South Pacific: New Zealand

This South Pacific country, a neighbour of Australia, which most of us know as New Zealand, but which the local Māori people call ‘Aotearoa’.  Most of us think of this country as two islands, the north and south, however, interestingly, New Zealand (or NZ as many of us call it) has 600 islands! 

Whilst New Zealand is known for its beautiful countryside, amazing natural features, unique flora and fauna, there are also a number of other very interesting aspects to this country:

• Many of the 600 odd other islands are quite small and are uninhabited. 
• The Māori name Aotearoa means ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. 
• The main islands are very mountainous terrains, with numerous lakes and rivers. 
• The country sits on what is known as the ‘Ring of Fire’ – an area with a high concentration of volcanic activity. 
• Currently, there are a number of what are considered ‘active’ volcanoes.
• There are two official languages in New Zealand, being Māori and English, but also New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is considered a language and has been since 2006, by statute.  Whilst similar to Australian Sign Language (Auslan), there are absolutely differences. 
• This country has a very diverse and unique wildlife, with quite a few endemic species.  The most notable are the kiwi bird, tuatara, and a number of native fish and insects. 
• One native bird to NZ, although now sadly extinct, is the Moa bird.  They became extinct about 600 years ago (from hunting and changes in their environment) and looked a little like an emu.  They were about 3.6 metres tall, weighed about 230 kgs, so not surprisingly, were flightless. 
• Another rarity is that the Hector Dolphin calls NZ home; it’s one of the rarest subspecies of dolphins with unusual black markings on its face.  It is the smallest and rarest species and naturally is protected.  Its biggest killer now is trawlers and fishing nets that it becomes entangled in. 
• The kiwi bird is this country’s national icon, and hence why New Zealanders are often called ‘kiwis’. 
• Most Kiwis are very proud of their country, culture and heritage; being mistaken as an ‘Aussie’ doesn’t always sit well for them.    
• This country has a diverse population; mostly made up of Māori, European, Asian, and Pacific Islanders. 
• Most New Zealanders are either Christian or non-religious, although a few other religions are practiced, such as Māori religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Sikhism (which is an Indian religion).   
• NZ is very sparsely populated.  There are actually more sheep here than people; the ratio is about six sheep to every human, the highest ratio in the world.  This has somewhat caused Kiwis to be the brunt of many a sheep joke. 
• Beaches abound; in fact, no part of the country is more than 128kms from a beach.  A trip to the beach is often quite easy.  With (particularly in the south island) having so many snow fields, you could technically ski and surf on the same day; but golly, you’d want an excellent wetsuit to get into the water! 
• Whilst somewhat isolated and ‘rugged’, this country is modern when it comes to women’s rights.  It was the first country worldwide to give all women the right to vote, which occurred in 1893!  Australia followed almost a decade later in 1902. 
• Many big blockbuster movies have been filmed in spectacular New Zealand – including the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, Avatar (2009), King Kong, Mission Impossible (2018), The Last Samurai, The Piano and Whale Rider, to name just a few.  The incredible backset, alongside the easy-going people, makes this a location to be sought after. 
• Somewhat related, this country is the only one with permission to put a hobbit on its legal tender.  They are on commemorative coins, which are technically legal tender, but also very much sought after by collectors. 
• NZ is the only place where you can visit Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves.
• The steepest street in the world is located on the South Island of New Zealand and is called Baldwin Street which has a slope of 19 degrees.  This ‘record’ is substantiated by the Guinness Book of Records.
• 20% of NZ consists of national parks, forests and wilderness reserves, which are almost all free to enter. 
• Pupu Springs, located on the southern island, is the largest cold water spring in the Southern Hemisphere and is renowned for its crystal clearness. 

So as you can see there are heaps of very interesting things about New Zealand as a country.  As for tourism, there is even more. 

This country has the most spectacular and amazing natural beauty, that surpasses so many other locations around the world.  There are striking inlets which are lined by soaring and majestic cliffs, spectacular snow-capped peaks, breathtaking famous fjords, incredible coastlines, wonderful national parks and varied lush and green vegetation, that appeals to more than just sheep.  Many tourists enjoy the geothermal attractions like Te Puia and relax in hot pools or have mud baths.  Couple that with a relaxing Māori massage – you cannot go wrong! 

Some of the world’s best hiking trails are found in NZ, or cycling trails if you’re fit enough.  Many hikers will spot some interesting and rare animals and birds, such as the Kiwi bird.  Be sure to check out the Blue Penguin, or Little Penguin, which is prevalent on both islands.  This species of penguin is the smallest in the world and is found only in NZ and southern areas of Australia.  If you’re looking to watch something just a tad bigger, then at the right time of year, whale watching via an eco boat cruise is exceedingly popular in New Zealand in quite a few locations, on both islands.  Other sports and recreational activities which are popular here include kayaking, surfing and whitewater rafting which is done both in smaller vessels as well as larger motorised ones.  There is also skydiving if you want to take to the skies, as well as abseiling and bungy jumping.  Plus, naturally, locations like Queenstown is globally known as a place to ski or snowboard during the winter snow season.  You can see why New Zealand has developed a rep for being the origin of adventure tourism. 

After all the fresh air and activities, you’ll be open to some amazing New Zealand food.  It’s not just me thinking so, but it’s a common belief that the beef tastes better in NZ.  Another dish the kiwis claim as theirs is the Pavolva; meringue, cream topped with colourful local fruits, which of course include the kiwi fruit.  It’s considered a national dish; one we also in Australia enjoy often.  Along with wonderful food, New Zealand is known for some excellent wines, including pinot noir, Riesling, chardonnay and sav blanc.  

Alongside the gorgeous backdrop that is New Zealand, you’ve a number of other things you can do, including visiting museums and seeing some of the cultural shows around.  Be sure to see the haka, which is the Māori ceremonial dance.  When NZ plays against other countries in football, this is often seen demonstrated before the game begins; it’s a source of national pride and very interesting to witness.  There are a number of festivals (music, art, dance and culture) throughout the year; something for everyone. 

As you can see, New Zealand offers so much to do and so much to see.  At Luxury Women’s Tours, we bring the best of this spectacular country, along with interesting things to do and see.  We create the best options and packages so that you need to do nothing more than book, pack your bags and ensure your phone or camera has lots of space on it for some incredible Insta shots.  We know you’ll love NZ as much as we do! 

Check out our South Island New Zealand tour HERE

 Our guests travel in style, are comfortable and have the joy of experiencing superbly curated locations with other like-minded ladies.  Come on – join us.  : )