While it is located at the bottom of the world, New Zealand is one of the world's top travel destinations. Known as the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand is filled with great travel experiences including extreme sports, rich Maori culture and divine food and wine. Planning a trip to this beautiful country? Here are the top picks of places to go and things to do when you travel to New Zealand.
New Zealand's travel hub is Auckland, so you will more than likely begin your trip here. While in Auckland book cruise of the Auckland Hauraki Gulf to see whales and dolphins frollicking in the wild in one of the world's most biologically diverse marine areas. Feeling brave? Strap on a harness and scale the Auckland Harbor Bridge on a climbing tour. This is a truly unique way to see the city and acts as a warm up to some of the other exciting activities that New Zealand has in store for you.
From Auckland head directly to Queenstown. Queenstown is New Zealand's capital of action. For adrenaline junkies this is your paradise: you can choose between jet boating, bungee jumping, skiing, snowboarding and other rush inducing activities.
After speeding about Queenstown, it is time to take it down a notch or two with a tour of the Queenstown wine trail. Many of the country's wines are produced in the vineyards outside of Queenstown and there are tours that will take you to sample the best drops.
From Queenstown you can travel through the beautiful scenery of Otago to New Zealand's highest mountain, Mt. Cook. Taking a helicopter ride over the mountains is a once in a lifetime experience and a chance to appreciate the magnificent beauty of New Zealand.
Despite being claimed by Britain as a colony, the indigenous people of New Zealand have retained their vibrant, rich and soulful culture. Even today Maori culture and traditions inflect many aspects of life in New Zealand. There are many places throughout the country that offer the chance to get to know Maori culture when you travel to New Zealand. No trip to Aotearoa, as the Maori call it, should slide by without experiencing their interesting heritage.
Ko Tane is a living Maori village located inside the Willowbank Nature Reserver outside of Christchurch. This is the perfect place to see how Maori lived before the Europeans arrived. Here you can see many Maori ceremonies, dance and traditions come to life before your eyes.
On the northern island, Rotorua is the place to go to see some fierce geothermic activity in action. At the Wai Ora natural hot springs in Rotorua you can soak in the mineral mud baths and enjoy the healing powers of the spa that have been used by Maori people for around one thousand years.
New Zealand has so much to offer a visitor: fun, action, great food and wine, natural beauty and rich culture all rolled into an accessible and cost effective location. Travel to New Zealand and you will arrive home with lifelong memories.
Author Resource:
Learn more about New Zealand holidays . Stop by Dorcas Chras's site where you can find out how you can travel to New Zealand and have a great vacation.
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