New Zealand’s landscape is truly breathtaking, many thanks to the hugely successful Lord of the Rings films shot there, many have been able to witness the pure beauty of the country. So where do you go on this once in a lifetime trip? The Shire? The Misty Mountains? Sure, but try visiting the network of huts run by the Department of Conservation and immersing yourself in the community that you didn’t know you wanted to be a part of.
What you need to know:
The huts are used as shelter from the elements as well as a place to rest your weary head when you’re out and about exploring New Zealand’s picturesque landscape. Wonderfully, the Department of Conservation maintains the huts and the interconnecting trails between them all. That means that you can explore the beautiful nature en route to your next destination, rather than having to remove yourself from your voyage of discovery by heading back to a hostel.
Similar to a hostel, you aren’t sure who you will be sharing a living space with for the evening, it’s the luck of the draw. Thankfully most people are like-minded people, willing to swap travel stories and contribute to the cooking, often adding an ingredient that changes your bland meal into an amazing one. The people you share the huts with becoming the prevailing memories you take home, sure the Lord of the Rings country is beautiful, but so are the people you travel with.
If you want to go on a wandering vacation, allowing yourself to stroll around at your own pace then using New Zealand’s hut network will provide all you are looking for and more.