Top 5 Tourist Attractions Every Tourist Should Visit In New Zealand

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New Zealand is the best place for travelers to explore. The entire country is full of beautiful spots that make you feel like you are in an enchanted forest. If you decide to visit all of them one after the other, you most likely aren’t going to complete your tour in one trip. This article would make your choice easy by listing the top five places every tourist should see while on a vacation in New Zealand.

1) Bay of Islands: You may have already heard of the Bay of Islands. I am here to tell you that all the rumors are true. The beauty of this region cannot be overemphasized. The Bay of Islands is located about three hours’ drive away from Auckland. It consists of 144 Islands between Purerua Peninsula and Cape Brett. At the Bay of Islands, you would enjoy some interesting activities. You can decide to go scuba diving. If you are a marine life fan, you could also watch the Wales and Dolphins and in some cases swim with them. The most attractive feature of the Bay would be the hole of rocks.

2) Milford Sound: Milford Sound was carved by glaciers back in the ice ages. The cliff rises virtually from the dark waters, the peak of the mountain scrapes the sky and the waterfalls. The Milford sound is captivating to behold. It is no wonder the famous writer; Rudyard Kipling tagged it the eighth wonder of the world. Sightseeing at Milford Sound via boat is the best way to capture its beauty. Apart from the surface view, you can still visit the underwater observatory.

3) Auckland: This is the biggest city in New Zealand, is another magnificent place to visit. Auckland is home to the New Zealand international airport and as such makes for a good place to begin your exploration. In Auckland, you can book for a city tour or opt for a sailing experience on the Waitemata Harbor.

4) Christchurch: Christchurch is another exceptional place for tourism in New Zealand. The beautiful city suffered a total of four earthquakes between 2010 and 2011. Despite these setbacks, Christchurch has made a remarkable comeback. You should try touring through the botanical gardens and view the walking tracks, and horticultural displays. It is worthy of note that the botanical gardens of Christchurch have some of the largest trees in New Zealand.

5) White Island: You haven’t visited New Zealand until you have visited White Island, an active volcano in New Zealand. You can take a tour through White Island with a helicopter. Tourists are encouraged to wear a gas mask while passing through White Island because the volcano is very active. The original name of White Island is” To Puia I Whakaari” meaning “The Dramatic Volcano .” The white name Island was given to the volcano by Captain Cook in the year 1769. Captain Cook said that he gave the name to the volcano because each time he sailed adjacent to her, he noticed a cloud of steam above the active volcano.

Although you can still find up to five more tourist attractions in New Zealand, these are the five most beautiful and should be considered on your first visit to New Zealand.

Secret beaches of New Zealand

Posted on by admin Posted in North Island, Travel

MikkiBee is an avid traveller and loves to share her NZ experience:

New Zealand is all about getting off the beaten track. It is full of uninhabited, rugged wilderness that is begging to be explored. My favourite thing to do here is to find secret beaches or water holes. Ones that you can’t access by car and that require some effort to enjoy. Not only are you rewarded after you hike with spectacular scenery, it also means you’ve got the chance to have a beautiful stretch of golden sand all to yourself for the day.

Coromandel Peninsula has hundreds of secret beaches but I’ll let you in on one of my favourite ones. Head towards Waihi and you’ll find a little beach town called Whiritoa. It is one of those places with one sleepy shop and a surf club and that’s about it. Turn right at the surf club and go all the way to the end of the one main road, you’ll find a cul de sac with access to the main beach. It’s best to try this one at low tide because hiding inside the cliffs and bush to the far right of the beach is a secret blow hole. Not for the faint hearted, there is a tiny track making its way along the top of the cliff. As you climb stop off to take some photos because the view is amazing. Follow the path along until you hear the boom and crash of the waves. Take care because the path can be super slippery. If you walk far enough along, you will find yourself standing on the lip of a rocky basin. One side has a hidden hole that lets the ocean smash through, creating the blow hole effect. You can also swim on the other side in the waterhole it creates. For the even more intrepid, follow the track along further and you will find yourself right at the top of the cliff edge heading into a pine forest. Sure it’s a little dangerous but life is about taking risks and trying the road less travelled, right.

My second favourite secret beach isn’t really a beach. It is a natural hot water spring that is the perfect place to hang out and relax during the colder winter months. If you are anywhere around Taupo, you need to check this out. Otumuheke Stream is just out of Taupos main town. Head along Spa road towards Spa park and look for the signs to Otumuheke stream. Follow the walking track from the car park towards the Waikato river and you will find the best free hidden thermal pool in Taupo. There is a waterfall you can bathe under or take some snacks and supplies and spend the afternoon soaking in your very own natural hot tub. If you go on a weekday, you might be lucky enough to have it all to yourself.

These are just two of New Zealand’s great secret beaches, to discover more you might need to come visit and do some exploring.

Children Of The Dog Star TV Show

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Well, I’ve been looking for this show for quite some time. I live in a country, which used to be behind the iron curtain. During the 80s we used to have very few western shows. “Children Of The Dog Star” was one of them, alhough we knew it as “The Children Of Sirius”. I’ve totally forgotten the details about it, and once I finally managed to find it, it was a pleasant surprise that the show actually came from New Zealand.

The 80s TV may look a little bit dated, but the show is the same fun. Who knows, with all these remakes lately, we may see a new version soon. In the meantime, you can enjoy the original here:

Emergency Defecation Situation

Posted on by admin Posted in News, Videos

Hilary Barry can’t stop laughing,…again:

A “What We Do In The Shadows” spin-off is in the works

Posted on by admin Posted in Film, News, Wellington

Have you seen the hilarious mockumentary “What We Do In The Shadows” from 2014? Well, a sequel is in the works. The original film centers around a dysfunctional group of vampires in Wellington and follows their funny antics. Currently, the film has a 96 score at RottenTomatoes and 7.4 rating at IMDB.com. If you haven’t seen it, then start searching online.

Well, the sequel will tell the story of the opposing group of Werewolves, and is called “We’re Wolves”.

The first film gave the chance of the director and main star Taika Waititi to get noticed. Currently, he is working on the next Marvel Thor movie – “Thor: Ragnarok” as a writer and director. The Australian hunk Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role as the Nordic demi-god Thor. 

Once the work on the Marvel epic comic adaptation commences, the director Taika Waititi will move on to the “What We Do In The Shadows” sequel. Frankly, between “Thor: Ragnarok” and “We’re Wolves”, the latter is the one that I’m looking forward.

You can watch the trailer of the original move here:

An emotional wedding haka moves the bride to tears

Posted on by admin Posted in Culture, Maori, Videos

Now, that’s what I call a cool wedding. The family of the groom performed an intense haka to celebrate the wedding of Aaliyah and Benjamin Armstrong. You can see the video here:

It is so sweet how both the groom and the bride could not hold it and joined the performance at the end. This type of haka is taught in school, which allowed many of the guests to step in. Although the groom appears pretty Caucasian, he has Maori both on his mother’s, and his father’s side. The bride is of Maori, Samoan, and European heritage. The couple met an year ago, on a Mormon church convention. Good luck to them. Hopefully, the media frenzy surrounding the wedding video won’t interfere with their life too much.

Beyond the Lord Of The Rings

Posted on by admin Posted in Culture, Film

Although the Lord Of the Rings and The Hobbit are the most popular New Zealand films, the country does produce many other original films and TV shows. The New Zealand Film Commission chooses the projects and provides funding. The majority of the funding comes via the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. It distributes the profits from the state-run lotteries to projects, which are significant for the community. Film production is one of the many directions where money is distributed.

The NZ Film Commission issues annual reports, which are a great read. They are available here. If you are a fan of the New Zealand cinema, you will find interesting details about the films you’ve seen and like. I’m sure it will also allow you to add more titles to your future watch list.

The site provides a link to a NZ Video-On-Demand (VOD) service, where many films can be viewed online too. Unfortunately, the service is available only to residents of New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Leavehome: A Beautiful New Hypnotic Timelapse Video of New Zealand

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Video: Air New Zealand Releases The ‘Most Epic’ Airline Safety Video Ever

Posted on by admin Posted in Air New Zealand, The Hobbit, Videos

As the official airline of Middle-earth, Air New Zealand has gone all out to celebrate the third and final film in The Hobbit Trilogy – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Starring Elijah Wood and Sir Peter Jackson; we’re thrilled to unveil The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made. Special cameos by Sylvester McCoy, Dean O’Gorman and Weta Workshop co-founder Sir Richard Taylor. Directed by Taika Waititi. Enjoy!

Exploring New Zealand Via Campervan

Posted on by admin Posted in News, Travel

One of the undeniable facts about New Zealand is its spectacular natural beauty. From towering snow-capped mountains surrounded by electric-blue glacial lakes to eerie, misty forests clinging precariously to the sides of majestic mountains and dazzling beaches; it is simply breathtaking!

The best way to explore all the nooks and crannies of this insanely beautiful country is by a campervan from a company like Spaceships Rentals (they also serve Australia). A campervan gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and it serves as your very own home away from home that you can park within nature in New Zealand’s most breathtaking locations, at the edge of shimmering lakes, at the foot of mountains or along a splendid beach. There is a huge number captivating places to explore in a campervan, here are just a few of the best:

QUEENSTOWN

It is the adrenaline capital of New Zealand and serves up a whole load of entertainment. Aside from its vibrancy it is a place worth stopping over with your campervan, enjoy its panoramic views and engage in exciting activities such as whitewater rafting, scenic walks, jet boating and enjoy a cup of coffee at the waterfront.

LAKE TEKAPO

Among its many jewels, Lake Tekapo is among New Zealand’s sparkling jewel on its glorious crown. You could not paint a better picture of this impossibly beautiful lake in the Southern Island than what nature has already done. The snowcapped mountains meet the incredibly blue waters of the lake ringed by colorful plants and woodlands creating some of New Zealand’s most famous vistas.

WAIHI

Waihi is a tiny coastal town located on the Bay of Plenty and is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and famous parking spots. In a country where beauty is at every turn, parking your campervan here gives you a clear picture as to why it is so popular. Further along the road is Mount Maunganui, your painting of New Zealand becomes brighter with white sand, crystal clear waters and abundance of wildlife roaming freely.

FRANZ JOSEF

Franz Josef is a gorgeous little town in the south island whose beauty and places to explore is only second to Queenstown. It is a place to park your campervan, jump into a helicopter and have a thrilling glacier hiking experience.  You can also explore the rainforest and Lake Matherson; just keep your camera ready to capture the scenic beauty.

MOUNT COOK

Most campervan travels cannot help but stop over and enjoy the captivating beauty of this magnificent snowcapped mountain and its turquoise blue glacier lakes. At night, you can enjoy viewing star constellations from New Zealand’s largest peak or take a boat ride in the glacier lakes and admire the beauty from a different angle.

WANAKA

After driving through the mountains, you come across Wanaka and its gorgeous lake and its tranquil atmosphere is ideal for relaxing. During winter, this region turns into a hub for skiing. However, do not write Wanaka off as just a chilling spot, you can enjoy walking, biking or fishing in the lake.

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