Published on : Friday, July 1, 2016
From sub-tropical Cape Reinga in the far north to the southern fishing port of Bluff where the wild Southern Ocean rolls in, New Zealand’s North and South islands offer a diverse expanse of landscapes.
On the North Island, the north-south journey travels from towering sub-tropical rain forests and endless picturesque beaches to Auckland’s populous cityscape, then southwards through rolling green pastures, across lakes, rivers and epic volcanic marvels, into the rural towns of heartland New Zealand and on to a capital city that’s renowned for arts, culture and coffee.
From coastal paradise to mountains and the southern ocean, New Zealand’s South Island unveils one majestic landscape after another. Beginning in the coastal paradise that is Nelson Tasman and the Marlborough Sounds and ending in Southland, the vast southern regions unfold as the real Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
It’s no secret that New Zealand is the home of Middle-earth and its stunning landscapes are at centre stage for movie lovers world-wide. Filmed entirely in New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies film locations can be discovered in many parts. The most famous, and most visited, is Hobbiton – the village home of the hobbits – near Matamata, in the Hamilton Waikato region of the North Island. The Hobbiton film set occupies a sizeable slice of a New Zealand farm, and is one of the largest outdoor film sets in the world. Visitors to Hobbiton experience a two-hour fully-guided tour of the village hearing about the books and behind-the-scenes stories of film-making.
Maori Culture: Rotorua
Rotorua has been visited by tourists since the early 19th century making it New Zealand’s oldest tourism destination – renowned for Māori cultural experiences and spectacular geothermal attractions.
Members of Te Kapa Haka o Te Whanau-a- Apanui from Opotiki perform during the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival 2015 at Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. This national festival is a biennial event celebrating Maori traditional performing arts.
Māori culture and history infuse Rotorua life. The town of Rotorua, on the shores of Lake Rotorua, is home to the Te Arawa iwi – one of New Zealand’s larger Māori tribes. A third of Rotorua’s population is Māori. Te Puia, an important Māori culture centre, has visitor experiences covering traditional art forms, carving and weaving, story-telling, and authentic cultural performances.
Marlborough, on the top of the South Island, is the country’s biggest wine region and world renowned for its sauvignon blanc. In the lower South Island, the Central Otago region is known for its incredible pinot noir. The North Island’s Hawke’s Bay region produces beautiful syrah while nearby Martinborough has a reputation for fine reds. Waiheke Island, in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, was named on Lonely Planet’s top regions to visit in 2016. The island is a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland city and produces some of New Zealand’s best wine.
Throughout New Zealand fresh seafood, artisan products and incredible farmer’s markets are always nearby. Whether it is The Awatere Valley in Marlborough, New Zealand, is home to some of the world’s most coveted sauvignon blanc wines, a varietal that awoke the world to New Zealand wine.
Source:-New Zealand Tourism
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