Advice on travelling for the disabled

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This was published 7 years ago

Advice on travelling for the disabled

By Michael Gebicki
Queenstown, a spectacular destination.

Queenstown, a spectacular destination.

WHAT ARE SOME GOOD WAYS TO TRAVEL WHILE DISABLED? I'M TURNING 30 AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WOULD LIKE TO GO TRAVELLING BUT BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITIES INCLUDING CHRONIC PAIN AND FATIGUE, MY CHOICES ARE LIMITED. I WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND SEE SIGHTS. I LOVE NATURE AND LANDSCAPES AND I ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHY, WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE?

N. SHAPIRA, NORTH AVOCA

It seems you need somewhere that's going to light your fire and show you what you're capable of, and New Zealand would be my first and best choice. It's close, no long flights involved, there's heaps to do for all levels of fitness, it's user-friendly for Aussie travellers and there's a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia if you need it. Since this might be a toe-in-the-water exercise you may want to stay in one place rather than moving around and the sweet spot is Queenstown. You can fly non-stop from Sydney in three hours aboard Virgin Australia or Air New Zealand and Queenstown offers incredible variety. A day can be as sedate as a Skyline Gondola ride up Bob's Peak, a lake cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw, a wander around the nearby gold-mining town of Arrowtown and a late afternoon spa treatment, or as hairy as white water rafting followed by jet boating and bungy jumping.

At the very least you could do a cruise on Milford Sound – but be prepared for the long road trip, and maybe a short walk along the Lower Routeburn Track, a forest walk that weaves along a galloping river with scenery straight out of Lord of the Rings, completely flat for the first two hours. If these are well within your capabilities Queenstown makes it easy to ratchet up to a higher challenge level. Take a look at the official visitor website queenstownnz.co.nz for some ideas.

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