Home Sweet Home

So it has been quite a while since I have posted anything of interest - and there are two reasons for that. The first is that I have done everything in my power to procrastinate and leave every piece of assessment due before mid-semster, to the night before. And the second, is that I decided to start re-reading The Hobbit before it comes out in the cinema later in the year. Not such a smart idea. As a result, I have spent my time well, procrastinating - reading and playing the Sims - and then working my arse of in order to start and finish major assessment pieces. As you can imagine, I have incredible time management skillzzz. 

Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata, NZ - (Excuse my 16 year old self)

In the spirit of The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings in general, I have decided it would be appropriate to tell you of a country I know much about - as do the cast and crew of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - NEW ZEALAND.

I was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, where every new day brought rain and southerly winds. When I was eight, my parents made the decision to move to Australia - and I couldn't think of anything worse. Despite the number of times I had been there on holiday, all of my friends told me that people in Australia had pet crocodiles and that every year, hundreds of people would get eaten by poisonous snakes and spiders. Despite all the things that can be said about New Zealand - sheep jokes, better rugby teams, Australia claiming 'New Zealand' icons as their own - as a place to visit, naturally New Zealand was (and is) absolutely stunning, and of course, my home. Now though, I can see why my parents left. In my small little town - which was the Capital - opportunity was dead. In every meaning of the word. So, I can say, with experience, to live in New Zealand (in my personal opinion) holds little opportunity, however, to visit, holds many. 

New Zealand is a beautiful destination for any traveller. Whether it is a tranquil escape from your usually chaotic life, a holiday full of thrills and exhilaration (extreme sport capital), or a good old family camping trip, New Zealand caters for all - and the best thing of course, is that it is totally affordable. You can drive from one end of the North Island (Wellington), to the other (Kaitaia) in 14 hours. If you dare, in the South Island you can try extreme sports of all kinds - bungy jumping,  whitewater rapid rafting, skydiving, the Shot Over Jet, the Luge, etc) and of course it is the most glorious place to ski. In fact, if you rent a caravan and take on each Island, you will pass through all of the aforementioned within kilometres, in the meanwhile seeing some of the world's most picturesque and charming scenic locations.

Andrew Smith Photography, South Island, New Zealand

Waitomo Caves

The Top 5 Places To See In New Zealand

1) Waitomo Caves

Starting from North to South, the Waitomo Caves are a sight for every traveller. Only in the North Island of New Zealand can you enter a 30 million year old natural wonder - once the limestone at the bottom of the ocean. Still standing today, these caves are illuminated by millions of little glow worms to which you can be fortunate enough to set sail upon the undisturbed and raw waters, and surround yourself by some of the most incredible natural beauty in the world. However, New Zealand certainly knows how to push you beyond your limits, and thus offers you the incredible and exhilarating opportunity to black water raft through the labyrinth of caves - 'abseiling, climbing, whizzing down a flying fox and cave tubing' in the pitch black dark lit only by small clusters of glow worms, 35 metres underground.

2) Tauranga

Tauranga

Heading further South, we stumble upon perhaps the most picturesque seaside town in New Zealand, Tauranga. There is nothing considerably standout-ish about this quaint little city, however on a fine day, nothing beats a walk along the beautiful beaches and Mount Maunganui - which overlooks civilisation. The completion of the impressive Harbour Bridge (as seen in the photo to the left), was finished in 1988 to bring The Mount and Tauranga closer together. Tauranga is the perfect sporting holiday destination with plenty of recreational activities to participate in, and of course the naturally heated spring pools allow you to kick back and relax.



3) Rotorua

Geothermal Pool

Perhaps recognised more for its notorious 'rotten egg' smell, rather than its natural beauty, is the wonderful city of Rotorua. It is home of all geothermal activity and heated mud pools, creating a spectacular show for tourists all year round. The geothermal park takes you on a boardwalk situated between and above these heated holes, giving you the closest look possible at these incredible works of nature. As well as looking at them, there are also ones of a suitable temperature to bathe in, therefore a lovely romantic little treat - if you can get past the smell.

4) Wellington City

Wellington City and the Wellington Cable Car

Of course, we then head further south to the very bottom of the North Island, whereby the Capital city is situated - Wellington. Not only the Capital, but my home as well, this quaint little city oozes a picturesque and simplistic character. Here, Te Papa Museum is located - a must see for every tourist - as is the lovely, little red cable car. There is no need for a taxi, as the city is completely within walking distance, and as a boutique little toy-town, it is home to many exquisite shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. Wellington is also a handy 3 hour ferry ride away from the city of Picton, on the Northern tip of the South Island, a perfect little stopover for anyone travelling between islands. The most incredible thing about Wellington however, it that on a day where you aren't kept inside by the southerly winds and chilly breeze, you don't even need to go to the top of Mount Victoria to be able to see the South Island across the horizon. It is a truly spectacular sight.

5) Milford Sound

Lastly, we arrive at the very south of the south. Before I continue, the South Island is home to some of the most astonishing natural sights in the world, however, I felt that Milford Sound can speak on behalf of the rest. I will give you a list of additional sights to see on the South Island however, because I truly feel they are too incredible to be overlooked.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fjord in the South West of the South Island, a good 4 hour drive from the nearest city of Invercargill. Bus tours are the most common means of transport to this region as they usually include a two hour boat trip around the Fiordland National Park (the location of Milford Sound). The boats tend to take you close to the vertical rock walls and plummeting waterfalls which surround the large body of water. Water sports (no doubt) are also common here, with tramping and canoeing often happening throughout the year. In all seriousness, there is not much I can say to justify the sheer natural beauty of the photo above. How can you not want to go there? It's magical.

5 Places To See In The South

• Fox Glacier
• Mount Cook
• Queenstown
• Lake Wanaka

Fancy an adventure?

Skippers Canyon

• Skippers Canyon

If you are seeking thrill, try driving along Skippers Canyon in the South Island to reach the infamous Bungy Jumping destination.

If that doesn't sound thrilling, try driving along it in an old van.

The sensation of my heart literally jumping out of my chest as I looked out the window and could only see a 50 metre cliff face was exhilarating, to say the least.

Of course, below is what the 'road' really looked like…



And yes, it was one way only.

Skippers Canyon