The Blue Mountains make for a great, cool-weather, eco-getaway from Sydney. When staying at a site with cool, damp weather like that of the Blue Mountains, it pays to opt for a place that is just as cozy as it is comfortable. The Jemby-Rinjah Eco-Lodge fits the bill in this regard because how else could one accurately describe beautiful wood cabins and a small lodge heated by wood-burning stoves? The cozy factor also goes up because the eco-lodge is closely surrounded by the forests of the Blue Mountains.

This eco-lodge was built with the goal of being a sustainable, eco-friendly place and has won awards for its efforts. Even before the walls of the buildings went up, the site chosen for the lodge was in a more degraded area of forest that had been logged. This was done to make less of an impact upon the environment when construction took place, as well as to have a site that could be allowed to naturally regenerate.

The lodge was also designed to have walkways that connected some of the buildings to leave as little of a footprint upon the land as possible, and buildings are insulated and placed to receive as much warmth from the sun as possible. Because they are also careful about water use, toilets are of the composting variety.

Activities at the eco-lodge are environmentally based and include night hikes in search of native opossum species and owls, bird watching, and hikes in the nearby national forest.

Adventure activities such as rappelling down a nearby canyon, rock climbing and caving can also be done at nearby sites.

Folks who get tired of walking or who don’t need an adrenaline rush can still get a taste of local bird life by feeding brilliantly colored red and blue wild parakeets that land on the shoulders and hands of people who present the birds with a handful of birdseed.

7 Top Attractions

Glow Worm Caves – Near Te Kuiti, the Waitomo Caves have glow worms that shine. When looking from a distance, the walls and ceiling of the caves appear to be studded with stars. Guides who know the caves well lead tours. To explore the interiors of the underground worlds, the guides can instruct and assist those who are not experienced cavers.

Koutu Boulders – In the Hokianga Harbour region on the northern tip of North Island, the Koutu Boulders are curiously arranged on the shore. The amazing assortment of natural, rounded rocks are phenomenal, and some are quite large. The public can explore them for free.

Mohaka River – Whitewater is found on the Mohaka River near Napier. Fantastic rafting tours are available with reputable companies that offer river guides, transportation to and from the river and all the equipment necessary. The river includes a good mix of rushes, slow and fast rapids and areas of calm waters.

Museum of New Zealand – In Wellington, the Museum of New Zealand has dramatic architecture, good exposure to New Zealand and some interactive exhibits. The large facility is free to the public, and touring to see everything could take at least an entire day.

Tongariro National Park – This vast park in the middle of the island has Mount Ruapehu, volcanoes and lands sacred to the Maori. The activities popular in Tongariro are quad bike riding, trekking, mountain hiking and more.

Waipoua Forest – Not far from the western coast to the north of Auckland, The Waipoua Forest is the place to find the tall and mighty Kaori trees. These amazing trees grow tall over hundreds of years. Walking tracks lead to the most famous of old growth kaori trees.

Whananaki Coastal Walk – In the Whangarei coastal region, the Whananaki Coastal Walk is a 5 kilometre track along a farm road that provides stunning views of the ocean and small islands near the shore. Directions and maps are available.

Happy Travels

Those who are planning a holiday on North Island to see some of those top attractions can have a successful and economical travel experience with a campervan hire in New Zealand. They are easy on fuel and handling travel and lodging, and can be driven just about anywhere and park.

Campervans have the space and facilities for cooking and beds that fold up during the day. Some even have a built-in bathroom and/or toilet. Environmentally friendly travel at its best, making holiday vacations possible.

The Ol Malo Lodge began as the Francombe family home. The Guesthouse, added some years later, is truly a wonder to behold. Slowly they have transformed the overgrazed cattleranch bordering Samburuland into a world-renown sanctuary for Kenyan wildlife implementing low-impact tourism and maintaining species and habitats through conservation.

Through the efforts of daughter Julia Francombe, the fundraising organisations Ol Malo Designs and Ol Malo Trust, each strive to maintain and preserve the culture of the Samburu people.

For information and booking CLICK: http://www.olmalo.com/