The Busam's
New Zealand Vacation
12-Nov-2002 to 13-Dec-2002

Jennifer's Comments

I LOVED our month in NZ!  My only regret is that we didn't spend more time in Fiordland.  I enjoyed the freedom of the campervan and appreciated the cost savings.  Whether you go by car or camper, driving is a great way to visit the country, as it is very compact.

There is much about NZ that reminds me of California.  It is a very young country, (younger than the U.S.) had a gold rush and has many immigrants. There is a sort of "frontier" mentality similar to California.

The Milford Trek was definitely the highlight for me. The guided walk was worth every penny, but now that I know how it works, I would consider doing some of the other "ultimate hikes" as an "independent".  Shelter, beds, drinking water and gas cooking facilities are provided for the independent walkers, so you don't have to carry as much as you do in the U.S.

Like most of Europe, NZ is well prepared for tourists with many public rest rooms and frequent visitor information stations.