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Natural, untouched beauty! That’s what New Zealand’s South Island is all about. The South Island is home to the Southern Alps and some great skiing and snow boarding opportunities.

Christchurch is the busiest city in the South Island and also offers an international airport, with flights connecting directly to a lot of overseas destinations. The Sumner Beach, Gondola, Avon river and Cashmere hills are the main attractions in Chistchurch. The city centre is always busy with trams running frequently making it a great place to hang out!

Dunedin with it’s Cadbury’s factory and Queenstown with it’s adventure attractions are the other two cities that can’t be missed in the South Island. Queenstown also has bungee jumping opportunities, jet boats and ski dive opportunities. Milford sound tours also leave from Queenstown, and are highly recommended. Stewart island can also be visited by ferries leaving Invercargill.

Most cities in the South Island are well connected by Trans Rail and that’s perhaps the most convenient way to travel. Alternately, rental cars can also be booked and a drive along the West Coast is highly recommended. Getting to the South Island from the North Island is possible by either catching the Interislander ferry from Wellington or a Sounds Air flight from Wellington airport. Domestic flights run by Air New Zealand and other airlines also connect most other cities in the South Island to Wellington.

Ramnish Gupta is an amateur photographer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Some of his work can be found on the website: http://www.newzealandphotography.co.nz

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Toy haulers are the latest innovation in recreational vehicle technology. Thousands can be saved by purchasing them in the fall when new model years are introduced. But where can you use them in the winter?

First of all a definition is in order for the term toy hauler. They’re traditional travel trailers with a cargo bay and cargo doors in the back. This is a very versatile cargo area which is sold in rather bare condition and can be tailored to numerous purposes.

For the traditional snow bird a long toy hauler can almost be like a house with an attached garage. The truck that hauls it may not fit inside but all of the things normally squeezing the car out of the garage will fit in.

So that’s the first place to take the toy hauler in winter: a warm climate! Arizona has nine Kampground of America (KOA) locations and all but one is open year around. But for a lot of snow birds, Florida is the winter destination. Come spring pull up stakes and move back north in order to avoid the extreme tropical heat.

When looking for a winter destination remember that the toy hauler is itself being hauled. Much of the nation’s more scenic destinations are not navigable with a trailer in tow. Some of the mountain roads of Northern California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina are never suitable for travel trailers. Many roads in Colorado are closed completely in winter. Winter driving can be treacherous even in flat country. Keep a close eye on traffic and weather anywhere.

But toy haulers have a special attraction for those with a lot of athletic gear or animals to take along when traveling. Showing dogs? Plenty of area for cages, grooming tables or using for training during down time.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel vacations for more tips and holiday spot destinations.

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From Cape Reinga in the north right through to Wellington in the south, New Zealand’s North Island offers some unique opportunities to tourist and locals alike.

Auckland city is the busiest New Zealand city and arguably the commercial capital of New Zealand. Being one of the most populated cities, Auckland offers some of the best shopping opportunities in New Zealand.

Wellington is the capital city and has a population of around 400,00. The main attraction in Wellington would have to be Te Papa, which is a museum located in the city. While at Te Papa, make time for a stroll around Queen’s wharf or a cruise in the Wellesley or catch a play at Circa theatre. The Interislander ferry can also be caught from Wellington to travel across the Cook strait to Picton in the South Island.

Other attractions in the North Island include the Maori village in Rotorua, ski fields in the central North Island, stunning beaches in the Coromandel and Hawke’s Bay, Huka falls near Taupo and Mt Taranaki (also known as Mt Egmont), which was the location for the filming of the Tom Cruise flick “The Last Samurai”. Lord of the Rings tours are also available and extremely popular with Tolkien fans!

Ramnish Gupta is an amateur photographer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Some of his work can be found on the website: http://www.newzealandphotography.co.nz

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