Alice Duncan
In the southern hemisphere of the world, there is a small country surrounded by ocean, my home country New Zealand, commonly known as Aotearoa! The naturally extreme landscape is beauty in itself, ranging from snowy mountain ranges in the winter, to beautiful beach days in the summer. Come along with me on this journey to travel around the amazingly exquisite country of New Zealand and be immersed into the Maori culture it obtains within the land.
As we begin our journey at the tip of the North Island, we arrive at the beautiful location of Cape Reinga! Cape Reinga is the most North point of New Zealand, which is located at the end of the Aupouri peninsular and is a very popular tourist destination for all tourists. Complete with stunning views and scenery, it is excellent for photo opportunities as you can observe the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean colliding head-on with each other to create a spectacular swirl of the mixing currents. Historically, Cape Reinga is considered to be one of the most sacred places for Maori culture in all of New Zealand. At the most north tip, is a Pohutukawa tree which is said to be over 800 years old. From this tree, it is a popular belief that the spirits of the deceased Maori descend into the ocean from this tree to be returned to their native homeland of Hawaiki. It is definitely worth the drive up North to experience this amazing landscape which is Cape Reinga.
New Zealand is also home to ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ as the movie set for ‘The Shire’ is located in the small town of Matamata. Built into the rolling hills of Matamata, are many hobbit holes which were using in the filming of the movies and are a highlight for many viewers because of their iconic status and intricate detail. You can observe these famous movie sets and props during the tours that are available to book, as well as enjoying a nice complementary beverage in the world-famous Green Dragon Inn. As you wander around the breathtaking landscape of the Matamata farm-side, your guide will be supplying you with endless knowledge about how the movie magic was created and many fun facts that even the biggest fans wouldn’t know! As a New Zealander, I can say that this is my personal favourite trip I have been to while living in New Zealand and I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to visit our amazing country!
Moving into the southwestern corner South Island, you can observe the beautiful landscapes which engulf Fiordland National Park. Included in this area is the famous Milford Sounds, Doubtful Sounds and Mirror Lakes which never fail to amaze travelers because of their dramatic and beautiful scenery which surrounds it. In total there are 14 fiords in this area which is what makes it so astounding. The remarkable environment features stunning fiords, and ancient rainforests which cling to the sides of mountains, complete with waterfalls which flow hundreds of meters down into the shimmering lakes below. Maori claimed the creation of these landforms to be part of the stonemason called Tutu Rakiwhanoa who is believed to have carved out the steep sided valleys with adzes.
Aotearoa’s extreme landscape, filled with captivating scenery, is an amazing tourist destination with exciting adventures that that will give you the thrill of a lifetime. Ranging from bungee jumping to skydiving of the Sky Tower in Auckland! New Zealand often makes even its native population feel like tourists because the land has so much to offer and there is so much to experience. So please! If you get the chance to explore this extraordinary country, be sure to get out some of the tourist hotspots available to you! Ka Kite ano!
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