What to know about traveling in New Zealand – Part 2

When coming to New Zealand there are four or five major things you should see to experience the culture and diversity that is New Zealand.

New Zealand has a population of just in excess of 4million people.

Auckland – is ethnically diverse, containing 181 different ethnic groups, in marked contrast to other parts of the Auckland region and the country as a whole.

Unlike the rest of New Zealand, where the proportion of the population over the age of 65 years is growing, Auckland city continues to buck the trend with declining proportions in this age group. Instead the city maintains higher proportions of people in the working age groups.

Auckland’s population is roughly 1.3 million people. If you want to see sites, take an Auckland tour around the city, go up sky tower and make sure you take a Fuller’s ferry out onto the Hauraki Gulf to one of the beautiful islands such as Waiheke!

The clubs and bar scene is in the city, down at the Viaduct Harbour and up Queen St to K Rd at the top.

Rotorua – A true tourist destiantion. The culture is historical of New Zealand. A strong Maori influence on the activies and sites to see. Rotorua is thermally active underneath the city so there are many natural spas, hot mud pools and large ghysers that one can see and experience. A must see is the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and the Tamaki Moari Village. Experience everything you can here!

If you are a backpacker – Kiwipaka Youth Hostel is a good way to go. Beautifully clean, well looked after and the beds are ok :>

Wellington – Similar to Auckland in the sense it is a large city based on business. It is New Zealand’s capital city and hosts a wide range of activites and sights to see. I recommend seeing the waterfront where the bars are, going to Te Papa and trying to catch a game at the Cake Tin as its called.

Christchurch – Beautiful city near the top of the South Island. Very historic again with a strong Anglican and Catholic origin. It is a bit colder down here in winter but a beautiful place. Well worth going to.

Finally the last destination – Queenstown – I haven’t been here but everyone that goes says it is amazing. Aim to go in the winter, the skiing and snowboarding is good. The city is vibrant, alive and full of fun things to do. It has a very youthful feel apparently seeing many University students find work there between semesters.

I hope this helps. Hire a car and drive New Zealand. Take it in your own time. Make sure you see the South Island for its scenery. Breath taking to say the least.

Must see sites in New Zealand

New Zealand has to be one of the most diverse countries on the planet, where else can you explore a live volcano, hike on a glacier, swim with dolphins in the sea and see snow capped mountains all during one short vacation? Whilst it would be great to see everything this amazing country has on offer, this is unlikely to be possible unless you have months on end to go exploring.

Every individual will have different expectations from their vacation and desire varying experiences. However, I believe that most visitors to New Zealand are looking to experience the following for themselves; some of nature’s wonders- volcanoes, glaciers and geothermal wonders. See the beauty of a country with huge areas of untouched wilderness. Experience the culture of this fairly young country. Take in an adventure or two!

With these experiences in mind, the following are what I consider to be the must see sights of New Zealand. Listed moving from North to South across both the islands.

The Bay of Islands. If you have ever dreamed of seeing dolphins up close or swimming with them in their natural habitat, you just cannot miss a trip here. Every day scores of vessels ranging from fast thrill jet boats to day tripping catamarans take to the waters, offering visitors a chance to experience the crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches and marine life of this area.

Auckland. Affectionately known as the city of sails, this city, although not the capital, is the largest in the country. With the harbour to explore, take a walk on the quay, or tour the harbour and surrounding waters on one of the America’s cup yachts; this is a trip you will never forget. The city its self offers great shopping and a trip up the sky tower offers 360 degree views of the city. With museums, an aquarium and so much more, this is somewhere to take in on your visit to New Zealand.

The Coromandel Peninsula. Now I would be biased toward this having lived there many moons ago. However, this beautiful peninsula only an hour south of Auckland offers beautiful beaches, rainforest and a fantastic scenic drive along the coast. Take a drive across the peninsula on one of the unsealed logging roads and you will be rewarded by a drive though untouched rainforest and virtually no other tourists to share this experience with!

White Island. The most active volcano in New Zealand can be visited in a day; prepare to don gas masks and hide behind a boulder if she decides to blow! A tour of this volcano is an