New Zealand

Milwaukee's New Zealand Vacation & Travel Specialist

Lisa Hoppe has earned her certified New Zealand Specialist accreditation every year for over 10 years and just renewed her certification for 2015-2017 with an amazing trip and lots of hands-on experiences and training, traveling all over the country of New Zealand.

Let her share her knowledge and tips with you so you can plan an adventure that is tailored to what you’re looking to do and see! Lisa Hoppe Travel can help you create and customize your perfect New Zealand vacation or honeymoon. Whether it’s getting outdoors and exploring the gorgeous landscape, hanging back in luxury with all-inclusive resort vacation packages, or having the best of both worlds with a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon package.

Contact Us today!

A New Zealand Vacation: The Perfect Combination of Indoor Luxury and Outdoor Adventure

New Zealand is truly awe-inspiring. It’s natural wonders create some of the most memorable scenery on earth – perfect for photographers to capture. Here you can enjoy completely unique cultural experiences along with a wide range of outdoor activities. Everything from hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, wine tasting, bungee-jumping, helicopter sightseeing, hot-springs bathing and volcano observing can be done in New Zealand.

This destination not only offers exceptional scenery, no language barrier, great food & wine, beautiful art deco architecture, unusual birdlife, and a variety of outdoor experiences (from whale watching to mountain hikes) but you can even visit the still intact film sets of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

A Vacation Paradise for Walkabouts

New Zealand happens to be a walking and hiking paradise and is home to many single and multi-day walks for all abilities. Guides and set packages are available or it is possible to go entirely on your own. We find that many travelers to New Zealand wish to experience at least one day of hiking. You can hike for a couple hours or a couple days – it’s totally up to you! Some of the most popular parks include Abel Tasman National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park.

Whether you choose to stop and climb Mount Cook, cruise Milford Sound, trek on Franz Josef Glacier, find glowworms in the Waitomo Caves or admire the West Coast glaciers there’s always something fascinating to be found in New Zealand.

Did you know?

New Zealand contains more bookstores and golf courses per head of population than any other country.

Did you know?

You can rent a camper van instead of a car for your New Zealand holiday? It comes with much more room and allows for you to constantly be on the go during your vacation.

Did you know?

New Zealanders are referred to as Kiwis? The name originates from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand. Māori is the name for the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. Their influence and culture can be seen throughout the country.

New Zealand Vacation & Travel FAQs

It’s most popular to start on the North Island and travel South. This typically works out very well since most international flights will go into the capital city of Auckland.

The size of New Zealand is comparable with that of Great Britain or Japan. It’s the length of California and Oregon together. 20% of the country is covered in national parks, forests and reserves which is why New Zealand is so popular amount outdoor enthusiasts.

Scenic self-drives are the most popular itinerary choice, although you can go with a guided group tour if you prefer. It’s relatively easy-going when driving around New Zealand. Making your own itinerary allows for you to stop along the way at the many scenic look outs, snap a pic at leisure or stop in a small town to meet the locals. Keep in mind driving is done on the left hand side of the road here.

Ferry services take travelers between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island. You can bring your camper van or car aboard for an additional cost.

Allotting 2-3 weeks is ideal to see both islands without rushing. But shorter trips can also be worthwhile.

New Zealand’s seasons are opposite to what we have here in the States.

Spring: September-November (average temperatures in the 60s)
Summer: December-February (average temperatures around 68-77°)
Fall: March-May (average temperatures ranging from 60-70°)
Winter: June-August (temperatures mostly in the 50s)

Of course! New Zealand has a wide range of activities to keep your children happy.

New Zealand’s parks and large areas of unspoilt wilderness mean it is the ideal place to expand your children’s appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors. Horseback riding, snow activities, whale watching, fruit picking and wildlife centers and zoos are just some of the choices available.

English is the most common language in New Zealand, however, Maori is also an official language.

With 8,700 miles of coastline, New Zealand definitely has some awesome beaches. Stop and take a dip in the water but keep in mind this is not the destination for a classic warm beach vacation – there’s too many other amazing sites to see.

Absolutely! New Zealand cuisine was originally based off of the country’s British roots, but has now been mixed with Mediterranean and Pacific Rim influences, as well as traditional Maori recipes. This makes New Zealanders a huge contender on the international food scene.

New Zealanders tend to incorporate produce from both the land and the sea in their dishes. With a population of over 4 million compared to a sheep population of around 50 million, it is no wonder that lamb is one of the most popular. Traditional New Zealand dishes include lamb, pork and venison, salmon, crayfish, bluff oysters, whitebait, green lipped mussels, scallops, kumara (sweet potato), kiwifruit, tamarillo and pavlova.

New Zealand is also for wine lovers. There are numerous vineyards and wineries located throughout New Zealand, however, West Auckland, Gisborne, Martinborough and Hawke’s Bay on the North Island and Marlborough, Central Otago and Canterbury on the South Island are considered the best. Many wineries are open for tastings and some even have fine dining restaurants on site. New Zealand chardonnay, pinot noir and Bordeaux have come to international critical acclaim with many wine critics claiming New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to be the best in the world.

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