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