| "Ki Ora! Welcome to New Zealand!" This is often the | | | | in the caves. This is a truly surreal experience.Visit our |
| comment you will get when you step off the plane | | | | national bird, the Kiwi at the Kiwi house in |
| into one of our international airports at Christchurch, | | | | Otorohanga. Get up close and personal with this two |
| Hamilton or Auckland.New Zealand is an amazing place | | | | legged flight less birds. They are gorgeous. |
| to live and a fantastic place to visit. We have lush, | | | | Taupo - my favourite place to be during summer |
| green rolling hills surrounding us in many parts of the | | | | and winter. Taupo has one of the largest lakes in the |
| country but then we also have acres and acres of | | | | world which is the crater left behind by one of the |
| lush, green flats with flowing rivers all leading out to | | | | biggest volcanic explosions to rock this world. The |
| the Pacific Ocean.There is so much to do here and | | | | lake is renound for its amazing trout fishing. Also one |
| no matter what your age, there is something for | | | | of my favourite things to do is para gliding behind a |
| everyone. Having lived in New Zealand all my life and | | | | boat on the lake, you get some amazing views! Take |
| having traveled around most of the North and South | | | | it that step further and do a tandem sky dive over |
| Islands, I can tell you there is no other place in the | | | | the Taupo district. My Dad did this for his 50th |
| world I would rather live.So, what can you do in New | | | | birthday last year; he was on a high for days after |
| Zealand? Well, if you are into hiking and camping, this | | | | that!Drive an hour and half out of Taupo and you will |
| is going to be like heaven for you. We have some | | | | come across some of the best skiing in the world. Mt |
| fantastic mountain ranges. The best places to go for | | | | Ruapehu (which is still an active volcano!) is one of |
| hiking and camping are Taupo, which is in the middle | | | | the busiest mountains during winter; you can ski on |
| of the North Island, Wellington, Christchurch and the | | | | either side of the mountain as there are two ski |
| west coast of the South Island, where there are | | | | fields. |
| some amazing hiking tramps down there.Not into | | | | Cape Kidnappers is another great historical place to |
| hiking or camping? Prefer shopping? I have just the | | | | visit and it is one of the warmest places in New |
| place for you! Auckland, our largest city, has got one | | | | Zealand. Take the tour up to the point at Cape |
| of the best places for shopping ever! There are so | | | | Kidnappers and visit the colony of Gannets (birds) |
| many factory shops and bargains to be had, you will | | | | that gather there. Be warned about the smell though, |
| most certainly find something and being a bargain | | | | it's something you have to experience! |
| shopper myself, I would recommend checking out | | | | Catch the ferry at Wellington across to Picton in the |
| "Dressmart" at Onehunga, it is huge and has some of | | | | South Island and you will find a very different New |
| the best shopping to be had! Another fantastic place | | | | Zealand. The South Island is not so much hustle and |
| to shop is the main street of Wellington; catch a | | | | bustle, it is more a relaxed, take your time |
| cable car to get around. Christchurch has some | | | | atmosphere, a great place to chill out. |
| fantastic shopping malls also.Ok, so you are over | | | | Nelson is one of the fastest growing cities in New |
| shopping? Want to see all the different attractions | | | | Zealand and it is not hard to see why. This is a great |
| New Zealand has to offer? Well, where do I start?! | | | | beach side city and lots of people are retiring here or |
| Here is a list of my favourites spots throughout New | | | | bringing their families to for the lifestyle. |
| Zealand, there are many more but these are the | | | | Head down the west coast of the South Island and |
| ones I love:Swimming at 90 mile beach at the top of | | | | you will come across a town called Kaikoura, where |
| the North Island. This is just past Kaitia which is about | | | | you can take a cruise on a boat to see some of the |
| 6 hours drive from central Auckland. | | | | most amazing dolphins and whales, up close and |
| Fishing off Great Barrier Island. There are some | | | | personal. |
| great charters and this is some of the best deep sea | | | | Queenstown is probably my favourite town in New |
| fishing you can find. | | | | Zealand, it has a great atmosphere all year round, is |
| Enjoying a good coffee on the waterfront at Mission | | | | surrounded by a beautiful lake and one of the best |
| Bay in Auckland. This is a fantastic place to be during | | | | ski fields in New Zealand. Whether visiting during |
| summer.Visiting the Auckland Museum for some | | | | summer or winter, you will love the locals and tourists |
| history about our beautiful country. Learn about the | | | | a like, this is definitely a place to be. |
| Maori culture and how our country has evolved | | | | Invercargill, where one of my brothers lives, is a |
| through the ages. | | | | small town at the very bottom of the South Island. |
| Head on down to the Waitomo district and go to | | | | On a clear day, you can see Stewart Island in the |
| the Waitomo caves where you can go white and | | | | distance. |
| black water rafting and see the amazing glow worms | | | | |