Sanchita and Ankit, New Zealand
Sanchita and Ankit's New Zealand honeymoon was an adventure with a live volcano tour, star gazing and exploring scenic lakes.
Nature, adventure and romance make for a terrific trip and these were all carefully incorporated into Sanchita and Ankit’s honeymoon in pristine New Zealand. Here, Sanchita shares highlights of their romantic sojourn.
Honeymoon Planning
“We knew we did not want to travel immediately after our wedding. We needed a gap following our exhausting back-to-back five-day wedding celebrations. We wanted a world away from the urban and busy atmosphere, but were very confused between Australia and New Zealand. My idea of a holiday is synonymous with hitting the beach and Ankit is a mountain monk. Finally, after doing a lot of research and seeing all the pristine lake colors, I settled for New Zealand and trust me, that was the best decision. Thinking of this place just makes me salivate!”
Honeymoon Highlights
“Our love affair with New Zealand started with the Coromandel Peninsula covering New Chums Beach, Cooks Beach and later heading to Cathedral Cove. It was a perfect blend of coastal views and sandy beaches! Next, we headed to Whakatane to step foot on a live volcano. Once on the boat, you can see clouds of steam out coming out of White Island. The guided tours are very safe. Now it was time for South Island and to witness the most stunning lakes. The colors are just marvelous and breathtaking with rugged mountains and grand glaciers being the perfect backdrops. You really cannot decide which one is bluer and more serene. The drive to Wanaka and Tekapo is stunning at every turn. Wanaka has plenty of hikes to choose from, but if you are not too much into hiking, then take a drive along Mount Aspiring Road. I was just stunned to see the color of Lake Pukaki and thought that it might just be photo shopped.”
“Our last stop was Queenstown which is known as the ‘party capital of New Zealand’ and also renowned for adventures. We did the Shotover Jet, and Ankit did the Nevis Bungy. I just could not imagine myself doing the 8.5 seconds free fall with nothing but a giant rubber band tied around my ankles. Lastly, we did a day tour to Milford Sound which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand.”
Best Meal of the Trip
“There is a tie here between breakfast at Hitide B&B in Whitianga where we had the American breakfast with sausages, omelets, cereal, and yogurt with berries while sitting in the balcony overlooking the beach. Next up is Turkish Delight Café at Tauranga Port. We were craving for an Indian meal, especially the spices. We had doner kebab and chicken Iskender. The restaurant served up very generous portions!”
Most Romantic Moment
“The most romantic moment of the trip was in Tekapo. After the long drive, we were just sitting in the garden outside our room overlooking the lake and sipping wine. We never realized when the dusk turned into an extremely chilly night. The skies here are supposed to be some of the darkest in the world, which makes it a perfect place for star spotting. It was a magical stellar evening for us soaking in the wonder of night skies. Oh yes! We spotted a shooting star too.”
Must-experience
“The lake circuit of Wanaka, Tekapo and Pukaki, among others, is a must experience.”
Can Avoid
“Hobbiton – I felt it was too pricey unless you are a die-hard fan.”
Hotels We Stayed At
Hitide Bed and Breakfast, Whitianga
White Island Rendezvous Motel, Whakatane
Wanaka Homestead Lodge & Cottages, Wanaka
Three Rivers Lodge, Tekapo
Discovery Sherwood Hotel Queenstown
