Granada is the fourth largest city of Nicaragua and was established by the Spanish during 1524 as a showpiece. It was built in recognition of its Spanish namesake, Granada. Granada lies on the shores of Lake Nicaragua but is only a mere 70km from the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The rich, Spanish colonial heritage, can be seen in its architecture and layout. Granada is commonly referred to as the “Gran Sultana del Gran Lago”, the Great Sultan of the Great Lake.
Granada is an ‘off the beaten track’ travel destination but well worth a visit for its colonial heritage and beautiful architecture that can be enjoyed here. Granada is built around its main square, the Parque Central, and represents the city’s cultural, social and economic hub. Around the Parque Central you will find Granada’s cathedral, City Hall, banks, cultural centres, as well as a collection of small shops and stalls selling traditional food and handicrafts.
Lake Nicaragua with its warm climate makes it rich in tropical flora and fauna and is home to the only species of freshwater shark. A volcanic chain cuts right through the lake forming many beautiful islands that attract many to the area to enjoy a range of outdoor and water activities. A ferry service connects Granada to neighbouring cities on the lake.
Great Barrier Island is located 90 km from Auckland on the east coast of New Zealand. Angela Pearse spent a weekend on the island courtesy of Tourism Auckland and Sealink ferries.
Visiting Great Barrier Island is like winding back the hands of time. The 800 or so islanders generate their electricity by wind, solar, battery or diesel power. There is no main water supply or street lighting. Mail is infrequent and supplies of fresh food such as bread and grocery items are shipped over on the ferry.
But it is this back-to-basics lifestyle and untouched natural landscape which makes Great Barrier Island such a special travel destination. On our trip we met some locals who are passionate about “The Barrier”.
In Port Fitzroy on the west side of the island, Sven Stellin extracts manuka and kanuka oil and makes products, such as mosquito spray, balms, soaps and essential oils. He gives visitors a first-hand look into the process of extraction and a chance to buy Barrier Gold products.
Also at Port Fitzroy is Glenfern Sanctuary run by Tony Bouzaid. Glenfern is a 150 acre reserve where endangered species such as the rare black petrel, brown teal duck and North Island Robins can live safely from predators. Tony’s guided walk takes you through the sanctuary, which has elevated boardwalks through native forest and a suspension bridge into a 600 year old kauri tree. A ride in Tony’s Unimog, a 4WD all terrain army vehicle, is included in the walk.
Solar Panel House
Whether fishing, diving, kayaking, bush walking or general sight-seeing is the interest of the day, contact Steve Billingham of the Barrier Tour Company for an ‘Ultimate Tour’ of the island. Steve is renowned for his extensive local knowledge and humorous stories. He also runs Crazyhorse Trike Tours. A trike is a custom built motorbike that can seat two passengers side-by-side at the rear of the driver. Riders get a ‘wind in the face’ experience and commune with nature on an exhilaratingly intimate level.
Great Barrier Island accommodation and camping grounds
The largest settlement in Great Barrier Island is at Tryphena Harbour in the south west of the island where the ferry docks. It has a good selection of accommodation including:
There are eight camping grounds on Great Barrier Island, with some situated a short distance from pristine white sand beaches. Medlands Beach and neighbouring Okupu Bay on the east coast are particularly beautiful and it is not uncommon to see dolphins there in the warmer months.
Other top notch accommodations include Mt Saint Paul Lodge at Medlands Beach and Great Barrier Lodge at Whangaparapara Harbour on the west, which has self-contained cottages and backpacker cabins.
Currach Irish Pub, Mt Saint Paul Lodge and Great Barrier Lodge
For eating out there’s the Currach Irish Pub at Tryphena, a relaxed bar with live music and delicious speciality seafood dishes.
Or 20 minutes from Tryphena by car, Mt Saint Paul Lodge. A colonial style manor house set back from at Medlands Beach which offers fine seafood dining and stunning deck views. Hosts Trish and Ivan McMannaway are warm and welcoming.
Or try Great Barrier Lodge Restaurant and Bar at Whangaparapara Harbour, a perfect place to unwind after a day of tramping, kayaking, fishing or diving.
Sealink ferries and Fly My Sky
You can reach ‘The Barrier’, as it is affectionately known, by a relaxing four and half hour Sealink ferry ride (with onboard café + two movie theatres) or a 35 minute chartered Fly My Sky flight from Auckland Domestic Airport.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the more than 100 kms of walking tracks. One of the most popular is Kaitoke Hot Springs. Reached by a gentle meandering bush walk, Kaitoke Hot Springs has a series of natural pools for bathing and is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a hard day of sight-seeing on the island.
Known as ‘Rapa Nui’ by the indigenous community and otherwise known as ‘Easter Island’, is situated some 3,700km west of the mainland of South America in the Pacific Ocean. This isolated position makes it quite a trek for most visitors. Those that do make the effort to visit the 117sq km island, are greeted with a host of wonders making it an exceptional travel destination.
Easter Island was first discovered by Europeans back in 1722 on Easter Sunday, hence the name of the island. However, inhabitants date back to an estimated 300 CE. This is when it was thought the large statues known as “moai”, were carved and erected by the Polynesian community. Scattered around Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater, are 397 moai in various stages of completion. The Rapa Nui National Park gained inscription as a World Heritage site with UNESCO during 1995.
Lonely Planet Travel Guide – Chile & Easter Island
Located between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is one of the most fascinating lakes in the world. It is situated at a very high altitude (some 3800 meters above sea level) in the Andes Mountains making it one of the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest (by volume) in South America. The lake is largely fed by rainfall and melting snow from both the glaciers and mountains.
The Floating Islands
Copacabana is the main Bolivian town and travel destination on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Copacana is the most important religious sanctuary of Bolivia and attracts numerous pilgrims throughout the year. Its dominated by the impressive moorish style cathedral dating back to 1605. From here you can catch a boat tour to Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) which is the birthplace of the sun in Inca mythology.
A cluster of smaller islands known as the ‘Floating Islands’ can be visited from Peru’s Puno. These islands are made from layers of the buoyant ‘totora reeds’. Today several hundred people still populate the islands.
One great reason to visit Lake Titicaca is for the abundance of cultural experiences between both Bolivia and Peru. It offers spectacular lake scenery flanked by the Andes Mountains.
The Traveler IQ challenge ranks geographic knowledge of cities such as: Punta Cana, Willemstad or Columbia by comparing results against 5,473,834 other travelers.
Other top notch accommodations include Mt Saint Paul Lodge at Medlands Beach and Great Barrier Lodge at Whangaparapara Harbour on the west, which has self-contained cottages and backpacker cabins.
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