Home New Zealand 26 reasons why New Zealand is the world’s best country

26 reasons why New Zealand is the world’s best country

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It has been named your favorite nation in the world for the past six years, Amazon has announced that it will film the Lord of the Rings remake there, and there are many other reasons to start arranging a trip to New Zealand. To begin with…

The scenery makes you want to applaud.

tips-driving-new-zealand
tips-driving-new-zealand

First and foremost, it looks fantastic. “Fjordland, a vast tract of mountainous terrain that occupies the south-west corner of South Island New Zealand, is one of the most astounding pieces of land anywhere on God’s earth, and one’s first impulse, standing on a cliff top surveying it all, is simply to burst into spontaneous applause,” writes Douglas Adams in his book, Last Chance to See. It’s breathtaking.

You can hike one of the world’s most beautiful trails.

Walk-track-in-Milford-Sound
Walk-track-in-Milford-Sound

A century ago, the poet Blanche Baughan characterized the Milford Track as “the finest walk in the world” in a piece published in the London Spectator. It’s still New Zealand’s best-known trek and is just as fantastic today, encompassing much of the South Island’s spectacular fjord scenery. It’s slightly over 33 miles long and takes in the country’s largest waterfall, suspension bridges, mountains, valleys, and enchanting lakes on South Island, a short drive from Queenstown.

We appreciate its close ties to the United Kingdom.

Take extreme caution here. With a Kiwi close, you can get your ears pounded if you say New Zealand is like Britain 50 years ago. Having all that, there is something rather comforting about an island nation with a similar language, a somewhat temperate temperature, and a pride in its well-kept gardens – oh, and the Union Jack on both flags.

It is the home of the Haka.

what-is-haka
what-is-haka

The country of New Zealand The All Blacks is probably one of the world’s most extraordinary sporting dynasties. And with a warm-up like this, it’s easy to see why.

It is home to the magnificent Kakapo.

Have you ever heard of a kakapo? You’ve probably seen the viral internet video of the bird attempting to mate with Mark Cawardine, a biologist and Telegraph Travel writer, while he was filming a show with Stephen Fry. It is the world’s largest and maybe the oldest parrot. This has a tragic side effect. This flightless parrot is also one of the world’s rarest birds, with populations currently dangerously low due to the introduction of predators such as cats and dogs. You might also be interested in following the “small five” of New Zealand.

It is more than just beaches. It boasts beaches that stretch for 90 miles.

Except that the North Island’s 90-mile Beach is 55 miles long. But you get my point. It is a famous tourist destination due to its spectacular sunsets and left-hand surf breaks.

The sea is never far away.

You’re never far from a beach in the land of the long white cloud. The most you can get away from the water is around 80 miles. However, if you are concerned, a lake will likely be nearby.

Very old trees

The oldest tree existed (presumably) before humans arrived. Mankind barely arrived on the coasts of New Zealand a little more than a millennium ago. However, some of the nations’ trees may have existed before them. The incredible Kauri tree can survive for almost 1,000 years. According to some estimations, a tree named Te Matua Ngahere in Waipoua Forest north of Auckland is up to 4,000 years old, yet full proof of its age has never been found. They are also enormous. Tane Mahuta is the country’s largest, measuring 4.4 meters in diameter.

Maori culture is magnificent.

Maori-people
Maori-people

The indigenous people of New Zealand migrated from Polynesia more than 1,000 years ago and account up about 15% of the country’s population. The Auckland Museum and Wellington’s Te Papa Tongarewa provide insights into Aotearoa’s epic migrations and settlement, while other gems can be found in lesser museums. Maori art styles include carving, weaving, and tattooing, as well as powerful physical performances that combine waita (singing) with kapa haka (dancing).

It has a geyser that can be used to set your watch.

So, almost. Rotorua, in particular, is famous for its enthralling volcanic activity. Wai-o-tapu is undoubtedly the best of its attractions, with beautiful mineral-colored lakes and a geyser that erupts every morning, spewing mud. Visitors visiting Rotorua can watch concerts at Whakarewarewa (whakarewarewa.com) and Te Puia (tepuia.com), which are Maori cultural reserves surrounded by hot springs, boiling mud, and geysers.

It’s not only about volcanoes. It has underwater volcanoes.

Although there is only one, White Island is one of the ultimate destinations on the country’s volcanic path, where tourists can get up close and personal with the inner crater of the country’s only marine volcano. Be cautious. The boat ride is not for the faint of heart (although you may fly there).

You can sip cabernet sauvignon (and merlot) while admiring the vista.

There are few greater pleasures than sitting on a restaurant terrace, eating fine food and watching the sun set behind the vineyard while sipping a glass of cabernet sauvignon. Dinner viewing the vines is popular in Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago, and other wine districts. Cheers!

Napier’s Art Deco is among the best in the world.

Earthquakes in New Zealand have caused widespread devastation and heartbreak. But one positive result of the earthquakes is Napier’s spectacular Art Deco architecture, which has the highest style concentration in the southern hemisphere. The town was extensively rebuilt after a 7.8 Richter earthquake in 1931. It is now a must-see for Art Deco enthusiasts along with Miami Beach.

The world’s most beautiful railway?

Is the Taieri Gorge Railway the best ride on the planet? You make the call. It is, nonetheless, one of the most spectacular, winding 50 miles through alpine beauty that is otherwise inaccessible. Similarly, the TranzAlpine Rail Journey from Christchurch to Greymouth has been named one of the world’s best six train journeys.

It is the birthplace of the bungee.

It isn’t nearly a national sport. Even the previous prime minister has dived, with only a thicker piece of elastic to keep him from falling. He wouldn’t do it now, though: “For some reason, my political staff don’t think me diving off a bridge screaming would be great footage, in case I ever have a big dip in the polls.” How about skydiving, snowboarding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, and jet skiing all in one day? If the country isn’t the world’s adventure capital, it must be near…

Auckland’s culinary flavors

auckland-at-night
auckland-at-night

Auckland may be one of the world’s most remote big cities, but it more than holds its own in terms of cuisine. Peter Gordon, one of the country’s most well-known chefs, operates The Sugar Club on level 53 of the Sky Tower. Meanwhile, Jenni Murray praises St Patrick’s Square’s The Grove (thegroverestaurant.co.nz), adding, “I’ve eaten in some of London’s best restaurants, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a better meal than the one I had there: crayfish followed by a wonderful chocolate pudding.”

Its sceneries have influenced artists.

… Literature that has won the Booker Prize. And it’s not where you think it is. Congratulations to Eleanor Catton, who placed her award-winning novel, The Luminaries, in the old gold mining community around Hokitika on South Island. You can still try your luck with your own gold pan.

It’s one of the best spots to go cycling.

The trails are improving all the time. Nga Haerenga – the New Zealand Cycle Trail – is a 2,500-kilometer-long national network of pathways. The Otago Rail Trail stretches for around 100 miles across New Zealand’s South Island, from Clyde to Dunedin, over a beautiful backdrop of mountains, gorges, and historic gold mining towns. It follows the former Otago Central Railway line and annually attracts about 10,000 hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. It is a section of the larger New Zealand Cycle Trail.

It truly resembles Middle Earth.

Peter Jackson stated that after filming the entirety of The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand, there would be no point to explore outside the country for film locations for The Hobbit Trilogy because New Zealand was already “the perfect Middle-earth.” The Hobbiton Movie, which was filmed in Matamata, has become one of New Zealand’s most popular attractions. The best hobbit-related websites in New Zealand can be found here.

It features lovely gardens.

There are some truly magnificent ones. According to Telegraph writer Tim Jepson, “New Zealand, like Britain, is a nation of gardeners – with the gardens to prove it – and has a natural diversity and range of climate that allows a vast variety of plants, trees, and shrubs to flourish.”The’story of gardens’ is the theme of Hamilton Gardens (hamiltongardens.co.nz), the most popular destination in the Waikato region, offering everything from a traditional herb garden to an American Modernist Garden. There are 1,400 events here each year and seasonal attractions like roses, camellias, magnolias, herbaceous borders, and annual displays in the Victorian Flower Garden.”

And one of the most interesting capital cities

Little Wellington punches beyond its weight in terms of cultural and culinary offerings. It’s also in a lovely setting. There’s enough to do on a wet day (which comes in handy).

The gigantic sperm whale can be seen.

Sperm whales are magnificent leviathans that live off the South Island’s coast. The greatest place to see them is from Kaikoura. Take a boat tour with Whale Watch (whalewatch.co.nz) to see them. On Kaikoura’s Seal Swim (sealswimkaikoura.co.nz) or Kayak Tour (kaikouraakayaks.co.nz), you may spot or even play with fur seals.

… as well as soar above glaciers

Franz Josef stands out in a setting of stunning glaciers and mountains. A helicopter journey is advised.

You can trace Everest’s conquerors.

Follow in Sir Edmund Hillary’s footsteps without having to scale Everest. Mount Cook was the training ground for the first man to climb the world’s highest peak.

Finally, it appears to be beautiful from space.

That’s according to Chris Hadfield, the singing astronaut who named the Marlborough wine-growing region as one of the most beautiful places on the earth while in orbit. It doesn’t get any better than this… literally.

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