Land of the Long White Cloud
From snow to sea, and mountains to lakes, New Zealand undeniably has some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery in the world. Overseas people often ask questions in awe, about the isolated little country at the bottom of the world, which is NOT connected to Australia, and which I am lucky enough to call home.
- Capital: Wellington (fondly known as the world’s cutest little capital, and it is the world’s southernmost capital)
- Population: 4.5 million
- Currency: New Zealand Dollar ($)
- Language: English. Other official languages include te reo Maori and sign language
- Highlights:
- Northland: some of our country’s most beautiful and untouched beaches (don’t be surprised if you encounter dolphins)
- Rotorua: Maori cultural shows, mud pools, geysers
- Wellington: coffee and culture
- Queenstown/Wanaka: snow, adrenaline, scenery and nightlife. Don’t miss checking out Fergberger – once you visit (and survive the queues) you won’t want to eat anywhere else
- Te Anau: gateway to some of New Zealand’s greatest hikes
- Napier: HOME, wineries and of course, art deco
- West Coast: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers; get in before it’s too late
- Stewart Island: nature, walking and Bluff oysters
- Did you know?
- Its people are colloquially known as “Kiwis”
- It is famous for its champion rugby team, and their cultural dance “the haka”
- There are 9 sheep for every person
- Dunedin is home to the world’s steepest street
- Lord of the Rings was filmed here
- It was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote in 1893
- Useful tips:
- Security and customs is one of the strictest in the world
- Drive on the left hand side of the road
- Tipping is not common practice
- Eating out can be expensive, but you can cut costs on transport (except for flying – a lack of domestic competition means internal flights can be costly). Embrace the concept of BYOs – double-check the restaurant offers it first, but lots of restaurants let you Bring Your Own bottle of wine to dinner
Links to related New Zealand posts that I have published: