posted by admin on Jun 12

Canterbury of New Zealand : Canterbury is located at the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest region in New Zealand and is well-known for its magnificent landscape. The beautiful scenery here, such as Mount Cook and the Southern Alps, is truly captivating. Indeed, you would have a lasting impression of this place after visiting it.

Canterbury of New Zealand has a variety of wildlife and nature attractions, hence, it offers many opportunities for outdoor and adventure activities. Some highlights here include Mount Cook, Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs, Christchurch, Akaroa and Arthur’s Pass National Park.

Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. The Mount Cook National Park is a world-renowned climbing and hiking destination. In total, there are about 23 peaks more than 3,000m high. Mount Cook village, located at the foot of the mountain, serves as a base for climbers and hikers.

If you are interested to watch whales, dolphins and fur seals, then you should not miss visiting Kaikoura. There are opportunities for whale watching tours and other marine activities at Kaikoura. An interesting experience you can have is watching fur seals lounge on rocks just a few metres away from the shore and seeing dolphins frolic in the sea. 

The thermal village, Hanmer Springs, is situated near to Kaikoura. It is a peaceful alpine village, popular for its thermal pools and spa. Visitors come here to relax and unwind. There are also plenty of outdoor activities available which include mountain biking, hiking, river rafting, trout and salmon fishing, jet boating and bungy jumping.

Christchurch is the largest city in South Island. It has more than 700 parks and is a centre of art and culture. The oldest village in Canterbury is Akaroa. Taking a cruise from Akaroa habour can enable you to encounter marine life such as dolphins, seabirds, seals and penguins. At Arthur’s Pass National Park, you can view beautiful alpine scenery, lovely native flora and fauna, and interesting wildlife. Besides, you could be entertained by alpine parrots as well! Canterbury of New Zealand

posted by admin on May 25

Wellington City: Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. Located at lower North Island, it is the centre of government, commerce and the performing arts. Wellington city has the most modern skyline of any city in New Zealand. Due to its wonderful coastal location, it has good ocean views. Wellington city is popular for its stylish shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries. There are some wonderful attractions in Wellington city which include the Botanic Gardens, Old St Paul’s Church, Parliament Buildings, the Old Government Buildings and Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa.

The Botanic Gardens in Wellington is an excellent place for a relaxing stroll. There is a rose garden known as the Lady Norwood Rose Garden which has both new as well as old flower species. The Begonia House in the Botanic Gardens has tropical and temperate plants, a lily pond, orchids and carnivorous plants. During summer, the beautiful blooms display a truly stunning sight. There is also a children’s playground in the gardens. The visitor information centre, Treehouse Visitor Centre, can be access via a tower lift. The easiest way to get to the Botanic Gardens is by cable car. The ride lasts about five minutes.

The Parliament Buildings of New Zealand consist of three main buildings: Parliament Building, Parliament Library and the Beehive. These buildings stand next to each other. In the grounds, there are beautiful historic trees and a rose garden.

The Old Government Buildings stand just across the street from the Parliament Buildings. Built in 1876, these buildings are considered as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Currently, these buildings are occupied by the students from Victoria University’s Law School. However, the original cabinet room on the first floor and the exhibits on the ground floor are open to the public.

Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa is one of the largest museums in the world. It housed some of the most important taonga (treasures) of New Zealand. There are Maori, Pacific Island and European cultural exhibits. The museum housed the National Art Centre which has its displays scattered at different places in the museum. Ad-hoc exhibitions are held in the galleries. There are state-of-the-art time travel and virtual reality centres, a library, reading room, souvenir shop and cafes.

Old St Paul’s Church is one of the most beautiful churches in New Zealand. This church is built entirely of wood, including its nails. It is a remarkable building with an early English Gothic-style design. A great number of shops in Wellington are located along the main shopping street of Lambton Quay. This street stretches to about 1,100m long and is filled with arcades, plazas and walkways.

Wellington city is a beautiful city with many wonderful sights. It has remarkable historic buildings, beautiful parks, superb museums and art galleries. Furthermore, with its fine location, the views from the city towards the sea or the mountains are simply wonderful. The atmosphere of this place is cool and refreshing. Wellington city is a great choice for a relaxing holiday vacation!  Wellington City New Zealand.

posted by admin on May 25

Rotorua city: Rotorua City is North Island’s most popular tourist destination in New Zealand. It has many hot springs, geysers, mud pools, forests, lakes and rivers. Rotorua city has the greatest concentration of Maori residents than other parts of New Zealand. Visitors who come here have the opportunity to learn and appreciate Maori art, crafts, architecture and culture. They can also watch Maori cultural performances and traditional hangi which are held regularly here. There are many popular attractions in Rotorua which include the Government Gardens, Rotorua Museum of Art and History, Lake Rotorua and Whakarewarewa Thermal Area.

The Government Gardens are located in the front of the Rotorua Museum of Art and History. It has croquet lawns, bowling greens, flower beds and steaming thermal pools. The Rotorua Museum of Art and History housed a wide collection of Maori artifacts. This Tudor-styled building was previously a spa retreat. The history of the building is depicted in a section at the museum. The museum has a collection of taonga (treasures) of the Arawa people, which includes handicrafts, woodcarving, flax weaving and jade. There is also a 20-minute film explaining Rotorua’s geothermal activity and Maori’s history. Ad-hoc exhibitions are held in some of the galleries. There is a café with great views.

Another popular attraction in Rotorua is Lake Rotorua.  Formed by an eruption, it is the largest lake in Rotorua. Many visitors come to Lake Rotorua for activities such as fishing, windsurfing and kayaking. There are cruises available at the lake’s front jetty. At the centre of the lake is the Mokoia Island, which is known to be rich in native bird life and also has the Hinemoa’s thermal pool. Lake Rotorua usually has a great number of visitors during summer.

A great Rotoura sightseeing destination not to be missed is the geothermal area at Rotorua. This interesting place, also known as Whaka, has two sections – Te Puia (New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute) and Whakarewarewa Thermal Village. It is the largest and most famous thermal reserve in Rotorua. In Te Puia, there are Maori’s art and crafts, and geysers Pohutu and Prince of Wales Feathers. Visitors who come here can learn about Moari’s weaving as well as wood and greenstone carving processes. Furthermore, they can have the opportunity to watch Maoris carvers and flax weavers at work. Moari concerts are held daily here. There is a souvenir shop selling wood, paua shell, greenstone carvings, and traditional clothing korowai (cloak). The Thermal Village is located at the eastern side of Whaka. It has a meeting house, hot thermal springs and a cemetery. Thermal water has been used for many years by tribal people for cooking, bathing and washing. The meeting house hold concerts for visitors. Some shops located near the entrance of the village sell sheepskins, fur and handicrafts. There are tour guides to take visitors on group tours at both Te Puia and Whakarewarewa Thermal Village.

Rotorua city is a wonderful place to visit. As described above, there are many popular attractions in this city. Visitors have many exciting activities to do. Apart from Rotoura sightseeing, there are interesting adventure and sports activities available here such as camping, swimming, hiking, water-skiing, yatching and boating. Furthermore, visitors who come here can gain interesting knowledge about Maori history and culture. Truly, Rotorua city has plenty of exciting things to offer. It is indeed a wonderful holiday destination!  Rotorua City New Zealand.