This month we’re Straying with Thomas and Lynn from Belgium. They used their Stray Tour to see the whole of New Zealand from top to bottom. Check it out…
What was your favourite Kiwi word or phrase?
We learned all about Kiwi words and phrases from one of our very first Stray drivers: Lantern. He told us about ‘sweet as (pie)’ and jandals,… But the word that quickly became our personal favourite was ‘choice!’, which basically means ‘great choice!’. It just has an awesome ring to it!
What is a handy tip for other travellers thinking about Straying NZ?
Embrace the adventure and go with an open mind! Stray offers so many different activities while on the road (some are crazier than others). When we first arrived in New Zealand we said to each other “nah, we’re not going to do a bungy jump, no way” but are we glad that we changed our minds! We ended up bungy jumping, flying an airplane, zorbing, sandboarding and kayaking – just to name a few things! Some of the things might seem scary, but it’s such an unforgettable experience. New Zealand is truly the adventure capital of the world and if you want to properly discover this gorgeous country, you should definitely explore some of those activities. If there is anywhere on earth that you can truly make memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life, it’s New Zealand.
What surprised you the most about your tour in NZ?
How genuinely friendly Kiwi’s are! During our first week in Auckland, we went to a busy supermarket in the CBD. It was absolutely packed with people and there was a huge line for the cash registers. You would imagine the cashiers to be rushed, stressed and unfriendly but it was the total opposite! They asked us how our days were going, if we were enjoying New Zealand so far, what our plans were… and not in “oh I have to be friendly, I better put on a smile” kind of way, but in a very genuine way. This was the first of many moments we experienced Kiwi friendliness. We reckon that Kiwis might be some of the most helpful people in the world.
How would you summarise your trip with Stray in just 3 words?
Unforgettable, life-changing experience!
What are your personal hotspots in NZ?
It’s tough to pick one, so we’ve narrowed it down to our top 3:
- Queenstown. We spent a week here and would have loved to stay even longer. In our opinion, this might be one of the prettiest cities in the country, surrounded by an amazing scenery of mountains and lakes. There is SO much to do here – Want to do a bungy? Sure! A parasail? No problem! Some luge rides? Here you go! Or just want to go for a walk in nature? Queenstown has it all.
- The Waitomo Caves. They are the home to the magical, native New Zealand glowworms. When exploring the caves, you are able to see thousands of little lights on the ceiling, resembling a gorgeous, starry night. You can either go on a relaxing boat ride in the dark or if you would like a more thrilling experience then you can go abseiling or rafting through the caves.
- Milford Sound. We went on a cruise through this gorgeous fjord and it truly feels as if you are sailing towards the end of the world. The landscape here is so rugged, mystical, magical, dramatic and most of all absolutely breathtaking! The way those mountains rise up so steeply from the dark ocean water is just so impressive. This really is one of the prettiest places that we’ve come across in our travels so far!
If you want to see more of Thomas and Lynn’s adventures then you can check out their blog: aboutsomethingaround.com and Instagram: @aboutsomethingaround
Do you want to share stories from your Stray Days with us?
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