We've all heard of the beautiful scenery, the clean air and their feathered icon with the funny tail - the kiwi. And who doesn't know photos of spewing geysers and smiling faces of adrenaline junkies wildly descending slopes covered in a blanket of virgin white snow?
But the question that most travelers asked themselves is - why would we actually travel the long hours that separate us from New Zealand? Is she as charming as Paris? Is it as busy as New York? Exotic like the Seychelles? In 2001, even the most unbelieving Tomáš began to believe in the beauty of New Zealand, mainly thanks to small creatures with hairy legs and a golden ring. The whole world fell in love with Middle-earth, through which followers of the film trilogy Lord of the Rings got to know New Zealand. Breathtaking shots of mountain reflections (volcanic Tongariro, a national park on the North Island, represented the land of Mordor) on the calm surface of the lakes, green Shajerska and the mystical world of the Elves, made the land at the end of the world one of the most popular destinations in the world. Let's get to know New Zealand's largest city, located on the North Island, and the South Island, which delights lovers of unspoiled nature.
Auckland
On the one hand, Auckland offers the vibes of a city of millions, but on the other hand, it is one of the most peaceful cities in the world. In other words: the ideal place for an urban getaway. In Auckland, the days pass with lazy ease. Although in one of the reflections in a local newspaper, a New Yorker characterized the night life by saying: "Even with an electric blackout, Manhattan's Lower East Side has more nightlife than Auckland," and added: "but that is precisely the appeal of New Zealand's largest city, which is so beautiful that only the biggest fools would not have fun in it.” Most of the action takes place outdoors. The Tasman Sea and the Pacific literally lap the coast of the city, so it is not unusual that the second home of the city's residents is the sea. That's why Auckland boasts the highest number of yachts and sailboats per capita in the world. From the seemingly endless stretch of sand and foaming waves at Orewa Beach, to the emerald green juice of the organically grown kiwis sold on Waiheke Island, these are all little pieces of paradise at the end of the globe that time seems to have forgotten. And for most Aucklanders, this aloofness suits them just fine.
Driving around the South Island
The North Island is home to the majority of New Zealanders, while the South Island is famous for its beautiful scenery and hard-to-reach corners, which will be easiest to discover if we go on an adventure with a rental car. But be careful - the scenery is so beautiful that the view from the car window can easily get you so carried away that you forget about the steering wheel. The easiest way to start the trail is in Christchurch with the beautiful Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens in the center of the city. Adrenaline enthusiasts will be happy to go rafting on the Rangitata River, which is considered one of the best in the country. In the city of Dunedin, construction has begun on the new Carisbrook Stadium, which is expected to replace the old stadium by 2011, which is considered the home of New Zealand's most popular sport. Driving around the Otago Peninsula in the company of albatrosses, sea lions and penguins offers us the pleasures of unspoiled nature. Let's start exploring the southwestern part of the island in the small town of Te Anau. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, the town by the lake of the same name is an ideal starting point for visiting underground caves illuminated by unusual green glow worms. They attract victims with light, and in the dark corridors of the caves, they stir the imagination of visitors, which is further stimulated by the beauty of the underground world. Te Anau is also the last town before a wonderful drive through Fiordland National Park. Winding roads lead through 120 kilometers of beech forests, past calm lake surfaces and snow-capped peaks to Milford Sound, dominated by the impressive Miter Peak. Waterfalls cascade down the steep walls of the fjord, and the shores are inhabited by seals and penguins. The best way to admire the vastness of Milford Sound is by boat or kayak, or even a panoramic flight, which offers views often unseen by hikers. However, since Milford Sound is a regular on the schedules of all the major tourist service providers, lovers of quieter places prefer to go to Doubtful Sound, which offers interesting opportunities for diving.
Active New Zealand
New Zealand is also known as a paradise for adrenaline junkies. Queenstown is the capital of crazy sports that excite hyperactive people all over the world. Visitors can try all the craziest sports around the city and see for themselves that there is no end to New Zealanders' ingenuity. Bungee jumping, skiing, canyoning or skydiving, we just have to choose whether to do mischief in water, air or hills. Lovers of quieter places prefer to stop in Wanaka instead of Queenstown. Henry van Asch, the pioneer of bungee jumping, recommends Treble Cone, which is one of New Zealand's highest and most modern ski resorts. In the summer, mountain bikers climb the slopes, and in the winter, skiers and snowboarders enjoy the whole snow. On the west coast, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers wind their way towards the sea, and from them one of the most picturesque roads in the country leads north between the wild coast and the mountains. The exact opposite is a walk along the 51 kilometers of groomed trails in the Abel Tasman National Park. So that the legs are not too strained, let's jump into a neoprene suit and go exploring hidden beaches with a kayak. The car first becomes a problem in Malrborough Sounds. 1,500 kilometers of coastline are miraculously compressed into only 50 square kilometers of countless bays and beaches. Every square meter of the coast is covered with vegetation. Palm trees grow because of the subtropical sun, pine trees grow because of the fresh mists, the settlers brought citrus fruits, and ferns grow everywhere - a symbol of New Zealand, a Maori sacred plant and one of the oldest plants in the world. The Queen Charlotte Track is a three- to five-day trek for a complete "disconnect" from everyday worries. Let's end our drive around the South Island in Kaikoura. Once a town of whalers with harpoons, it is now a town of whalers with telephoto lenses. Watching whales, swimming with dolphins, diving with seals convinces us that the words written by one of New Zealand's most respected writers, Maurice Shadbolt, in 1963 are absolutely true: "New Zealand begins and ends with the sea."
