord are quite steep. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Fairy Falls drops straight into the fiord. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The view from Dale Point on the way back on our cruise. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

When the black waters in this fiord are still, they mirror the mountains above. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

New Zealand fur seals scattered all over Seal Rock. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Our cruise backed right up to Stirling Falls. Everyone with nice cameras were running for cover. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Thanks to Jucy Cruize for sponsoring my ten day South Island adventure. As always, all opinions are my own.

After six months of living in Wellington and a month of traveling New Zealand, I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter how extreme the sun, how warm the day or how beautiful the beach, the water is almost always unbearably cold in this country. So you can imagine just how appealing a place called Hot Water Beach is to travelers.

Located on the Coromandel Peninsula, about a ten minute drive South of Hahei, Hot Water Beach has thermal waters beneath its sands. With visions of hot springs and jacuzzis in my head, I approached this beach outing ready to unwind and relax.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one. Nor did I realize just how hard it is to dig a hole in sand. This may not be the experience you would expect from a place with thermal waters, but this was my experience at Hot Water Beach, NZ.

I was excited to visit the beach from the moment I woke up. I slipped out of my tent early and wandered down to the front office at Hahei Holiday Resort to rent a spade (shovel) and check low tide times for the day. I paid a $NZ10 deposit for a spade, which I received back upon return.

You’ll find places selling or renting spades all over the Peninsula. A lot of the places that rent them collect a deposit and charge a fee. I was lucky to find our accommodation lent them pretty much for free.

People should visit the beach either two hours prior to or after low tide. 

Ric and I arrived at Hot Water Beach almost exactly two hours prior to low tide and walked out to the type of view that makes New Zealand so special; gorgeous sands below, rolling farmland in the distance, clear water in front and only a few people in sight. However, this wasn’t the Hot Water Beach we came to experience. To reach the piece of beach with thermal activity, we’d have to walk ten minutes to the right.

A whole Hot Water Beach to ourselves. Not really. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

As I walked further down the beach a large rock that had been hiding a small piece of it started to reveal my worst nightmare, 150 meters of Seaside Heights on Fourth of July weekend. For those who have never visited New Jersey or never watched The Jersey Shore, this means a ridiculous amount of people, screaming kids and obnoxious people who don’t even try to not kick sand on your towel as they walk by.

Like I said, my nightmare.

Everyone from Hot Water Beach crammed into one spot. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

But I still had to give the place a try.

As soon as we reached the crowd, we found the emptiest spot we could and started digging. Five minutes in and the water was cold. Ten minutes in and the water was still cold. Fifteen minutes of digging and although we were hot, the water was still cold.

What were we doing wrong?

Finally, a wonderful man came over and told us we had to search for warm spots. Those spots can be found as soon as you walk on them. 

I looked up to see a massive group of people digging around one area of beach. They were surrounded by steam. I had to test it out.

Hot water?

More like boiling water.

I literally felt like I burnt my feet after walking in their hole.

So I kept searching for a hot spot of my own. I felt everywhere in the area, but couldn’t find it. I started to think, “Is that it? Is just that one spot ‘Hot Water Beach’?”. Ric and I both started to get annoyed and stupidly just started digging at a random spot.

And this is no easy task. In fact, digging a hole on the beach is probably one of the most discouraging things I’ve ever done.

I would dig a spot just to see more sand sink into it. Only after a few minutes of digging would a hole start to form and that would come just in time for a wave to crash into the short wall Ric and I had made and shatter our dreams of reaching warm water.

It went on like this for about twenty minutes without the water getting even the slightest bit warmer. Just as we were about to give up, Ric went to look for a hot patch. He came back shaking his head, so I gave it a try.

The tide had gone out a lot since we first arrived, giving the crowd room to spread out and a lot more beach to explore. I started feeling around an area right at the water’s edge.

Cold.

Warm. 

Warmer.

Warmer.

Ouch!

There it was, an extremely hot patch. I motioned for Ric to come over. He started digging, but waves just kept crashing into us and destroying our wall of sand. This was our spot, but we had to wait out the tide. So we stood there, spade in hand, for about twenty minutes, giving it a go every now and again to only be let down.

Finally, we just started digging like crazy. Ric dug into the sand ferociously with the spade as I got on the ground and started throwing out sand with my hands. Slowly, our hole started to resemble the hot water pools we’d seen on posters.

We must have dug for about an hour and only created a pool deep enough to reach the front of my hip bones while laying down. It didn’t matter.

We did it.

Relaxing in our hot pool, finally. Photo by Richard Hackey

All we had to do now was lay in the warmth of the earth and watch everyone else work. And that’s what we did for about an hour as a few tiny bubbles popped up around us. After all our hard work came the bliss I had imagined.

It’s really quite amazing that a place like Hot Water Beach exists and certainly nothing like I’ve visited before. For that, it’s worth a visit, but prepare to work for this New Zealand experience.

Here’s some things to remember on your trip:

• a spade (shovel)
• sneakers (hot spots are often too hot to even stand on)
• sunscreen (NZ sun is extremely strong, don’t forget to protect yourself while digging)
• water
• low tide times

Those traveling all of New Zealand, not just the North or South Island will have to cross the Cook Strait either by plane or boat. Facing the added expense of both options can be a bit concerning for travelers on a budget.

Luckily, Interislander makes the crossing more than just a mode of transportation, but also a great activity to add to the agenda. Passengers can expect jaw dropping views through the Marlborough Sounds, onboard food and entertainment, maybe even a few dolphins swimming beside the ship.

While on a recent ferry crossing with Interislander from Wellington to Picton, I said a few times, “Now this is how to travel.”

Amenities

Interislander is set up similar to a cruise ship. It offers a few eateries, a bar, a movie theater, several lounges and viewing platforms, a children’s play area, a travel information center with a real live person on site to help book trips, VIP sections, even a lounge for truck drivers.

I boarded early in the morning and headed straight to the cafeteria for breakfast. At $12, the big breakfast was extremely reasonable considering how much airlines and ferries usually charge people for food these days. Expect your standard cafeteria food. Visit the cafe for better meals.

Big breakfast served on board. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

One of the ship's dining areas. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The only other purchase I made was an hour or 40MB of internet at $7. I would only purchase it to do a few little things online, but I found the connection extremely good considering we were out to sea and in the middle of nowhere most of the time.

The majority of my time on board was spent either napping on the ferry’s big, comfy lounge chairs or on the top deck checking out the views.

Sights

The top deck was definitely the place to be on the clear summer day I traveled. Views are absolutely stunning sailing through the Sounds with massive mountains cascading into blue and green waters.

I was even lucky enough to watch a pod of dolphins swimming and jumping beside the boat. The captain who first spotted them, made sure to announce it to everyone on board.

A view of the Sounds from inside the ferry. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

It seems like wildlife spottings are pretty common through the Marlborough Sounds too. All three times I’ve taken the ferry, each captain announced seeing dolphins. In fact, I’ve actually been on dolphin sighting tours that cost more than my Interislander ferry trip and didn’t give me nearly as good an experience.

Staff

A great interaction with the staff started as soon as we drove onto the ship. One of the staff members directing Ric where to park the car, pretended to be pulling us in on a rope while giving a massive smile. For me, it’s little things like this that always make a trip that much better.

From then on every member of the staff was extremely kind, even fun. The duty manager waited by the exit door bidding everyone farewell at the end of the journey.

Duration

Expect three to four hours for this trip. Those traveling with a car must arrive before final check in, which is usually about an hour before departure, but don’t worry about arriving much earlier than that, as you’ll just have to wait in line.

Ric having a nap during our trip. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Price

People can book through their website, at a ticket counter or through an agent. A single adult ticket with no vehicle costs $NZ52-$NZ75. For two people traveling with a standard sized vehicle, the price is between $NZ215 and $NZ330 depending on what kind of ticket you purchase and time of travel. These prices seem to have stayed the same the few times I have checked.

The cheapest option is a web saver reservation and these are a lot cheaper so it’s beneficial to book as early as possible as only a limited number of these non-refundable reservations are available. Interislander also offers promotions which may be worth looking into.

Thanks to Interislander  for sponsoring our ferry crossing to the South Island. As always, all opinions are my own.

While New Zealand may be known for its extreme sports, sheep and friendly people, it’s the country’s scenery that dominates anyone’s travels here. We spent ten days traveling the country’s South Island from Picton to Milford Sound constantly saying,”Look at that!” or “Wow that’s beautiful!”. Ric said after three days, “You really run out of superlatives for this place.”

He couldn’t have been more right. 

Driving this great country is truly incredible. Every turn presents a new landscape and every bend a sight more breathtaking than the last. We traveled about 2,000 kilometers up, down and through mountains, beside vineyards and crystal clear lakes.

Our general route of the South Island on Google Maps.

No picture or video will ever do this country justice, but hopefully this montage of our drive across the South Island will help people realize why I can so easily declare that New Zealand is by far the most beautiful country I’ve ever traveled.

Thanks to Interislander and Jucy Cruize for sponsoring my ten day South Island adventure. As always, all opinions are my own.

Banner photo taken by Bobbi Lee Hitchon near Milford Sound.

Las Vegas, or Sin City as it’s otherwise known, is perhaps the most (in)famous city in the United States. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, as the story goes and it’s certain that an awful lot happens in Vegas. Nonetheless, a weekend in Vegas doesn’t have to break the bank, despite the reputation.

First of all, flights to Las Vegas are cheap and easy to find through the likes of DialAFlight, it’s also easily accessible from the Californian coast (if you rent a car), so if you think you want to go but you’re not sure about spending an entire holiday there, there’s loads of other stuff to do.

That said, once you get to Vegas, you probably won’t want to leave. Time moves differently under the lights of the Strip, and there’s a reason why most of the casinos don’t have clocks.

But it’s not all about the gambling. The hotels are fantastic and not particularly expensive (there are, after all a lot of them) and if you decide to go during the week you’ll find good deals everywhere. A lot of people from all over the States visit Vegas for a weekend, so it’s then that things get a little bit expensive.

The same applies for the entertainment, that runs every night throughout the year. There’s an unbelievable variety of shows and performances, from enormous West End type shows, to individual magicians and ventriloquists, whatever you fancy, you’re sure to be able to see it. As ever though, make sure that you book in advance.

For something cheap and fun, check out the Liberace Museum which operates a free shuttle from the Bellagio. It’s surreal and more than a little cheesy, and very very camp, but it fits in well with the atmosphere of the city. There’s also a great zoo, and loads of other museums which all have a slightly unique slant, perhaps the best of which is the Museum of Organised Crime and Law Enforcement.

It’s also worth keeping an eye out on the First Friday of each month when the work of local artists and musicians is celebrated in the Arts District of the city. This is a really good way of seeing underneath the glitz and glamour at what life is like for the people who live in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas isn’t all about playing with big money and casinos, although that’s what most people go for, remember, in addition to the roulette wheels and the blackjacks tables, there are thousands of penny slots that’ll cost you hardly anything and could win big. And, of course, an entire city outside the Strip with a life and a culture of its own that’s definitely worth exploring.