New Zealand Travel Guide

The wide variety of tourist attractions within New Zealand allows visitors to delve into the country’s past and present culture.  There is a plenitude of breathtaking natural spots; you can observe expanses of exquisite scenery such as lush greenery, white sands and glistening seas. New Zealand also has some great urban areas where you can enjoy the food, drink and nightlife on offer. You may also want to visit some of the cultural spots where you are able to sightsee and learn about the country’s history.

Natural Environment

The scenery within New Zealand is exotic and plentiful; you can find many different animals and birds as well as numerous types of plants and flowers. The unique flora and fauna exists in such terrain as mountain ranges, beaches, rainforests, volcanoes and even glaciers. Despite great clearances of trees over the years, there are still many forests in the country. These temperate evergreen areas contain such plants as giant tree ferns, great kauri and epiphytes.

When exploring around New Zealand you will also find some interesting species of animals. The country is well known for its Kiwi as well as its Weka. There is also the world’s largest parrot, the Kakapo, which is sadly endangered. You should also try and spot a Kea, this bird is well known in New Zealand for its fearless attitude towards humans.

Things To Do

There are many markets, towns and shopping malls to enjoy throughout New Zealand. You can buy such traditional souvenirs as Maori carvings in wood, bone and greenstone. You can also purchase the Maori jewellery and ornaments which are made from shell. The country also has a large pottery industry where the world’s finest ceramicists and artisans create work out of wood, stone, glass and metals.

The New Zealand cuisine is also definitely worth trying; the Pacific Rim is a combination of many different foods and ingredients from around the world. This can be found in restaurants and cafes throughout the country so you can try these dishes wherever you travel.  The foods which are distinctive to Zealand are lamb, pork, venison; you can also try such seafood as salmon, crayfish, mussels and scallops. The national desert is Pavlova which mixes meringue and fresh whipped cream which fresh fruit and berries.

There are also a number of activities to enjoy in the night-time. In the larger cities you can visit DJs and live bands as well as enjoy the casinos dotted around the country. You may also want to visit some cabarets, pubs and concerts. There are cultural performances to observe which include orchestral concerts, ballet and the theatre.

Climate

The weather within New Zealand is usually mild with high rainfall and many hours of sunshine. The far north of the country has subtropical weather during the summer months and the inland alpine areas can be extremely cold during the winter. However as most of the country lies on the coast, you are more likely to experience mild to warm temperatures whilst away.