On the road with Adrien Brody

What do you never leave home without when you travel?
my computer and my music equipment. i have a guitar. i have a couple of keyboards and some speakers and my laptop and some recording equipment. i make music on most locations. i travel constantly, which is really a blessing, and how i get to explore the world. the luxury of that is you're not coming for vacation, so the prerequisite of having a good time just doesn't exist. you get a chance to explore at a more leisurely pace and live with the local people and learn, find out where to go but not as a tourist, you know what i mean?
 
Do you have any travel secrets?
pack light is the best suggestion i have. in new zealand, everything is pretty low-key, so i've been enjoying the fact that i don't have to dress up very often. i rarely travel without a suit, but i haven't needed it very much.

He said...
Adrien Brody's favorite New Zealand locations

Lodging
» Rose Cottage, moderate, 011-64-4-475-7700
 
Dining
» Chocolate Fish Cafe, inexpensive, 011-64-4-388-2808
» Chow, moderate, 011-64-4-382-8585
» The French Bistro, expensive, 011-64-6-306-8863
» Logan Brown Restaurant & Bar, expensive, 011-64-4-801-5114
» Matterhorn, expensive, 011-64-4-384-3359
» The White House Restaurant, expensive, 011-64-4-385-8555
 
Shopping
» Schoc Chocolates, 011-64-6-304-8960
» Sheepskin Warehouse, 011-64-4-386-3376
 
Sights
» Gunn Estate Winery, 011-64-6-879-8760
» The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 011-64-4-381-7000
» Wellington Zoo, 011-64-4-381-6755

We said...
Some of our favorite new zealand locales

lodging
» aspen house, inexpensive, auckland, 011-64-9-379-6633. it may not be fancy, but the crisp, clean aspen house offers plenty of bang for the buck. in fact, figure in the free breakfast and it might be the best deal in town.
» croydon house, moderate, christchurch, 011-64-3-366-5111. "quaint," "comfortable," and "friendly" are just a few of the adjectives we've heard used to describe this small b&b-style hotel in the historic center of town.
» victoria court motor lodge, moderate, wellington, 011-64-4-472-4297. ironically, you won't need your car at this shiny new motor court, because numerous attractions are just a stroll away. families take note, as cooktops and microwaves come standard.
 
dining
» hay's, expensive, christchurch, 011-64-3-379-7501. lamb is the big seller here, particularly the rack of lamb.
» kermadec ocean fresh restaurant, moderate, auckland, 011-64-9-309-0412. the city of auckland is surrounded by water, so you might surmise seafood is a specialty. and this is one of the best places for it.
 
nightlife
» the fat ladies arms, palmerston north, 011-64-6-358-8888. we admit the name was what first got our attention, but for cheap eats, serious drinks, and a game of pool, look no further. although, sadly, the clientele is primarily the age we claim to be, not the age we necessarily are.
 
sights
» new zealand cricket museum, wellington, 011-64-4-385-6602. boasting memorabilia dating back to 1743, this well-regarded repository is dedicated to new zealand's other national sport.
» sky tower, auckland, 011-64-9-363-6000. this cloud-busting spire is the tallest in the southern hemisphere. grab a bite at the tippy-top revolving restaurant or stand atop the glass floors in the observation level and look dooooowwwwnnn.
 
outdoors
» karekare beach & waterfalls, approximately 22 miles west of auckland. you might remember this breathtaking stretch of sand from the opening scene of the award-winning film the piano or episodes of xena: warrior princess.
» new zealand national parks, www.doc.govt.nz. being that almost a third of the country is designated as national park, it's hard to avoid them. not that you'd want to. it's some of the most beautiful and varied landscape you'll ever see.