Romanic Backdrop in New Zealand
August 3, 2012 9:00 PM Subscribe
Suggest the most romantic, picturesque, and remote place in New Zealand to pop the question.
I've decided that it's time to pop the question to my special lady, and what better place to do it than during our trip this September to New Zealand?
I'm not trying to pull off something ridiculous over-the-top, but considering New Zealand's reputation for breathtaking scenery, I am looking for something of a backdrop for the event. We're going to be driving all over the North and South islands, so pretty much anywhere that can be driven to (or hiked to on a day hike) is fair game.
The only hitch is that we're both pretty private people and she has told me she doesn't want a crowd. Ideally it would just be the two of us around.
So my question is where in New Zealand fits the bill? Where can she have her breath taken away without a crowd of looky-loos looking on?
I've decided that it's time to pop the question to my special lady, and what better place to do it than during our trip this September to New Zealand?
I'm not trying to pull off something ridiculous over-the-top, but considering New Zealand's reputation for breathtaking scenery, I am looking for something of a backdrop for the event. We're going to be driving all over the North and South islands, so pretty much anywhere that can be driven to (or hiked to on a day hike) is fair game.
The only hitch is that we're both pretty private people and she has told me she doesn't want a crowd. Ideally it would just be the two of us around.
So my question is where in New Zealand fits the bill? Where can she have her breath taken away without a crowd of looky-loos looking on?
My favorite place in all of New Zealand: Cathedral Cove, in the Coromandel Peninsula. Secluded - it will take you about 15 minutes to walk there, across some low hills - and spectacular. In September, it's likely that you will be the only people on the beach.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 9:44 PM on August 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 9:44 PM on August 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Sunset in Raglan.
Or, if she's a big nerd, the summit of Mt. Doom.
posted by ikaruga at 10:45 PM on August 3, 2012
Or, if she's a big nerd, the summit of Mt. Doom.
posted by ikaruga at 10:45 PM on August 3, 2012
Based on my own recent honeymoon in NZ: Cathedral Cove only if you are both fit - and more like 45 mins to an hour. It is super-dooper-amazing beautiful though.
What about heli-flight to the top of Fox Glacier? Stunning. Franz Josef is supposed to be a bit over-tramped and dirty, but I don't know if that's true because everywhere in NZ was just pristine and immaculate. Fox was definitely picture-perfect and a highlight of the trip for me.
Or on the North Island, Coromandel was wonderful and Hot Water Beach was great. Beautiful green mountainous countryside, and... The water! Is! Hot! Too awesome. (Not the water in the ocean, the water under the sand.) It's heated from beneath through fissures in the underlying rock... I think? You dig person-sized wallowing holes and wallow!
My husband loved Waiheke Island - it's a short ferry ride from Auckland, very tropical and pretty.
Queenstown was gorgeous too. Very touristy but in a fun way. If you like adventure stuff or extreme sports, this would be the place to pop the question. Arrowtown nearby is lovely and picturesque also, loads of nice restaurants too, sort of English village feel to it.
I loved NZ so hard and can't wait to go back. Seriously, I think you have so many cool proposal opportunities you can't go wrong!
posted by t0astie at 11:59 PM on August 3, 2012 [3 favorites]
What about heli-flight to the top of Fox Glacier? Stunning. Franz Josef is supposed to be a bit over-tramped and dirty, but I don't know if that's true because everywhere in NZ was just pristine and immaculate. Fox was definitely picture-perfect and a highlight of the trip for me.
Or on the North Island, Coromandel was wonderful and Hot Water Beach was great. Beautiful green mountainous countryside, and... The water! Is! Hot! Too awesome. (Not the water in the ocean, the water under the sand.) It's heated from beneath through fissures in the underlying rock... I think? You dig person-sized wallowing holes and wallow!
My husband loved Waiheke Island - it's a short ferry ride from Auckland, very tropical and pretty.
Queenstown was gorgeous too. Very touristy but in a fun way. If you like adventure stuff or extreme sports, this would be the place to pop the question. Arrowtown nearby is lovely and picturesque also, loads of nice restaurants too, sort of English village feel to it.
I loved NZ so hard and can't wait to go back. Seriously, I think you have so many cool proposal opportunities you can't go wrong!
posted by t0astie at 11:59 PM on August 3, 2012 [3 favorites]
There are SO many possibilities here.
Re: above answers, I love Raglan and Waiheke (both v. romantic and picturesque), but neither one is truly remote (you might find a corner of one of them you could feel remote in, though)...
I think the Coromandel is good, but I think you can do better for most stunning/striking scenery.
I like the idea of on one of the glaciers. I hiked on Franz Josef and it was gorgeous, not dirty at all. Only problem with that idea is that if you want to be alone, obviously if you're on the glacier you need to be with a guide so you will not be actually alone.
My answers would be:
South Island
1. On a boat in the Milford Sound (Fiordlands National Park) - this is one of the most incredible, blow-your-mind beautiful places I have ever been. It rains a lot, but this is a good thing, because after the rains, there are little waterfalls everywhere. Hopefully you can go out right after it rains.
2. Karekare beach in the Waitakeres. The Waitakeres themselves are gorgeous, and the drive is an event in and of itself. Karekare will take your breath away. (Have you ever seen the Piano? it was filmed there). A bonus: when you are at Karekare and Piha, it feels like you are at a quite remote beach destination (don't go on a weekend day, it'll be better), but you're actually within striking distance of Auckland.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:03 AM on August 4, 2012 [2 favorites]
Re: above answers, I love Raglan and Waiheke (both v. romantic and picturesque), but neither one is truly remote (you might find a corner of one of them you could feel remote in, though)...
I think the Coromandel is good, but I think you can do better for most stunning/striking scenery.
I like the idea of on one of the glaciers. I hiked on Franz Josef and it was gorgeous, not dirty at all. Only problem with that idea is that if you want to be alone, obviously if you're on the glacier you need to be with a guide so you will not be actually alone.
My answers would be:
South Island
1. On a boat in the Milford Sound (Fiordlands National Park) - this is one of the most incredible, blow-your-mind beautiful places I have ever been. It rains a lot, but this is a good thing, because after the rains, there are little waterfalls everywhere. Hopefully you can go out right after it rains.
2. Karekare beach in the Waitakeres. The Waitakeres themselves are gorgeous, and the drive is an event in and of itself. Karekare will take your breath away. (Have you ever seen the Piano? it was filmed there). A bonus: when you are at Karekare and Piha, it feels like you are at a quite remote beach destination (don't go on a weekend day, it'll be better), but you're actually within striking distance of Auckland.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:03 AM on August 4, 2012 [2 favorites]
I meant to put a "North Island" label above #2 so that there is an option for each island. :-)
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:04 AM on August 4, 2012
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:04 AM on August 4, 2012
Like treehorn+bunny, I was also thinking Karekare beach: you can climb the Watchman rock (it's really just a steep walk, only a few minutes from the carpark) and sitting up there at sunset would be the perfect moment! That's assuming it's not raining, of course.
posted by nomis at 2:47 AM on August 4, 2012
posted by nomis at 2:47 AM on August 4, 2012
It's not remote, but it's romantic and picturesque: Hanmer Springs.
posted by skippy_gal at 6:23 AM on August 4, 2012
posted by skippy_gal at 6:23 AM on August 4, 2012
My husband's ideas:
- Hike into the hills by Lake Wanaka or Lake Wakatipu on the side away from Queenstown.
- On Golden Bay, Abel Tasman coast track.
I agree that both are very beautiful too and not sure how you will decide!
posted by treehorn+bunny at 9:44 AM on August 4, 2012
- Hike into the hills by Lake Wanaka or Lake Wakatipu on the side away from Queenstown.
- On Golden Bay, Abel Tasman coast track.
I agree that both are very beautiful too and not sure how you will decide!
posted by treehorn+bunny at 9:44 AM on August 4, 2012
Two hours' drive north of Auckland is Whangarei - then if you go ~40km northeast of Whangarei there are a bunch of lovely sandy bays bordered on one side by native forest and on the other with views to the Poor Knights Islands. September is early for the full-on tourist season so it should be relatively quiet.
Or take the ferry or a small plane to Stewart Island and you're away from people within 5 minutes of hopping off the boat. The weather there can be pretty harsh though, if it matters.
posted by tracicle at 12:10 AM on August 5, 2012
Or take the ferry or a small plane to Stewart Island and you're away from people within 5 minutes of hopping off the boat. The weather there can be pretty harsh though, if it matters.
posted by tracicle at 12:10 AM on August 5, 2012
I'm not very fit, and I found the walk to Cathedral Cove just fine. And it would be a beautiful place to propose! You just have to time it with the tides, though.
The Moeraki Boulders at sunset are also special. It's not remote at all, but when I was there, there was nobody else around. It's a beautiful beach to walk along, and the boulders make it really unique.
posted by snorkmaiden at 12:31 AM on August 6, 2012
The Moeraki Boulders at sunset are also special. It's not remote at all, but when I was there, there was nobody else around. It's a beautiful beach to walk along, and the boulders make it really unique.
posted by snorkmaiden at 12:31 AM on August 6, 2012
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posted by surfgator at 9:39 PM on August 3, 2012