Gear manufacturers have realised that lots of women like the outdoors and they're different shapes from men. Here's what's out there, and where you can buy it.
New Zealand
The Land of the Long White Cloud? Niew Zulland? Home of my Dad’s least favourite cricket team (or is that the South Africans)? Australia’s ninth state or territory?I’m embarrassed to say that until last week, I’ve never really been to New Zealand, despite the fact it is closer to Hobart that some parts of Australia (although if it makes it any better, I haven’t been to those places in Australia either). I once spent 10 hours sitting in the Auckland airport, hours 30 to 40 of an epic 52 hour journey from Toronto to Hobart (I was excited about the cheap price and didn’t read the “fine print”, otherwise known as the flight schedule, very carefully), but that doesn’t really count because I spent the ten hours blinking at possum fur hats, eating Twisties and rereading Watership Down, which I’d already reread once that flight. I had always wanted to go to New Zealand - I heard it’s like a mini British Columbia or a rugged Tasmania, and I’ve thought about studying, working or travelling there many a time - but it took a wedding to finally get me to the South Island for a visit, and now I can’t wait to go back.
The wedding was held in Wanaka, north of Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand, and Dave and I had a measly five days to get there and back. Also, because getting from Hobart to Queenstown is a logistical semi-nightmare (I probably wouldn’t have noticed the 14 hour travel time but Dave reads things like plane tickets so we avoided that), we ended up flying into Christchurch and driving out to Wanaka ourselves. This also meant we could catch up with friends in Christchurch and see a bit of the country rather than sitting in a plane or an airport.New Zealand turned on the weather for us (well done, New Zealand) and we had spectacular views of the Southern Alps, including Aoraki (the famous Mt Cook) and the incredible, eye-bogglingly colourful lakes of the region. We went for a half hour walk that took an hour and a half because we liked it so much (and because we accidently walked past where we were supposed to stop), and played “if I were a sheep, I’d want that paddock” for hours on end.
Wanaka itself felt like coming home to Invermere, British Columbia, where I spent some time living when I was a “Canadian”. A beautiful lake, snow capped mountains in the distance and a chilled out little town. The wedding itself was gorgeous (congratulations Sean and Steph), and we had a blast hanging out with friends from Brisbane (if you’re interested in the food of the Wanaka region, read Beeso’s blog entry at Mother Foccacia). I’m a total FOMO (stands for Fear Of Missing Out), so whenever I saw a car with boats on the roof, or a person cycle touring, or a group of people heading off into the back country with packs and snow shovels, I experienced a little pang of jealousy that I was simply a tourist this time! I can’t wait to go back and explore a bit more - cycle touring, climbing, paddling, “tramping”, wine tasting, beer appreciation, etc, etc, etc. Well done, New Zealand!P.S. More information about the Perfect Woman Competition coming soon.