Best Destinations include Vancouver, New Zealand, and Fiji
Los Altos, CA (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -– RealTravel (http://realtravel.com), a travel blogging and information site that helps more than half a million people every month plan trips with advice from other travelers, today announces Top 10 Spots for Adventure, according to RealTravel editors and thrill-seeking member “Mkagan.”
1. Grouse Grind (Vancouver, Canada)
Though this 3km stair climb is a steep hike, the rewards are many. The view from the top boasts the spectacular city of Vancouver, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Rocky Mountains to the east. This climb is perfect for travelers who like challenging exercise and incredible scenery. A detail that might not found in a traditional British Columbia travel guide is the yearly race to the summit.
2. Diving the Northern Coast of Fiji (Nananu-i-Ra, Fiji)
Often photographed by National Geographic for its soft coral, this is a favorite spot among the diving community. Popular sites include Golden Dreams, Shark Junction, and Dream Maker. Says Mkagan in his travel blog: “With no worries to cloud the mind, it was like my entire being was there just to soak in the beauty, even flip and hang out upside-down to look for things lurking underneath dark ledges.”
3. Milford Track, Te Anau Downs (Milford Sound, Zealand) & Tongariro Crossing (Managepopo - Ketatahi, via Outerere Huts, New Zealand)
These sites on Mkagan’s New Zealand itineraries are similar in that they are both staggeringly beautiful with their distinct lush vegetation. “I scaled Mt. Mackinnon of the Milford Track through a snow storm, down the emergency avalanche trail, and hiked up the Devil's Staircase and over the western ridge in a monsoon,” says Mkagan. “Both had moments of adventure (read: terror) and a euphoric realization of where I was and what I was doing.”
4. Franz Josef Glacier (Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand)
There are very few places in the world where you can climb an advancing glacier. Since this is also one of the wettest places in the world, the physical challenge is rewarding and immense. “The feeling of your crampons digging into the ice or the bite of your ice axe chewing into the side of a fissure forces this to standout in my mind as one of my greatest adventures ever,” Mkagan reflects. Before planning your trip here, make sure to check out New Zealand hotel reviews to find good accommodations nearby.
5. Sledging the Kaituna River (Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand)
Rotorua is renowned for its reputation as an adventure capital. “I think that you would be hard pressed to find another place on the planet that will let you fly down a grade 4 whitewater rapids head first on your stomach,” says Mkagan. “The rush is indescribable as you ferry down to the rapid named The Abyss and duck your head through it, grab a quick breath on the other side and try not to get swept away by the river.”
6. Abseiling in Hagis' Honking Holes (Waitomo, New Zealand)
Mkagan vividly describes his thrilling time in the Waitomo Caves: “First down about 15m to a cave with no exit, where to go? Answer is obvious, follow the underground flowing river. Next, about 12m down a waterfall and again down a third waterfall. This was unlike anything I have ever done before: abseil, swim through, and rock climb through caves called the Torpedo Tubes.”
7. Diving the Poor Knight Islands (East coast, New Zealand)
Of all the things to do in New Zealand, diving is one of the most popular. According to Jacques Cousteau, this destination is one of the top 10 dive spots in the world. Warm water species and tropical reef species proliferate here because the warm water of the East Australia Current flows downs from the Coral Sea. Mkagan describes it as “truly surreal to see these species along volcanic ridges or when swimming through kelp forests instead of nestled in coral or camouflaging into the sea bed.”
8. Fraser Island (Queensland, Australia)
This is the largest sand island in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With beaches like Lake Mackenzie, where the sand is 99% pure silica and the water is too pure for anything to live in, this island is truly unique. Sand-boarding, 4-wheel driving, and camping are just some of the many fun things to do in Australia.
9. Sailing the Whitsunday's (Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia)
This gorgeous archipelago of islands is perfect for water sports enthusiasts with its tropical weather, pristine blue water, and soft white sandy beaches. From the legendary sailing here to diving, snorkeling, or hiking through the local rainforest, there’s no shortage of adventure at this beautiful Aussie getaway.
10. Diving the S.S. Yongala (11 Nautical miles off Alva Beach, Queensland, Australia)
This dive site made quite an impression on Mkagan: “An amazing dive, not to be missed by the certified diver for several reasons. One, it's an oasis of life. There is no reef around for miles, coupled with the fact that the wreck has been down there for almost a hundred years means that the wreck itself is absolutely teeming with fish and coral. Two, everything is massive and I mean heart-in-throat big.”
Realtraveler Mkagan, a 25-year-old from Ontario, Canada, shares his anecdotes and travel tips in his blog “Literary Littering,” archiving his experiences as he embarks on an exploratory trip around the world.
About RealTravel
Recently named "One of the Twelve Essential Travel Websites" and "Best of the Web" by Forbes and BusinessWeek, RealTravel is a travel blogging and information site that helps more than half a million people every month plan trips with advice from other travelers. Visit us at http://realtravel.com.
Media Contacts:
Christina Brzica
RealTravel.com
christina @ realtravel.com
650-694-4970
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