NZ Herald - My Holidays
What was your greatest holiday?
Any holiday is amazing, especially when it's with my family. The Virunga Mountains where we spent time with gorillas in the wild was pretty incredible. Or Costa Rica, where my sister, the kids and I took a golf cart out one night for a joy ride. We gained quite a bit of air going over those exposed tree roots.
And the worst?
Bad holidays are usually the ones that have the best stories that you never want to tell! They usually involve natural disasters, a force de jour or someone getting injured, there's nothing worse than that.
If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?
Easy - camping on horseback through the South Island. Is there someone who does that? Let me know and I'll come.
If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
I love to people watch. Apparently I talk to myself while I do it (so my sister says).
If I'm not people-watching you can find me at any spiritual spot, whether it be a Buddha, an old church, a ceremony or any of the old relics around town.
What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?
I think it has to be when you walk into the wrong toilets - does the "s" stand for senorita or senor?
Complete this sentence, I can't travel without...
My pillow. I've travelled with it for 30 years (not the same one! I've lost many along the way), I just can't sleep when the pillows are hard. Plus it really comes in handy in airports, and on aeroplanes.
What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?
I have none. No one has ever given me a good travel tip! Best thing is probably look up TripAdvisor.
What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?
I've travelled so much over the years, to pick one would be too difficult. But when I think back on the recent travel the food I got to eat in India was pretty amazing. Since filming the series [Rachel Hunter's Tour of Beauty] we've done a lot of travel, and my stomach and body seemed to accept Indian food the best. I didn't get sick once and I actually naturally lost weight. My system seemed to function at its optimum.
What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
My Bedouin rug that was made by the Berber tribe in Essaouira, Marrakesh. Morocco has the best shopping - rugs, pillows, shoes, cushions - anything and everything from Morocco is amazing! Trust me.
Favourite airport at which to land?
I think it's got to be Heathrow - I loved travelling through there with my kids when they were youngsters, so every time I land there it reminds me of my babies, Renee and Liam. And of course New Zealand as well - don't be mad!
What's the next trip you've got planned?
Once we've finished filming Rachel Hunter's Tour of Beauty, I'm going to visit some friends in Italy and France for a bit of R&R. I can't wait!
Rachel Hunter's Tour of Beauty screens Wednesdays, 8pm on TV One.
