My journey to Middle Earth

Some of the best trips you go on are not necessarily planned that far in advance!

I had a very last minute trip to New Zealand at the end of August. Sadly, it was for the funeral of a close family friend, so the reasons for travelling were not ideal.

I found a great deal with Qantas airlines to fly me from London to Wellington (via Dubai and Sydney). The inflight entertainment on Qantas is amazing. There are more than enough films, TV programmes, radio shows and games to keep you occupied for months, let alone the 24 hours that I spent travelling there.

I would really recommend taking a night flight, as it means your body is naturally ready to sleep when you board the aircraft. Once the obligatory meal service has gone round, the duty free is bought and the lights are turned down, you are ready to drift off for a couple of hours!

As the plane touched down in Dubai for re fuelling, I could already feel the heat - 32 degrees at 7am is pretty warm, but luckily we only had an hour or so on the ground, in wonderful air conditioning and we were back on the plane, for the 13 hours slog down under!

Arriving at Sydney at 5.30 in the morning was fun, and then four hours waiting before I joined the last leg to get me to Wellington. I had an amazing view of the city in the distance, and it reminded me how much I love visiting the country (if only in transit!)

Wellington is a truly stunning city, and if you haven't been, I would urge you to go. The harbour is full of restaurants and bars, there is a real café culture in the city, and a genuine feeling of friendliness among the residents. I was staying with friends, so didn't experience the hotels, but there is such a choice of excellent food, it is a foodie's paradise!

After a few days spent with family and friends, I took myself off to the South island on the ferry. It takes four hours and has the most amazing views ever (see the photos), I arrived in the town of Picton, which is a joy in itself. A feeling of stepping back 20 years hits you, and there is a lovely selection of small shops, café's and bars. From there, it is around a two hour drive to the Abel Tasman National Park.

I was there in early spring, so I admit the weather was a little cool, but the place was deserted. We walked for 30 minutes and came across the most stunning beach I have seen in a long time. And we were the only ones there! The north of the South Island has never struck me as a place to visit, but having been there, I definitely want to go back and explore more of this amazing area.

I also got to see the town of Nelson (another stunning place) and an amazing winery called the Yealand Estate in Marlborough. If you want to taste some amazing wines, and get to drive around the estate in your car, where you can get some amazing views, this is the place to go! You can have a free wine tasting (you'll find yourself buying some, as it’s delicious) and they show you a video of how the estate grew, and how sustainability is so important to them.

My base for the trip was Blenheim which is a charming little town. A lovely place to unwind for a few days. If you stay there just before you head back on the ferry, you must take the slow scenic road through the mountains and valleys - you may need a four wheel drive to do it though, as it’s a bit steep in places.

A hop back on the ferry, and one last night out on the town in Wellington, and I was back at the airport flying back home. The jetlag was a bit tougher back in the UK, but I don't mind that!

I wouldn't recommend going to New Zealand for a week (as I did) as it’s so far to go, and the jetlag can really get to you. I would suggest spending at least two weeks, maybe combining with Australia and/or the Far East or even America. The Kiwis are so welcoming, and you'll feel part of the family, exactly as I did.

So pack your bags, and travel to New Zealand, or Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud) as the locals call it.