New Zealand is the end of the world, a country about which the average Russian citizen knows little. Expensive plane tickets, geographical isolation and the correct policy of the authorities do not allow crowds of tourists to explore this island. Therefore, New Zealand still boasts breathtaking landscapes that are not subject to human influence. Still, this island of happy people is worth visiting at least once in your life (or maybe staying forever).
A few facts
New Zealand is an island nation in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, near Australia. It consists of two large islands - North and South - as well as many archipelagos that are not always suitable for life. The area of New Zealand is 268,680 km², which is slightly larger than the area of Great Britain. At the same time, only 4.5 million people live in it.
New Zealand formallyQueen Elizabeth II rules, since from the middle of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century, the New Zealand Islands were a colony of the British Empire. But in reality, all power is in the hands of the parliament, which, judging by the fact that the country's standard of living is considered one of the highest in the world, rules quite wisely.
The official languages are English and Maori, and the capital is Wellington. In addition to the diverse landscapes, nature has endowed New Zealand with a mild, pleasant climate: in winter, the temperature here does not fall below 10 ° C, and in summer it rises no higher than 30 ° C. Important: winter in New Zealand happens when we have summer.
The pristine nature of New Zealand
On the territory of New Zealand you can see almost everything: from snow-capped rocky mountains to velvety beaches. The visiting card of this country is the Milford Sound fjord, which appeared more than 20 thousand years ago. Sheer cliffs, covered with forests, hang over a crystal-clear bay, over which you can often see a thin strip of a rainbow.
The nature of New Zealand is especially amazing in the territory of national parks, of which there are as many as 12 in this country! On the North Island, you can watch as the geysers, located on the sloping slopes of the active Tongariro volcano, emit colorful smoke into the atmosphere. Not far from the volcanoes is the famous Rotarua Geyser Valley. Here you can take mud baths and take an unforgettable walk along the volcanic terraces. Lake Taupo is located in the heart of the North Island, in the crater of an extinct volcano.of unprecedented beauty that attracts lovers of fishing and cruises.
In addition to the formidable and bewitching volcanoes, fabulous beaches are also features of New Zealand's nature. In one of the most beautiful national parks in the South Island, Abel Tasman, you can soak up the sand that changes color from snowy white to bright yellow.
But the nature of New Zealand presents a couple more surprises in the form of glacial lakes, Waitomo caves dotted with fireflies, gentle forests and sheer cliffs…
The feathered world of New Zealand
It would seem that with such a quantity and variety of landscapes, the wildlife of New Zealand should be represented by all kinds of fauna. But the number of animals and birds on the islands is not so great, which, however, fully pays off with the uniqueness of the inhabitants of this paradise on earth.
First on the list will be the symbol of New Zealand - the kiwi bird. Covered with long brown feathers, this endangered flightless bird is a favorite treat for New Zealand opossums. The island is also home to unique kea parrots, which are distinguished by their curiosity, high intelligence and unexpected strength. A couple of decades ago, they were ruthlessly exterminated, as it was believed that they eat sheep. In fact, kea just love to ride the sheep that arrived from Europe.
On the south coast of New Zealand there are also small colonies of little penguins, which are quite difficult to track down. In addition to the above representatives of birds on the islandsunique New Zealand thuja birds, ueki drummers, kakapo parrots, etc. live. Kiwi birds and other birds can be observed on Stewart Island. In the dense forests of New Zealand, you can find pigs, deer, rabbits and small kangaroos. Nature has saved New Zealand from reptiles, poisonous spiders and nasty mosquitoes.
Indigenous
About 80% of the population are descendants of emigrants from Great Britain, 15% are Maori, another 5% are immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Of particular interest is, of course, the indigenous population, that is, the Maori tribes. Most of them have assimilated into English society and live in cities.
Maori often cultivate folk customs and traditions for tourism purposes, for example, anyone can watch the famous haka martial dance for a certain price. Exhibitions of folk crafts and art are held throughout the country.
What should a tourist do in New Zealand?
The magical nature of New Zealand is the first and main point of every trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud. But besides beautiful photos from New Zealand, you can bring many more impressions. So what is there to experience in New Zealand?
- Ride on Swing Nevis - the biggest swing in the world, located 160 meters above a rocky gorge.
- Catch shrimp with bamboo sticks.
- Ski the New Zealand Alps and thentake a dip in a hot thermal spring.
- See how two oceans converge in the North Island.
- See the tuatara (il tuatara), the oldest reptile genetically related to dinosaurs.
Things you probably haven't heard of
- Earlier, the Maori were considered one of the most cruel and hardy peoples, as they practiced cannibalism, cut off the heads of enemies and tattooed their entire faces with sharp incisors.
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in New Zealand.
- New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis.
- New Zealand is the first country to give women the right to vote.
- The unique landscapes, bird species and other natural features of New Zealand are carefully protected. For example, it is almost impossible to burn fires anywhere, even an apple core is prohibited from importing into the country (not to mention seeds, plants and animals).
If you are tired of the frantic rhythm of megacities, concrete jungles, crowdedness and dullness, if you are looking for extreme adventures, are fond of photography and want to surprise your friends with images of extraordinary landscapes - New Zealand, whose nature and population are unique, will bring a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions for a lifetime.
