The Adventure Fix Podcast
Every week on The Adventure Fix Podcast, we bring the latest issue of Adventure Fix to life — in audio form. These episodes are created with the help of AI, using our original, human-written newsletter issues as the starting point for rich, story-driven conversations about the world’s best off-the-beaten-path travel experiences.
The Adventure Fix Podcast
Issue 183: Matafonua Lodge and Dive Resort, Cruising Doubtful and Dusky Sound, Eurasian brown bear watching, and more.
Check out the full issue here:
https://www.adventurefix.co/p/issue-183
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Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help you plan truly unique adventure trips:
- Get inspired with our eBooks Adventure Atlas and Adventure Compendium.
- Plan your next trip with our tool Adventure Finder.
- Book a scheduled adventure trip to some of the most unique travel destinations with Adventure Fix GO.
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In this Issue
We're taking a deep dive into the latest Adventure Fix, breaking down three main adventures and several quick hits to give you a concentrated dose of travel inspiration.
• New Zealand's Fiordland National Park offers extreme remoteness and actual silence with massive cliffs, waterfalls, and glassy water in Doubtful and Dusky Sound
• Kayaking opportunities bring you close to fjordland crested penguins, dolphins, and seals in what feels like a prehistoric paradise
• Tonga's Matafonua Lodge provides a slice of paradise with simple Tongan-style bungalows right on the beach for easy access to snorkeling and kitesurfing
• The lodge's dive center offers reef exploration and seasonal humpback whale encounters
• Estonia's bear hide experience in Alutaguse region allows overnight wildlife watching of the country's 1,000 bears through comfortable viewing windows
• Additional adventure highlights include a nine-day Alaska trek in Gates of the Arctic National Park, snow leopard sightings in Ladakh, and unusual underground sleeping experiences
• Adventure comes in many forms, from massive expeditions to unusual weekend getaways, all offering opportunities for growth and perspective shifts
Welcome everyone to your deep dive into the latest adventure fix. Think of this as your personal briefing on all the cool stuff inside.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're pulling out the highlights, the journeys that really grabbed us.
Speaker 1:Right, we're going to zero in on, I think, three main adventures today, plus sprinkle in some of the you know quick hits later on.
Speaker 2:Sounds good. So the big three are what? New Zealand fjords first.
Speaker 1:Yep, exactly Setting sail, and doubtful and dusky sound. Then we're hopping over to Tonga, the Matafonua Lodge. Bit of paradise there.
Speaker 2:Nice contrast.
Speaker 1:And the third Estonia For something completely different an overnight bear watching trip In a hide.
Speaker 2:Wow, okay, intriguing.
Speaker 1:And then, like you said, the other bits We'll touch on Alaska hiking, maybe some snow leopards in Ladakh.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, saw that in the polar photography tips the whole Maasai Mara question.
Speaker 1:Right, is it worth it? And that weird underground sleeping thing?
Speaker 2:Uh-huh.
Speaker 1:Plus the usual compass challenge and the quote of the week. So, yeah, the goal is basically to you know, boil it all down, give you the key info, why it's interesting, so you can maybe see what starts something for you.
Speaker 2:Let's do it. Where do we start?
Speaker 1:New Zealand, let's dive in Doubtful and dusky sound cruise. The article paints this picture of just extreme remoteness, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:It really does. Fiordland National Park they call it otherworldly and you can see why these massive cliffs, waterfalls everywhere, super glassy water.
Speaker 1:And the silence. They really emphasize the silence.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like actual silence, which is pretty rare these days. Right, imagine just being there, the quiet, it's probably quite something.
Speaker 1:And getting there sounds like an adventure in itself. It's not straightforward.
Speaker 2:No, not at all. You've got a boat trip across Lake Manapuri first.
Speaker 1:Uh-huh, then no, you've got a boat trip across Lake Manipuri first. Uh-huh, then this drive over Wilmot Pass. They call the views unreal. What makes a view?
Speaker 2:unreal there, do you think? Well, I guess it's the scale, maybe the sheer cliffs, the dark water reflecting everything, maybe some mist, and just knowing how far away from everything you are.
Speaker 1:Right that isolation factor.
Speaker 2:Definitely, it sort of resets your perspective, you know.
Speaker 1:So on the cruise itself, it's not just sightseeing from the deck.
Speaker 2:No, seems like you can get more hands-on. They mentioned kayaking.
Speaker 1:Yeah, kayaking. Imagine paddling right up next to those cliffs.
Speaker 2:Exactly, getting a totally different angle, plus the wildlife, dolphin seals, those fjordland penguins.
Speaker 1:Fjordland crested penguins yeah, Add Bjordland crested penguins yeah, Adds another layer to it.
Speaker 2:It's a whole ecosystem, not just pretty scenery.
Speaker 1:Okay, and then there's dusky sound that sounds like even more remote.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's pitched as the next level, like seriously off-grid stuff.
Speaker 1:Accessible only by boat or plane.
Speaker 2:Right, so way fewer people. You're talking untouched beauty.
Speaker 1:What's special about dusky itself?
Speaker 2:according to the article, it's apparently dotted with all these islands, hidden little coves, a real haven for birds and seals.
Speaker 1:And the waterfalls give it a prehistoric paradise feel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's the phrase they used. You can just picture it, can't you Like stepping back in time makes you think about, you know, these wild places that still exist.
Speaker 1:Definitely makes you want to go. Okay, let's pivot completely. Tonga Matafonua Lodge and Dive Resort.
Speaker 2:Total change of pace. Yeah, this sounds like your classic slice of paradise northern Tipafo Island in the Hopi group.
Speaker 1:Turquoise water, white sand, the whole deal.
Speaker 2:Pretty much and a really chilled out vibe, apparently Like experiencing the South Pacific before it got maybe too developed.
Speaker 1:And the accommodation reflects that Simple fails.
Speaker 2:Yeah, tungan-style bungalows Cozy, charming, not fancy Comfy beds, mosquito nets, importantly, a balcony with that ocean breeze.
Speaker 1:So it's about being in nature, not shut off from it.
Speaker 2:Exactly Less luxury resort more integrated.
Speaker 1:And the beach is right there.
Speaker 2:Right on your doorstep Sworkel kite surf straight off the sand, super easy access which is kind of the dream, isn't it?
Speaker 1:totally that seamless indoor outdoor thing and for divers or people wanting a bit more big draw.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they've got their own dive center exploring the reefs obviously, but also the humpback whales during the migration season getting close to them.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's got to be incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely a bucket list kind of experience for a lot of people. So it's got that mix, you know relaxation and serious adventure potential.
Speaker 1:Okay, from Tropical Waters. 2. Estonian forests, the bear hide experience. This sounds fascinatingly different, it really does.
Speaker 2:Estonia, maybe not the first place people think of for bears, but apparently a ludeguse region has like half their population, about a thousand bears, wow yeah, and lynx, and wolves too. This hide lets you watch them. You know properly in their space.
Speaker 1:Without disturbing them, presumably. How's the hide set up?
Speaker 2:Sounds quite well thought out Comfy seats, bunk beds. Even so, you can settle in for the long haul.
Speaker 1:Bunk beds, so you stay overnight.
Speaker 2:Yep overnight and these discreet viewing windows for watching and photos. It's all about being unobtrusive.
Speaker 1:And you get guided in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, a local guide takes you through the forest around sunset builds the anticipation. I imagine, Then you're just waiting listening Exactly just the sounds of the forest leaves, rustling birds, maybe a twig snapping, waiting for you know the moment.
Speaker 1:Attention must be something.
Speaker 2:And then, if you're lucky, seeing a bear just being a bear, roaming free.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the article calls it a reminder of untouched nature's beauty.
Speaker 2:It's a very different way to see wildlife, isn't it? Not a zoo, not even really a safari vehicle? Just observing them on their own terms gives you a real appreciation for wildness, I think.
Speaker 1:For sure. Ok, so those are the big three, but Adventure Fix always squeezes more in. What about this Adventure Fix Go section.
Speaker 2:Right. This one features a specific trip. They're highlighting a nine-day trek in Alaska. Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Speaker 1:The Ula Traverse Sounds serious.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, multi-day 50 miles, proper wilderness hiking in the Ula Valley, summiting peaks, arctic solitude, the works.
Speaker 1:But the organizers handle the tough stuff Food transport gear.
Speaker 2:Seems so. Indigo Alpine Guides makes a massive trip like that feel a bit more accessible. Maybe. Really some logistical headache.
Speaker 1:Yeah, good point, and they mentioned limited spots and a women-only trip.
Speaker 2:Uh-huh, looks like late June, early July dates. One's already sold out. And yeah, that women-only option is interesting, definitely a trend.
Speaker 1:And discount for readers.
Speaker 2:Yep 10% off of the code ADVENTUREFIX. Nice little perk if you're eyeing up that kind of challenge.
Speaker 1:Definitely one for the serious truckers. Okay, on to the quick fix bits. Always a fun mix here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, rapid fire inspiration. So hiking near Sitka, alaska, alaska Cross Mountain, indigo Lake Sounds scenic.
Speaker 1:Coastal mountains probably, Then snow leopards, Two of them.
Speaker 2:Playing in Ladakh's Zanskar region. Amazing. Catching a glimpse of one is rare enough, let alone two frolicking.
Speaker 1:Incredible what else.
Speaker 2:Tips for polar photography Makes sense, given the remote places they feature. Probably talks about light and cold weather gear.
Speaker 1:And the Maasai Mara question.
Speaker 2:Right? Is it still worth the hype, that whole debate about popular spots, crowds, impact.
Speaker 1:Be interesting to see their take. Is the magic still there, or are there better options now?
Speaker 2:Exactly, and the last one Sleeping underground.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 220 feet below ground? Where? How, why? Very curious.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely unique. Shows the range of things people consider adventure, doesn't it? From mountains to caves.
Speaker 1:It really does. Okay, what about the compass challenge?
Speaker 2:Ah yeah, the photo quiz. This issue's pick was from Pico do Arreiro.
Speaker 1:Which isn't it.
Speaker 2:Madeira, Portugal, Stunning spot. Those volcanic peaks, crazy views, loads of hiking trails. Those volcanic peaks, crazy views, loads of hiking trails. Good one for the geography buffs.
Speaker 1:Nice and finally the quote of the week.
Speaker 2:From Frank A Clark. We find comfort among those who agree with us, growth among those who don't.
Speaker 1:Hmm, that's a good one, makes you think.
Speaker 2:It really does. Especially relevant today maybe the whole idea that stepping outside your echo chamber, facing different views, that's where the learning happens. Yeah, it ties into adventure too, right, getting out of your comfort zone, absolutely Pushing boundaries, seeing things differently.
Speaker 1:Wow, We've covered a lot from you know, those epic New Zealand fjords to Tongass beaches, Estonian bears.
Speaker 2:Then Alaska, ladakh under the ground. It's quite the mix.
Speaker 1:Makes you think which one really jumps out. Is it that huge, dramatic landscape like Doubtful Sound, or the quiet escape of Mata Fanua?
Speaker 2:Or maybe that intense, focused wildlife thing in Estonia. Everyone's drawn to different things, aren't they?
Speaker 1:Totally, and it just shows adventure isn't one single thing. It can be a massive expedition or just a slightly unusual weekend away.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm. So many ways to explore.
Speaker 1:And thinking back to that, Frank Clark quote growth among those who don't agree. Maybe putting yourself in one of these slightly unfamiliar, adventurous situations is a way to find that growth.
Speaker 2:Could be Facing a challenge. Seeing a different way of life, even just being somewhere totally new, it definitely shifts your perspective, doesn't?
Speaker 1:it for sure, you might gain insights you just wouldn't get otherwise definitely food for thought well, if any of these stories caught your imagination, definitely check out the original adventure fix issue. All the links and details are in there. It might just be the start of planning your own next big or small adventure go find that growth exactly. Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.