New Zealand ( Aotearoa ). A voyage to New Zealand, Oceania - Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg638AZvrBpycIIbHUOACYEZUzLRPqB12H1U4QNhQgb_jaJft6-7SY4uCEIwwqXO4Vgl98BZjjAi2J-mfsGRUhAya-JuCaFdmvLCUSxhhr85aJQspPqRUYdFt0FpjYMreAlDpts5LZImEmj/s1600/new-zealand-auckland-1920x2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg638AZvrBpycIIbHUOACYEZUzLRPqB12H1U4QNhQgb_jaJft6-7SY4uCEIwwqXO4Vgl98BZjjAi2J-mfsGRUhAya-JuCaFdmvLCUSxhhr85aJQspPqRUYdFt0FpjYMreAlDpts5LZImEmj/s640/new-zealand-auckland-1920x2560.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="destinationMapLink clearfix"><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a> </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQhKcNrKAXY/Tyldpo7ghsI/AAAAAAAABlU/_RtWTNjtb88/s1600/New+Zealand+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQhKcNrKAXY/Tyldpo7ghsI/AAAAAAAABlU/_RtWTNjtb88/s320/New+Zealand+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>There’s a reason the sun shines on New Zealand before anywhere else – every new day in Aotearoa is something to cherish! Small, remote and thinly populated, yes, but NZ punches well above its weight with its outlandish scenery, fabulous festivals, superb food and wine, and magical outdoor experiences. Equally impressive is NZ’s potent, mainstream Maori culture. This is a country that recognises and celebrates its indigenous people – the world is a kinder, gentler, more respectful place down here! And while the fanfare surrounding the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy is waning, visiting the real-life Middle-earth still has a geeky allure - <i>LOTR </i>director Peter Jackson's filmmaking prowess still holds <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=362813">Wellington</a> (aka ‘Wellywood’) in its thrall. <br /><div class="mpuWrapper " id="mpuInContent"><div class="mpuInner"><div class="adContainer" id="adContainer_mpuInContent"></div></div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxlHHdMeJtE/TyldsSHJcjI/AAAAAAAABlc/RAuEVEXJt9E/s1600/New+Zealand+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxlHHdMeJtE/TyldsSHJcjI/AAAAAAAABlc/RAuEVEXJt9E/s320/New+Zealand+3.jpg" width="212" /></a>In 2007, around 2.2 million overseas visitors tramped, wheeled, wined and dined across the country, up almost 40% from a relatively meagre 1.6 million in 1999. But at what cost? Extra visitors strain the clean, green environment NZ is renowned for, and all this wilderness frenzy is having an impact: the skies above <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=362786">Franz Josef Glacier</a> buzz with droning aeroplanes, tourists still shampoo in creeks, and locals simply avoid entire chunks of NZ because of the tourist hordes. In response, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has implemented a booking system for its Great Walks - there are nine including the <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=362696">Milford Track</a>, Routeburn Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track - to avoid overcrowding and minimise environmental damage. The NZ tourism industry is embracing all things ‘eco’, while regionally, eateries and farmers markets selling local produce present sustainable options. Regardless, hardcore environmentalists claim the industry and government aren’t moving fast enough. Drought and climate change are fanning the flames...<br /><br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rz9VUfuc3Wg/Tyldno_Z6oI/AAAAAAAABlM/HnN2TVwWpXE/s1600/New+Zealand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rz9VUfuc3Wg/Tyldno_Z6oI/AAAAAAAABlM/HnN2TVwWpXE/s320/New+Zealand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On the broader arts front, Kiwi live music remains brilliant (dub, hip-hop, reggae and rock), while NZ radio remains abysmal. Culturally, debate rages between anti- and pro-arts lobbies: one side would rather chew their arms off than see another art gallery open; the other sees cultural celebration as the future for both community and tourism. How does NZ forge its cultural identity? What role do the arts play? Do cultural attractions lure the tourists? From our perspective, they most certainly do!<br />And then of course there’s the national obsession – rugby. 2011 will go down as the year that New Zealand, at last, fulfilled their potential by winning the Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks may have sneaked across the line with a nerve-jangling 8-7 win over traditional party-poopers <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=359219">France</a>, but the scenes of mass jubilation that broke out across the country at the final whistle showed that it was the result that really mattered. Now New Zealand have broken their fast it'll take a mighty challenge to wrench it from their grip.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egQ8ANJV8mk/Tyld19rgBzI/AAAAAAAABl0/MmOhoL5-7jk/s1600/New+Zealand+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egQ8ANJV8mk/Tyld19rgBzI/AAAAAAAABl0/MmOhoL5-7jk/s320/New+Zealand+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The national real estate boom continues to mesmerise sellers and infuriate buyers. Rising house prices have stabilized with rising interest rates, but wages have failed to keep up: <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=362646">Auckland</a>, <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=362659">Christchurch</a> and <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinationRedirector?atlasId=362813">Wellington</a> are among the world’s most expensive cities in terms of housing affordability (relative to income).<br />Other topics on local tongues include fixed-net fishing endangering dolphins, vexatious treaty settlements, and didymo (aka ‘rock snot’) infestation in rivers and lakes. And don’t get anyone started on petrol prices...<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHZlJPJ-f38/TyldvEesoRI/AAAAAAAABlk/O13XVUas7A8/s1600/New+Zealand+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHZlJPJ-f38/TyldvEesoRI/AAAAAAAABlk/O13XVUas7A8/s320/New+Zealand+4.jpg" width="320" /></a>That’s contemporary NZ in a nutshell! You’re in for an awesome trip. Back home on the couch, your memories will drift from rampaging outdoor activities to world-class food, wine and beer (oh, especially the wine and beer), and chilled-out locals. But your most sparkling recollections will come courtesy of NZ’s natural splendour – there are few countries on this lonely planet as diverse, unspoiled and utterly, utterly photogenic.<br /><h3 class="themeHeading"> <span style="font-size: small;"><a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText">Show in Lonely Planet</span></a></span></h3><b></b><br /><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dtg9JgEPmCDj3ZHz7r8wLWsJrq9xLuVRvV5xDXZPMdf8l8KXFYdFVxLtVfgi7P-FnwVCzxtc6chhnvUKVe-VPz9g83PSuBCzixfv6EIGKxAopUYFl4k_0d8T4hxhKLPGZiYaFptbxJgj/s1600/New+Zealand+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dtg9JgEPmCDj3ZHz7r8wLWsJrq9xLuVRvV5xDXZPMdf8l8KXFYdFVxLtVfgi7P-FnwVCzxtc6chhnvUKVe-VPz9g83PSuBCzixfv6EIGKxAopUYFl4k_0d8T4hxhKLPGZiYaFptbxJgj/s400/New+Zealand+7.jpg" width="265" /></a><br /><h3 class="themeHeading"> More about New Zealand <a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText"></span></a></h3><ul><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/places">Places in New Zealand <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/weather">When to go & weather <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/transport/getting-there-away">Getting there & around <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/practical-information/money-costs">Practical information <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/history">History <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/work-study-volunteering/work">Work & study <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/travel-tips-and-articles">Tips & articles <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/">Hotels</a></li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/trips">Trips</a> </li></ul></div><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><h3 class="themeHeading"> Make it happen</h3><ul><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/shopSearch?q=new+zealand">Shop for travel guides</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/">Search hotels</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/flights.do">Cheap flights</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/insurance.do">Travel insurance</a></li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNQkxciBCUk/Tyldx4RvvcI/AAAAAAAABls/2hRn1b8-OK0/s1600/New+Zealand+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNQkxciBCUk/Tyldx4RvvcI/AAAAAAAABls/2hRn1b8-OK0/s640/New+Zealand+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8g1SLUv2D_FpTxjCTdIwyaDAi_wMEXX451qxg5j0wIDo9HlEi1Og08T5lcj0QNzavPKdvAFNbWOnJDc8Di-04uGlvNuF4cIJN8Z3KWoqaUkWHMvOx53RP3NQoxJ-3kUunHDu7hAJ1IMC/s1600/New+Zealand+50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8g1SLUv2D_FpTxjCTdIwyaDAi_wMEXX451qxg5j0wIDo9HlEi1Og08T5lcj0QNzavPKdvAFNbWOnJDc8Di-04uGlvNuF4cIJN8Z3KWoqaUkWHMvOx53RP3NQoxJ-3kUunHDu7hAJ1IMC/s640/New+Zealand+50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><ul></ul></div><h3> </h3></div>

New Zealand ( Aotearoa ). A voyage to New Zealand, Oceania - Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland...

There’s a reason the sun shines on New Zealand before anywhere else – every new day in Aotearoa is something to cherish! Small, re...

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