New Zealand is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia. It is divided into North and South Island. In Maori, New Zealand is called Aotearoa, which means "land of the long white cloud". New Zealand was first discovered by Abel Tasman in 1642, but it was not until 1769, thanks to James Cook, that this country was known.
Kiwi
New Zealanders name the Kiwi after the eponymous bird that is the national symbol of this country. During the day she is buried in the ground and at night she goes out in search of food. We saw her in a reserve where she lives in special conditions adapted for her.
Destructive earthquakes and constant volcanic activity are frequent in this area. New Zealand has about 4.5 million inhabitants and this area is one of the least populated areas in the world. In addition to the beautiful nature in New Zealand, adrenaline sports, especially bungee jumping, are a special attraction for tourists.
At the end of the world
When you have traveled so far, our journey has gone through London, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney, you have the impression that you have come to the end of the world. Although New Zealand is a desirable country to live in, it is a country of beautiful nature, national parks and a high standard. Young people here suffer from the "end of the world" complex, so they want to find a job in Australia and the UK.
Auckland - the city of sails
The first city on our trip was Auckland which is also the largest city in New Zealand. It is also called the city of sails, due to the large number of sailboats anchored in the marina. The Maori call this city Waitemata or Sparkling Water.
It is a modern city where British influence is felt which is not surprising when it is known that they were a British colony. Of particular note is the Sky Tower telecommunications tower, which at 328 m is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. The tower offers a beautiful view of the entire city. The Harbor Bridge over Waitemata Bay is one of the city’s most famous symbols.
Once you are here, we recommend a visit to the Kelly Tarltons Aquarium, the Maritime Museum and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial.
North Island
On the North Island, we visited Rotorua, the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Village, the Lady Knox Geyser, the Rainbow Springs Nature Park and the Maori village of Tamaki. The Lady Knox Geyser is named after Constance Knox, daughter of the 15th Governor of New Zealand. The geyser expels water at a height of 20 meters, at a specific time of day, but after a little soap is poured into the opening, whose chemical reaction enhances it.
South Island
On the south island, we visited the city of Queenstown, with its magnificent mountains and crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. We sailed on Milford Sound, a fjord with countless waterfalls, which many call the eighth wonder of the world. The road took us further past the mining town of Arrowtown, Mirror Lakes, Fox Glacier and Franz Josef to the largest city on the South Island of Christchurch. who died in 2010 in a devastating earthquake from which he is still recovering today.
The hobbiton
It is located near the town of Matamata which is located in the Hamilton Waikato region, on the North Island of New Zealand. Hobitton was a sheep farm. He became famous after the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy chose him for his film.
After the end of the film, this place was supposed to be restored to its original appearance, but this was abandoned because the owners realized that this place would pay off. 44 hobbit houses were built in the area. The cottages are vibrant, each with a wooden fence and a beautiful yard full of flowers. Here you can see how to get there.
Medicinal herbs hang from the roof canopy, laundry is dried on a rope, chopped wood stands in the corner of the yard, and zucchini and other fruits in baskets. You expect at any moment that the door will open and a small hobbit will appear on the doorstep. We also visited their vegetable gardens, there were tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and various peppers.
The path led us up the hill from one house to another. The two cottages are decorated and furnished so they can be viewed. In front of Bilbo's house, which seems to me the most beautiful, we stayed the longest. At the top of the hill is a fun tree that looks natural at first glance and was made just for the movie. Each sheet was made and painted separately.
We slowly descend towards the lake and enjoy the beautiful almost unreal green color of the grass. The path leads us along a stone bridge next to a mill to a pub called Green Dragon. In the rustic ambience of the pub, we found refreshment in their non-alcoholic beer.
In the shop next to the parking lot, they could buy souvenirs related to film and other handicrafts made of wool and possum fur at a relatively affordable price, because New Zealand is extremely expensive for Croatian conditions.
