Coming shortly, where to ride your own sled dog team in New Zealand

I’d arranged to meet up with Underdog NZ at 10.30am at the Snow Farm to start my tour. After a brief talk about what to expect I was taken across to meet the dogs, and what a greeting it was. It seems the dogs absolutely love these tours and get incredibly excited about it all. I was smothered in doggy loves very quickly. There were a mixture of Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes all keen to get started. My human guide gave me a brief outline on how to use the kart and a demonstration on how to control the dogs – yeah right, it was more the dogs controlling me I think, and we were all set up and ready to go. I started off cautious, pressing the break to check it was working and trying my hardest not to tangle up the reigns. Four animated and eager dogs were ready to pull me along and I was a bit nervous at first in case I fell off!!! The snow was smooth but compacted and I had visions of being dragged along on my stomach by four excited animals. My concerns didn’t last for long, well only until my hands could no longer cope with the discomfort of gripping on so tightly! Within a few minutes I was riding the cart like a professional – well in my opinion anyway - and we were off soaring across the snow-covered landscape as one. Well maybe not quite. I had to get off on any upwards slope to take the pressure off my four-legged friends and help push the cart. I also spent a significant amount of time trying not to get them all tangled together so that the back two didn’t trip over the front twos’ reigns – there was a lot of responsibility looking after these keen racers! None of this distracted from the sheer joy of directing my dogs as we ploughed across the snow. The setting was majestic with the perfect clear blue skies reflecting off the brilliant white of our snow-covered carpet….

Underdog NZ at the Snow Farm, Cardrona

Shhhh, some secret New Zealand weekend escapes coming up as we begin to explore again

After many weeks stuck inside, metaphorically chained to our own kitchen sink, it’s time to head out again and rediscover New Zealand.

The trouble is where to go first and what to see. There has never been a better time to uncover this beautiful countries best spots, especially now there are no foreign visitors to our shore. We have NZ all to ourselves for most likely just a short while. We need to get out there and take it all in, see the top places empty of people parading iPhones and selfie sticks. But where do we go first and when? Well I have a few suggestions that might hopefully provide you with some ideas and inspiration.

Coming up:

See Lake Tekapo like it’s 1999…………

Journey the epic Milford Road without a tour bus in sight…….

Hike to a glacier lake on your own……..

Kayak with playful New Zealand Fur Seals…..

Surf with the world’s smallest dolphin……

Tuck into green lip mussels by a picturesque bay……

Encounter Kea in a mountain valley…..