10 Reasons to Holiday in New Zealand - Part 1

10 Reasons to Holiday in New Zealand - Part 1
By Sue Taylor

New Zealand is a small country of approximately 4 million people.  It is made up of 2 main islands, the North Island, which contains the majority of the population and the South Island, which abounds with lush scenery. This is the ideal country for a holiday.

There are a multitude of airlines (approximately 45) that fly in to New Zealand these days.  Most of them fly in to Auckland which is located towards the top of the North Island and is considered to be the gateway of the country.  Auckland is by far the biggest city in New Zealand and has that big city feeling.  Approximately one third of the whole population of New Zealand lives in the greater Auckland area.  If you enjoy shopping, beaches or sailing, you could spend your whole time in Auckland, but although it is a beautiful city, there are many other special areas within New Zealand.   There is an amazing diversity of scenery from beautiful beaches, ancient rain forests, stunning mountains, lakes, rivers and thermal activity to name just some of what you will see.

1.         The people in New Zealand speak English which is a help if you are traveling from a western country.  Generally speaking the people are also very friendly and will ensure your stay is very enjoyable.  New Zealanders are very proud of their country and enjoy sharing the beauty and benefits of their country with others.

2.         The exchange rate is favorable if you are coming over from Australia, UK, Europe and USA or almost any Western country.  The shopping is very good particularly in the main areas such as Auckland, Wellington, (the capital of New Zealand situated at the bottom of the North Island) Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.  New Zealand has some very talented and established fashion designers as well as some promising up and coming young designers.

3.         Apart from Auckland which can be quite congested both with people and traffic, you will find that New Zealand is relatively quiet.  If you choose to hire a car, the quiet roads will probably be appealing as it can be rather daunting driving in an unfamiliar country on very busy roads.  Note that cars drive on the left hand side of the road in New Zealand.  Just be sure to check out the road rules.  They have a very peculiar give way rule which could prove to be a dangerous trap for the unwary.

4.         One of the best reasons to visit New Zealand is because of the stunning scenery.  Although the country is small, there is an incredible diversity to the scenery.  There are some beautiful as well as rugged beaches, some amazing and almost prehistoric geo-thermal areas around Rotorua, stunning mountains, rain forests, great fishing in the many lakes and rivers, the most famous lake being Lake Taupo as well as the natural beauty of some of the towns and cities.

5.         If skiing is your passion, there are a multitude of choices on both the North and South Island for the beginner through to the advanced skier.  One of the nice things about a skiing holiday in New Zealand, particularly in the Queenstown area (located in the South Island) is the stunning views you have whilst skiing.  There is a wide variety of accommodation options available close to skiing areas.

Sue and Grant Taylor now travel extensively and they have compiled a number of tips for traveling at their website: http://www.taylortraveltales.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
10 Reasons to Holiday in New Zealand - Part 2
 by: Sue Taylor
1. Queenstown in the South Island is considered to be the "Adventure Capital of the World". You can bungy jump or go on a thrilling jet boat ride, go heli-skiing, sky diving, fly-by-wire, and luging to name a few. Both bungy jumping and jet boating were invented in New Zealand. New Zealanders have a saying about Kiwi ingenuity which is borne out in the tourist spots within New Zealand.
2. There is a wide array of different accommodation options to cater for all tastes. At the upper end there are Lodges which are the height of luxury. These lodges are ordinarily located in very scenic and secluded areas and all gourmet meals are included in the price. The price of this type of accommodation reflects the luxury and inclusions.
The next level of accommodation is hotels, from international 5 star down to 2 star for basic accommodation. The hotels will tend to be serviced on a daily basis and usually include one room and a bathroom. Hotel rooms will include tea and coffee making facilities, fridges and most hotels would include a restaurant.
A favored option for families is the ever increasing numbers of apartments. The apartments are generally self catering as opposed to a hotel stay but the advantage is that they provide more space and are self catering which means that you don't have to eat out all the time thus saving you money to spend on sightseeing.
Then we have motels. Generally speaking motels offer more space than hotels and tend to be serviced daily but do not tend to be as luxurious. Motels often provide a separate bedroom or two and sometimes cooking facilities. You would need to check this out when booking.
There are also an increasing number of Bed and Breakfast's. These vary dramatically and can vary from 5 star establishments to the fairly basic. If you enjoy "getting to know the locals", the B & B option could be a good one for you. Generally breakfast will be provided as part of the price. Dinner would be by special arrangement only.
If you are on a budget there are plenty of backpacker hostels to choose from which are centrally located and well priced.
3. New Zealand has a great culinary landscape. Being a small island country surrounded by the sea, there are a multitude of seafood delicacies on offer. The ocean surrounding New Zealand is cold water thanks to Antarctica being relatively close. Cold water fish tend to have a delicate flavor. As well as fish from the sea, there are large lakes which are trout and salmon breeding grounds. Trout can not be caught commercially so there is no danger of supplies running out. New Zealand is also quite big on game and most of the more up-market restaurants will have a game option on the menu. You will find that there are dining options to suit every taste and budget. New Zealand might be quite removed geographically from the rest of the world but it is quick to adopt new types and styles of food and the kiwi ingenuity mentioned earlier in the article is demonstrated in the food served in restaurants. There are coffee bars and cafes, wine bars serving food, pubs with restaurants, family dining options, buffet's as well as the more up-market al la carte options.
There is also a thriving wine industry in New Zealand. Wherever you go, you will see vines and many of the wines produced are top quality. If wine is your thing, you won't be disappointed. Marlborough located at the top of the South Island is one of the oldest and best known wine areas, most famous for production of Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand is also becoming very well known for producing excellent Pinot Noir, a notoriously difficult wine to produce.
4. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will know that the recent series of movies was filmed in different parts of New Zealand. New Zealanders are very proud of this and whilst traveling around you will come across many mentions of parts of the movies which may have been filmed in certain spots. There are also tours catering specifically to Lord of the Rings fans.
5. New Zealand has an interesting cultural history. It is thought that the Maoris who came from Polynesia settled in New Zealand about 1000 years ago. New Zealand became a British colony in 1840 after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. There are many excellent museums within the cities and towns which offer a great overview of the relatively short and violent history of New Zealand.