Today, we feature an enthusiastic guest blogger with an unquenchable thirst for travel, Amanda Williams. Amanda is the writer behind A Dangerous Business, a travel blog designed to inspire others to travel by proving to them that it doesn’t have to be scary, difficult or overwhelming. In this interview, Amanda shares why she’s fallen in love with New Zealand and why you will too.
See below for our interview (**NOTE: All images in this post were taken by and are provided by Amanda Williams):
You’ve traveled all over the world! Tell us about your favorite destination and what makes it so wonderful.
I haven’t been to nearly as many places as I would have liked to yet, but, so far, New Zealand is definitely my favorite destination! I’ve been there 3 times now (including studying abroad there for a semester during undergrad), and I can never get enough.
What makes New Zealand so wonderful? I think it’s the combination of its gorgeous natural scenery, its friendly people, its laid-back attitude, and how easy it is to travel there. New Zealand’s small population and eco-friendly outlook make being a tourist there a dream. That, and it’s one of the most peaceful countries you’ll ever visit!
What your favorite spot in New Zealand and why?
It has to be Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Yes, there are plenty of amazing scenic places that I love, too, but it’s Wellington that will always have my heart. The capital is compact and super walkable, but is not your average stuffy seat of government. The city is vibrant, colorful, and full of culture. And the fact that it’s situated right on the Pacific doesn’t hurt, either.
What advice would you offer someone who has never traveled to New Zealand to help them experience 
the local culture?
Modern New Zealand culture basically consists of one thing: a “no worries” attitude. Don’t go here expecting the same pace of life you’d find in big cities in America or the UK – life moves a bit slower in New Zealand. To fully experience this, just allow yourself to relax and go with the flow wherever you are.
If it’s native Maori culture you’re looking for, definitely don’t miss Rotorua. This geothermal town on the North Island is the best place in the country to attend a Maori hangi dinner and concert, where you’ll be introduced to traditional New Zealand food, song, and dance.
What is your favorite type of travel (wine tasting trips, adventure travel, foodie tours etc) and why?
Is “landscape travel” a thing? If so, I would say that. I love seeing the natural beauty of a country, whether that means mountains and glaciers or lava fields and jungles. I don’t necessarily mean “nature travel,” though, which I associate more with wildlife viewing and hiking… I’m not much of a hiker.
New Zealand also turned me into a bit of an adrenaline junkie (after all, they did invent bungy jumping!), so I also enjoy some good adventure travel every now and then to really get the blood flowing.
New Zealand is quite a long flight for anyone traveling form the U.S., what kinds of tips/ recommendations do you have to make the flight more enjoyable?
Long-haul flights can be miserable, I’m not going to lie. But I’ve been on enough of them by now to have figured out how to survive them. My tips include trying to get on the sleep schedule of your destination beforehand in order to avoid jetlag, bringing ear plugs/noise-canceling headphones to drown out the noise, taking advantage of in-flight entertainment systems, and chatting up your neighbor if you’re a bit more outgoing.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just that, if travel is something you really want to pursue, don’t let anything hold you back. Forget the excuses, and make travel a priority in your life. Once you do, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can make your travel dreams come true!
About Amanda
Amanda is just a small-town Ohio girl trying to balance a “normal” life of school, friends and family with an unquenchable lust for travel. She’s always looking for that next chance to get swept away in adventure, be it on the other side of the globe or just around the corner. Follows her travels on her blog, A Dangerous Business, on Twitter @DangerousBiz, or on Facebook.
