New Zealand in the Maori language is Aotearoa, or the Land of the Long White Cloud. It is also called the land of the Kiwi because it is the only place where these endangered animals can be found. New Zealand is an island country located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands, North and South, which are separated by the Cook Strait, and numerous smaller islands such as Steward Island and Chatham Island.
New Zealand is an amazing island state, with as much as a third of its land area made up of national parks! New Zealand is also characterized by very diverse and spectacular landscapes. This country offers so many natural attractions that we recommend spending 2-3 weeks to explore it. Above that, a tour of New Zealand is a great idea.
You should visit New Zealand and enjoy the breathtaking fjords, glaciers, geysers, lakes, subtropical forests, active volcanoes and vast Alpine mountain ranges.
When to go
In principle, New Zealand can be visited at any time of the year, but beware of the high variability of the weather. If you want the highest possible air temperatures, then the best period would be from December to March. This is when the temperature is around 23-26 ºC. In New Zealand, you have to reckon with the fact that rainfall is quite frequent basically all year round. However, the good news is that it doesn’t resemble dreary and overcast London. Usually, the rainfall is short, and immediately afterwards the beautiful sun comes out into the sky.
Where to go
We especially recommend visiting the Te Anau Caves or Waikato Caves, which are filled with millions of glowing worms – a sight not to be forgotten! You can also relax and enjoy spectacular views on a cruise along the fjords in Milford’s Bay, where you’ll also see dolphins, seals and, in season, even rare tip penguins. You’ll feel the magic of the place and your closeness to nature while observing the starry sky at night at the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Plus a trip to the Hobbiton movie set, where you’ll stroll through the lush pastures of the Shire, visit Hobbit homes and the famous Green Dragon Inn.
For lovers of a slightly more powerful experience, we recommend a sightseeing flight by plane over Lake Tekapo and a glacier formed as much as 18,000 years ago! Beautiful views and unusual experiences guaranteed! A similar attraction can also be a combination of a helicopter flight to the Franz Josef Glacier, with a walk through ice caves and peaks. A note of adrenaline will only conquer these amazing experiences and breathtaking views.
