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Live The Dream: Travel To New Zealand

By Kerri Turner


There is something for everyone who decides to travel to New Zealand. The three main islands of "The land of the Long White Cloud" are home to stunning mountains, sandy beaches and wildlife and vegetation seen nowhere else in the world. There is a busy adventure tourism industry while the traveler looking for a more sedate visit will not be disappointed.

New Zealand has excellent sailing facilities and offers the opportunity for some great fishing and diving. It is also home to some of the world's best wines. Following a wine trail of its finest vineyards will take the visitor across the length and breadth of the country.

The first glimpse most visitors get of New Zealand is Auckland, the City of Sails. It is the country's largest city with over a million residents. All year round, water sports enthusiasts can enjoy sailing, fishing and a plethora of other activities on its magnificent harbor.

Some of the finest views over the city can be had from a walking tour over the harbor bridge. The view from the Sky Tower, however, is hard to beat. The stout of heart might like the "sky walk" or bungee jump from 192 meters above the city. Or, those who feel lucky might feel safer in the casino.

For those interested in history, a visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum is a must. Established in 1852, it houses one of New Zealand's most prestigious heritage libraries and relates the country's history and its position in the Pacific. History buffs should also take time to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds overlooking the stunning Bay of Islands and is where the Treaty of Waitangi, effectively the document from which modern New Zealand evolved, was signed.

Before leaving the North Island, visitors should make the journey to Rotorua. There, they will find a hotbed of geothermal activity with mud pools, geysers and sulfur-laden air along with lakes abounding with trout. Also not to be missed are the glowworm caves of Waitomo and the magnificent vineyards of the Hawke's Bay region.

Across the Cooke Strait lies the South Island where the Southern Alps mountain range and the adventure playground around Queenstown beckon. Sited on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the shadow of the Remarkables, Queenstown serves as a base for sightseeing, skiing, fishing and horse trekking. The more adventurous, meanwhile, will find bungee jumping, sky diving, white-water rafting and jet-boating close at hand.

From Queenstown, it is possible to drive to Te Anau, gateway to the unspoilt Fiordland National Park, which boasts World Heritage status. The scenery is unsurpassed and a relaxing cruise on the Sounds brings into view wildlife and spectacular waterfalls that cascade down from the rocky walls surrounding the Sounds. For the more energetic, one of the Great Walks - the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Tracks - will enable visitors to experience Nature in the raw. Also accessible by road from Queenstown is Glacier country, where visitors can take guided walks to the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers or else take a scenic flight (and maybe snow landing) by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft.

Of course, anyone that makes the effort to travel to New Zealand will not go away disappointed. Those looking for peace and relaxation will find themselves lost in the magnificent scenery. The adventurer, on the other hand, will find plenty to whet the appetite. Simply put, there is something for everyone.




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