Guest Post: Top 10 reasons to visit New Zealand in 2012

1. Beautiful Landscapes:

We have seen the sheer beauty and vastness of the kiwi landscapes in films like “The Lord of the Rings”. The greenery and beauty of the tall mountains, coastlines, lakes and volcanoes are quite an amazing sight. Tourists who have visited New Zealand have often relished their memories for several years and highly recommend a tour to this amazingly picturous country.

2. The Kiwi People and Society:

Kiwi people are very welcoming but quiet individuals. New Zealand population is considered as the most intelligent population in the world and are equally independent and self dependent.  Kiwi people believe in using all the latest technological devices and love moving along with the trend of the 21st century. The Maori people influence the culture and society trends in New Zealand and represent rich history which stretches back over 1000 years. New Zealand has a low population which means it’s less crowded than neighbouring country like Australia.

3. The Weather: 

Weather of a particular country plays a vital role in deciding whether to visit that country. The warmest months in the country are during December, January and February. On the other hand the winter season hits the country during the moths of June, July and August. During summer the day temperatures can reach as high as 30ºC. Major tourist attractions in New Zealand are definitely worth a visit during summer days.

4. The Sea Life:

Some amazing marine life resides in the South Pacific Ocean within New Zealand. The marine life alone is a major reason for tourists to visit the landscapes of New Zealand. Tourists get the rare opportunity to watch the giant blue whales and other sea mammals like dolphins, seals and Humpback whales. However it’s advisable for the tourists to carry warm clothes whilst visiting the ocean since the weather can get really cold.

5. Language:

Maori is regarded as the official language in New Zealand along with the English Language. Several tourists are fascinated by the Maori language since majority of the New Zealand landscape names originated from this language. Several historical books and monuments are in the Maori language increasing the need of a Translation Agency whilst in New Zealand. English is still the most widely spoken language in the country along with other languages being spoken like German, Hindi, Chinese, Italian and many more.

6. Rugby and other sporting events

Rugby is the national sport of the country and people from all across the world visit New Zealand to watch this physical sport. Rugby World Cup 2011 was hosted in New Zealand and the National team ensured the cup stayed in the country. Along with Rugby the New Zealand cricket team also attracts several tourist to visit the country.

7. The Night Life:

The Night Life in major cities like Wellington and Auckland is buzzing with nice music and drinks. Wine served in New Zealand is considered to be one of the best in the world. Hundreds of vineyards within New Zealand ensure that the best wine is served to the people whilst they enjoy their Night outs.

8. Transport System:

Using reliable Translation Services the local NZ Transport agency has ensured user friendly signs are installed making the entire experience worth the visit. Tourists can travel from one location to the other with cheap travel fares and options to travel using train, bus or fairy. The ease of getting around the country is also one of the main reasons why the place attracts repeat tourists visits

9. Bungy Jumping:

The Kiwi people invented this adrenalin pumping sport called as “Bungy Jumping”. Tourists visiting this beautiful country should not miss this opportunity to Bungy Jump from one of the tall mountain sights of New Zealand.

10. New Zealand Cuisine:

Maori food is quite popular within the country and the history of the Maori people is reflected in their cuisine. Being an island New Zealand enjoys a large variety of sea life resulting in popular sea food dishes.

Guest Post: Plan the New Zealand trip of a lifetime – even after 75

With its reputation for awe-inspiring views and lush greenery, it is little surprise that many people have long dreamt of visiting New Zealand. However, lots of people decide to wait until after they have retired to finally make the trip. New Zealand is a long haul destination, and to really enjoy the country and get the most for their money it is a good idea to enjoy a lengthy stay – more than some people’s annual leave or other commitments will allow them. What’s more, by the time they have retired, plenty of people have saved up a nest egg that will allow them to fulfil their dreams.

If you have waited for years to take the once-in-a-lifetime trip and are finally at the point of booking the flights and arranging activities to do once you’re out there, the odds are that you will be quite excited about your impending trip and travel insurance is unlikely to be the foremost thing on your mind. That said, it is essential that you secure a good travel insurance policy – especially on such a long-haul, costly trip.

While it is vital that you get travel insurance on any trip, even UK staycations, if you fail to secure good cover on a trip to New Zealand the consequences could be costly, leaving you significantly out of pocket. This is because travel insurance provides a safety net, paying out if anything should go wrong.

With Staysure travel insurance for over 75s, customers receive cancellation cover of up to £5,000 per person, meaning they are protected before they even step foot out of the door. If you have to cancel a long haul trip, it is likely to cost a lot more than a mere European jaunt would due to flight costs.

One of the biggest benefits of a travel insurance policy is the great medical perks. When you’re in a foreign country, falling ill can be an absolute nightmare due to sky high medical bills and, on some occasions, the cost of repatriation. If you’re holidaying in Europe, the European Health Insurance Card provides something of a safety net by entitling you to the same state-provided healthcare as a national of that country. It is no replacement for travel insurance, but still handy, although this does not apply outside the continent.

Staysure covers more than 220 pre-existing medical conditions free of charge, meaning you do not have to be held back by any long-standing health issues that have made you weary of travelling abroad in the past. In total, customers are entitled to up to £10 million medical and repatriation cover. While no-one wants to think of anything going wrong on holiday, this ensures that should you fall ill, you won’t have to worry about money on top of everything else. It also offers medical screening for more serious conditions.

What’s more, this insurance policy will cover you for up to 31 days away, giving you plenty of time to explore New Zealand to your heart’s content. What’s more, there are plenty of different levels of cover that can be tailored to suit your exact requirements, ensuring you’re not paying a penny more or less than you need to be. For people who are travellers at heart, there is also an annual multi trip policy available, which allows you to jet off for up to 183 days each year, and there are no age-based restrictions on medical cover.

 

360 Panorama: Tarn Col, Arthur’s Pass National Park, New Zealand

This image is amazing! Click the link below the image to view it in full screen mode on their website.

Tarn Col, Arthur’s Pass National Park, New Zealand in New Zealand

The Hobbit: A New Poster for San Diego Comic Con

A new poster for The Hobbit has been released in the run-up to San Diego Comic Con where much Hobbit goodness is expected from Peter Jackson and company.

the-hobbit-sdcc-poster

Wanderlust : Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand [Episode 1/2]

Daven and Michelle arrive in Auckland, New Zealand and dive right in! With lots of things on their to-do list, Daven goes for an exploratory adventure ride on a Bularangi Motorbike while Michelle meets up with the friendly staff at Living Nature to learn more about their all-natural skin care and beauty products in this episode of Wanderlust where Daven and Michelle find beauty and inspiration in the city of Auckland, New Zealand.

Watch Michelle’s Air New Zealand Futuristic Makeup Tutorial: http://youtu.be/5FUypvyU52s

Video: Trailer for New Zealand Wanderlust Episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0zv05yVh_A

Stay tuned this summer on FAWN for Wanderlust: New Zealand, featuring Michelle and Daven’s trip to various cities throughout New Zealand to find beauty and inspiration.

Video: Random Shots of Everyday Life in Wellington

Wellington & The FS700 from Ro Tierney on Vimeo.

New Zealand artist Ro Tierney got a new camera and went for a stroll around Wellington, this video is the result. Beautiful! Makes me really want to come to Wellington! Looks so peaceful and lovely.

 

Article: The grass really is greener in New Zealand

The Chicago Sun-Times has an article about a trip to New Zealand.

Here’s an excerpt:

I have this dream vacation scenario I hope plays out one day: I’m driving along some winding country road and a flock of sheep shamble up a hill and cover the road, blocking me in. A kindly farmer dude then shepherds them across, we share a wave and I head off to a small, cozy pub where they serve beer with names like FuzzyWicket.

And that, in a nutshell, is why I went to New Zealand. That scene didn’t exactly happen — the sheep outnumber the people roughly 40 million to 4 million — but apparently they’re pretty well-behaved and prefer to stay behind the fences of their vast green pastures rather than molest the well-paved roads.

Read the rest here.

Quote: Orlando Bloom on New Zealand

I got to dress up in funny clothes and run around New Zealand with a bow and arrow for 18 months, how bad could that be?

Orlando Bloom (Referring to his work on the Lord of the Rings)

Video: Auckland – 100% Pure

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