Land of the Long White Cloud, as the native people of New Zealand, the Maori call it , is located in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of two large islands – North and South, separated by the Strait of Cook, and also adjacent to the South Island, a paradise of wildlife – the island Stewart, and many smaller, sparsely populated or entirely deserted remote islands.
New Zealand authorities cover some islands of Oceania – Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. Most of slightly more than 4 million inhabitants are European settlers, the remainder are the indigenous people – the Maori. Maori, next to the English language has official status. Christianity is the dominant religion of the islands, although the Maori population remain true to their beliefs. The capital of the state, the city of Wellington, was built on the southernmost tip of the North Island and has been done with a port – an important point of communication with the South Island. Further north, also on the North Island, is the largest city in New Zealand – Auckland. An international airport is located here, having connections to many major cities in Australia, Europe, North America and Asia, as well as the islands of Oceania. The territory of this country is slightly smaller than Japan, although having the exclusive economic zone fifteen times greater than it’s land surface, mostly covered heights.
The highest peaks rise on the South Island, forming a web of the Southern Alps. The peaks are covered with glaciers, the highest is Mount Cook (3,764 m.). In the west and south of the island, slopes fall directly into the sea, creating a huge fjords dotted with impressive waterfalls.
The area of the North Island is more gentle, but under its surface, but about 25 million years ago, a shift tectonic plates led to the creation of active volcanoes, geysers and hot springs that we see today. Evergreen forests of New Zealand form a habitat for many species absent elsewhere in the world. Among the interesting exhibits of the natural world is a flightless kiwi bird, unmistakably associated with New Zealand. Not to mention the fruits known throughout the world under the same name, which is also an important part of the diet of people of this country are not called kiwi, but kiwifruit.
The beautiful, unspoiled and very diverse nature of the New Zealand provided the backdrop for the filming of the trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” movies, whose gigantic success has promoted the country as a tourist destination. Since that time, thousands of visitors embark on a journey in the footsteps of the legendary heroes of the novel to places known from the screen.
Sharing culture of western European origin, New Zealanders are sociable, good humored and appreciate close physical contact. Maori culture adds very interesting color to New Zealand, still present among the indigenous population. Maori people today gather at the marae – specially designated open meeting places to celebrate the culture of ancestors, where strictly laid down rules that allow, for example, contact only by noses as the only acceptable form of greeting. During the celebration of Maori rituals, such as preparing a meal in the traditional way, you should keep a straight face, so as not to expose yourself to hostility.
In Maori culture the head is consider a sacred part of the body, and therefore avoid the physical contact with another human beings head. Their faces are often adorned with intricate tattoos, once executed on a permanent basis, today often only created for the ritual. At the core of Maori culture are also traditional dances, of which the most famous are the dances of war.
Cuisine of New Zealand has its roots in the United Kingdom, and the wealth of dishes from around the world allows travelers to feel at home. It is, however traditional Maori custom to cook in earthen ovens on hot stones. New Zealand is also famous for fine wines appreciated by the incomparable aroma.
Climate
The unique atmosphere of New Zealand makes it one of the most diverse regions of the world where there are both tropical rainforests and golden ocean beaches and snow covered high mountains. The weather in New Zealand is very difficult to predict, very frequent changing violently. It is not an an uncommon occurrence to experience all four seasons in one day, especially in the South Island. Certainly more sunny days fall on summer and autumn months, ie from December to April, when the weather is sometimes more stable. From May to August winter temperature drop combined with high humidity in the air can bring in some parts of the country a blustery chill. Spring, which usually lasts from August to November, is sometimes quite windy and rainy. At the southern end of the South Island seasons are clearest in nature and resemble Poland, although accrue to other months.
Regardless of the season in New Zealand unexpected weather events such as hail, storms or frosts may occur. The air temperature may exceed 30° C or fall below zero, but the average temperature remains at the level of a twelve to just over twenty degrees, while the North Island is warmer.
Main Attractions
National parks
In New Zealand, the most beautiful spectacle is it’s fantastic nature. The best places to enjoy it, are national parks, which occupy a large part of the country. One of them is inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Tongariro National Park to protect the amazing world of wildlife, dominated by three volcanic peaks. There is also the highest peak of North Island – Ruapehu (2,797 m.). Within the park lies Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake, formed in the caldera following a volcanic eruption. In the beautiful scenery of Tongariro National Park, filming of the trilogy “Lord of the Rings” took place.
Currency – New Zealand Dollar (NZD)