Case Study: Exploring New Zealand’s Most Spectacular Scenery

In recent years, the travel interests of our clientele have seen a subtle development – New Zealand has begun to burgeon as a destination on everyone’s lips (and passports). Of course, with its incredible scenery, self-drive appeal and remarkable variety of landscapes, it was never exactly a slouch when it came to conjuring wanderlust, but at Odyssey World, we are very happy to watch it earn the recognition it deserves.

Our client Sandra Perks recently returned from an exhilarating trip to New Zealand, and her feedback captured exactly why the country works so well for a tailor-made road trip.

“We had an amazing time in New Zealand. Everything went perfectly.” New Zealand is one of those places where the old platitude – ‘the journey is more important than the destination’ – feels more pointedly appropriate than almost anywhere else, and Sandra’s comments reflected that perfectly: “Driving in New Zealand is so much easier than UK and what with the beautiful scenery as well.”

“Hotels were just amazing; all were within walking distance to towns so we could walk to restaurants in the evening if we wanted to”.

Inevitably, even in a country as easy to navigate as New Zealand, there are variables along the way. But, in keeping with the spirit of the excursion, these were not seen as setbacks so much as part of the experience itself. As Sandra put it, “We did get a bit wet at the start of our trip (on the way up to the North Islands in particular), and we also had a few detours because of landslides, but to be honest, that just added to the experiences.”

It was also clear that both islands left a strong impression, though the South Island seems to have had a particular hold on them. Sandra wrote, “The North Island is so lovely, but when we got to the South Island, we couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. In fact, we did end up going the wrong way a couple of times as we were so in awe of the spectacular scenery…” That sense of scale and continual visual drama is inextricable from New Zealand – a country whose landscapes and scenery are simply impossible not to gawk at; they stop you in your tracks (and occasionally send you the wrong way).

Another key aspect of this trip was the gratifying variety of experiences, from Christchurch’s tram-lined streets and food spots to empty roads with striking scenery, geothermal areas, a kiwi sanctuary, a bird sanctuary, and dramatic rock formations reached by carved stone steps. But if one experience had to stand above the rest, the choice was easy: “ONE of our highlights of this trip, if we had to choose one, was Milford Sound Cruise (even though it was a long trip to get there)!”

Sandra’s comments were drawn from the glowing emails she sent to our destination specialist, Caroline, who went above and beyond to ensure a smooth and memorable journey from start to finish. New Zealand is an outstanding destination for travellers looking for dramatic scenery, genuine variety, the freedom of the open road and that rare feeling that the journey itself is every bit as rewarding as the places you reach.

If you’re interested in your own New Zealand adventure, visit our destination page, or contact us directly to start shaping a trip that captures the parts of the country that most appeal to you – enquiries@odyssey-world.co.uk / +44 117 313 7070.