Dream Spring Break

Jonah Melinn

Mrs. Tombre

FIRSTDAYOFSPRING May 20th 2012

2nd hour Composition

On my Dream Spring break with a 5,000 dollar budget I would travel to the southern Island of New Zealand, approximately 1000 miles southwest of Australia. It is the lesser populated of the two islands and consists mainly of nature. It is composed of many beautiful landscapes and has a population of only 1.45 million inhabitants. I would travel on the Package deal called South Island Explorer, I feel it would be a great way to be able to leave the typical life and take time to actually visit another country for productive reasons. I will broaden my knowledge of the world, and allow me a new experience that only few have been able to achieve. The Trip will be mostly me driving throughout the West Coast, from hiking on glaciers to kayaking through a river, all of which will be new fun experiences. I also plan on trying a unique activity called Zorbing. I’ll have an amazing time, it will be fantastic.

I will take a flight to Los Angeles on March 28th, and then the fourteen hour trip to Christchurch, both of the flights round trip would be about $566, and if you add that to the cost of the trip itself then it would about $2,865, leaving me a little over two thousand dollars for spending money on food and souvenirs. It will be an eleven day trip all and all , and i will spend all that time doing many activities and enjoying the landscape. On day one all the way to day three I will be spending my time on planes, first to Los Angeles from Detroit, then next to Christchurch, New Zealand. On my first day there I will go on a ride on the TranzAlpine, what is known as  “The Great New Zealand Rail Adventure” which is world renowned. It will take me over viaducts, across valleys and gorges, and crossing the Southern Alps. Eventually it will lead me to the town of Greymouth after about thirty minutes of on the rail trip. I will gold pan and go kayaking in Greymouth, which is the largest town on the West Coast. After that I will drive in my rental car to the nearby “pancake rocks” that make the town of Punakaiki so well known. These rocks are actually limestone formations that began forming over thirty million years ago. I might have to chip off a small piece as a souvenir tho.

On day five I will return to Greymouth then move my way south to Hokitika. The road to Hokitika has many beaches and allows you to breathe in the salty air near the ocean. Or just drive with the windows down and enjoy the warm air and windbutts butts butts butts in your face (My personal favorite). I plan on buying some greenstone in a chunk or  after being carved. After spending time in Hokitika, the grueling 1.75 hour drive to Franz Josef will begin, In Franz Josef I will go on a full day Glacier hike, I have never gone hiking before so I feel this will be a new and exciting experience, naturally packing all the necessary equipment.

Franz Josef Glacier is one of two unique relics that have lasted since the last Ice age, It is the only place in the world that has Glaciers so close to the sea. I next will next drive to a place called Fox Glacier, the second of the two unique Ice Glaciers. From there I will drive to Haast, which was once a Construction camp for the Ministry of Works, from there I will walk to Lake Moeraki, a peaceful quiet lake known for its amazing fishing and untouched beauty. I am also planning to go to the Penguin Colony at Monro Beach, which is just a quick forty minute walk away. Also in Haast I will be able to fly into the rugged ranges and deer hunt.

After that I will drive to the town of Wanaka. Wanaka is known for its high density of Cafes, Restaurants, and interesting souvenir shops. I will spend the night in Wanaka and then drive through the Haast pass. There will be waterfalls and beautiful scenery as I venture into the rainforest land. From there I will continue to drive south until I reach the town of Queenstown. In Queenstown, day seven and eight, I will go on the Milford Sound Nature Cruise, It is guided by someone with expert knowledge on the history and wildlife of the region, on this guide I will see many beauties of nature, including Waterfalls, Rainforests, and Mountain Peaks. I also plan on taking a tour on the rugged and once dangerous Skipper Road, which was cut by hand into the steep cliffs of the well-known Shotover River Valley.

On the morning of day nine I will drive through the town of Omarama and into Twizal, just twenty miles north of it. The drive to Twizal will take me through mountain ranges and sheep farms, and when I reach Twizal I will mountain climb, for the geography of the town is perfect for it. Also I will in the Ahuriri River, which is known for its Rainbow and Brown Trout. By day ten I will have driven back to Mount Cook, which is an approximate two and a half hour drive north. When there, I plan on winding down and relaxing for my final day, and then on day 11 I will return to Christchurch have departed for Los Angeles, soon to Return to Michigan.