New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North and the South Islands,and numerous smaller islands.

NEW ZEALAND TRIP

Auckland, Rotarua, Queenstown

MARCH 2011

The land’s first inhabitants were the Maori, who arrived from Polynesia by canoe before the 12th century. The Dutch arrived in the 1600s, and in the 1700s, British Captain James Cook made his voyages to the islands. In 1840, Britain formally annexed the islands. Thousands of Maori died from epidemics of ailments, such as influenza and measles for they had no immunity. Today the majority of population is of European descent; the indigenous Maori are the largest minority, followed by Asians.

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a Governor-General. New Zealand has a modern, prosperous and developed market economy. It is heavily dependent on international trade.

In addition to Vietnam and the two world wars, New Zealand fought in the Korean War, the Gulf War and the Afghanistan War. They contribute forces to recent regional and global peacekeeping missions.

Primary and secondary schooling is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority attending from the age of 5. There are 13 school years and attending public schools is free. New Zealand has an adult literacy rate of 99 percent and over half of the population aged 15 to 29 hold some type of qualification. In the adult population 14.2 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher.

The kiwi is the national symbol and a curious bird; it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers and long whiskers, and is largely nocturnal. New Zealand is famous for its spectacular scenery…mountain ranges, volcanoes, thermal activity, pristine lakes, fiords, picturesque bays and beaches. Earthquakes regularly occur in New Zealand, as the country forms part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. About 1400 earthquakes are recorded each year. Most recently, the quake in Christchurch prevented us from visiting this famous city.

ROTORUA

Rotorua is a major destination for both domestic and international tourists. The city is known for its geothermal activity and spas; it features geysers and mudpools…which are sourced to the Rotorua caldera, on which the city lies. It has a population of 56,000 and is in the heart of the North Island. With 17 stunning lakes, the region is an aquatic paradise. One of its attractions is mountain biking. Whakarewarewa Forest has been described as the Disneyland of mountain biking. This forest also holds stately Californian redwoods and is free to the public. We enjoyed walking through.

Rotorua remains the heartland of Maori culture in New Zealand; over 1/3 of the population is Maori.

THE MAORI

Te Puia Cultural Experience

These are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. They arrived from East Polynesia before 1300, settled here and developed a distinct culture. Their population increased from the late 19th century, and a marked Maori cultural revival began in the 1960s and continues. We viewed an original tribal performance.

QUEENSTOWN

Overlooking Lake Wakatipu and backed by the towering, snow-capped peaks of The Remarkables, this incredibly beautiful, sophisticated alpine adventure capital has a raft of year-round activities. There is everything from wineries and wildlife to skiing, jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, mountain biking, skateboarding, and fly fishing. Queenstown (population of 20,000) has grown into a cosmopolitan town hosting millions of visitors from all over the world. The surrounding area contains many locations used in the filming of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

MILFORD SOUND

Queenstown is the departure point for a day trip to the famous Milford Sound, famous for its breathtaking, sheer peaks and thundering waterfalls. Milford Sound is a fjord in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey (the 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards by Trip Advisor) and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling called it the eighth Wonder of the World. There is a huge variety of wildlife, including native dolphins, seals and penguins. We took a day cruise (2 1/2 hours) on the Sound. It took 4-5 hours to arrive there from Queenstown, but it was well worth the travel.

AUCKLAND

Auckland has always been known as the most international of New Zealand’s cities; it is also the largest with 1.3 million residents. It has three magnificent natural harbors, sheltered waters and the vantage points of 50 volcanic cones. Ferries also link the city with the Gulf islands, including Rangitoto, an island offshore; it is the youngest volcano at 600 years old in the region. Its sub-tropical climate is one of the sunniest in NZ. It is enclosed by sparkling blue waters and lush green hills. It is a natural paradise and one of the great cities of the Pacific. A bustling center of commerce and culture, it is surrounded by skyscrapers and designer stores. But yet, you may be afloat on one of the beautiful harbors heading for an island escape. It is popularly known as the City of Sails because the harbor is dotted with hundreds of yachts. Viaduct Basin has hosted two America’s Cup challenges (2000 and 2003). This year (Sept. 2011) Auckland will host the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand Photo Gallery

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