"100%
PURE NEW ZEALAND" is the official ad slogan for this uniquely diverse
country.
The
natural landscape has firmly marked it on the map as an eco-tourism
destination and an adventure lovers’ paradise.
This energetic country has an abundance of adrenaline fuelled
outdoor activities that utilize the natural landscape, much of which is
protected.
This is nature’s adventure playground....
Amidst
breathtaking scenery you’ll find the best locations for bungee jumping,
white water rafting, hiking up glaciers, hang-gliding off mountains,
sailing across fjords, skiing down active volcano’s, and swimming in
thermal springs and geysers… you won’t be disappointed!
With both Māori and European influences, New Zealand also has
a unique cultural background making it a wonderfully diverse and welcoming
country. New
Zealand is a very friendly and open culture and New Zealanders (or Kiwi's
as they are commonly referred to) are usually informal in their
relationships.
New Zealanders are passionate
about sport, especially rugby, and it forms a major part of the culture.
A lot of patriotism is expressed through sport and so it is taken quite seriously. New Zealanders also enjoy many other
sports, such as cricket, netball and rugby league.
ABOUT NEW
ZEALAND: New
Zealand is often referred to by it’s Māori name, ‘Aotearoa’ which means the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. The Māori
people are the indigenous people of New Zealand and comprise about 10%
of the country’s population. They are Polynesian by descent and believed
to have migrated from Polynesia in canoes somewhere between the 9th
and 13th century AD.
The
country is situated in the South Pacific Ocean, a whopping 995 miles
south-east of Australia (the equivalent distance between London and
Moscow). The country's capital, Wellington, is officially the most
southerly capital on the planet. But it’s Auckland (located towards the
top of the North Island) that is the most populated with almost 1
million of New Zealand’s 4.1 million living here.
Wool,
meat and dairy products are ranked at the top of New Zealand’s exports,
with an estimated 10 sheep to every 1 person! Around 10% of New
Zealand’s economy is also driven by Tourism, with around 2 million
tourists arriving each year and an official ad slogan: "100% PURE NEW
ZEALAND".
The
country can be divided into the North Island, the South Island
and Stewart Island, as well as many tiny surrounding islands. The
North Island is typically famous for beaches, springs and bush, whilst
the South Island boasts mountains, glaciers, alpine forests and
farmlands.
New
Zealand’s diverse cultural background stems from its’ 1,000 year
history, with heritage from both Māori and European settlers. Combined
with Pacific and Asian influences this has created a unique culture. New
Zealanders are typically referred to as "Kiwi’s" after the flightless
Kiwi bird, which has become the country’s national symbol. Kiwi birds
are unique to New Zealand and thought to be around 60 million years old.
Climate:
New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far north has a
subtropical summer, the inland alpine areas can get as cold as -10°C in
winter. Most of the country, however, lies close to the coast, which
means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall and abundant sunshine.
The
country does not have a large temperature range and lacks the extremes
found in most continental climates. However, the weather can change
unexpectedly as cold fronts or tropical cyclones blow in. Summer is the
busier time of the year, yet winter also brings hoards of tourists to
the popular ski-resort towns. Spring, stretches from September till
November, summer from December till February, Autumn from March till May
and winter from June through till around August.
Read about Moko the dolphin who came to the
rescue of a Mother whale and her calf who were stranded on Mahia Beachon the
west coast of New Zealand's North Island.
We thought it was a beautiful tale as well as informative. Whales are
spiritually linked with the history of New Zealands Maori people and more has to
be done in cases like this to preserve the lives of these incredible and
esteemed creatures.
Click here for the full story...
.
PROJECTS YOU CAN DO IN NEW ZEALAND
Teaching:
You can
teach anything from English to Maths and Sports to
children aged between 7 and 17 years.
Teaching Music
at a school where
the children are from underprivileged countries and communities.
Coach
and Play Sports Projects:
We have nine different sports and
projects
for you to choose from where you can coach and play, plus you can coach
disadvantaged children.This is an excellent project!
Work
Experience:
Placements available in Cricket Management, Rugby
Management, Film & Video Editing at a TV station, Graphic Design,
Journalism and Occupational Therapy.
SPECIALS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Hongi-Maori greeting The Maori form of greeting is called ‘hongi’, which is the pressing of
noses. It is a tradition which continues today at major ceremonial functions.
Auckland
owes its popularity to that most important necessity…water. Its position on
a thin stretch of land tucked between two harbours encourages an active,
outdoor lifestyle. The many yachts that sail through the harbours and across
the adjoining Hauraki Gulf have led to Auckland’s name as the ‘City of
Sails’.
Auckland is incredibly picturesque, with a backdrop of
extinct volcanoes looking out across the many islands clustered around the
coast.
All of our
projects are based in and around Auckland.
The waterfront dominates the city. Shopping
enthusiasts will be easily satisfied by a large range of shops and
boutiques, while sports fans will be delighted in rugby at Eden park which
is home to the Blues super 14 rugby team. In and around Auckland you will
find plenty of restaurants and cafes to dine at, day trips to local islands
and lots of other attractions.
The Sky
Tower is
Auckland’s main attraction and a must for all visitors as it is the largest
freestanding tower in the southern hemisphere. The tower offers spectacular
360 degree panoramic views of Auckland which is a great way to get your
bearings and understand the layout of the city. You can also do a sky jump
from the top of the tower - falling 192 metres in 16 seconds!
Auckland
Museum is a must
for people interested in the history of New Zealand. The museum has a
comprehensive display or Māori and Pacific Island culture. There are also
live Māori shows provided by the museum which will give you a good insight
into the Māori culture.
Extinct
Volcanoes
are plentiful in Auckland itself. There are 11 extinct volcanoes in the
Auckland area and they provide great view points of the city and an
interesting climb to the summit. The craters are also a good feature and
will provide you with some interesting photos. The most well know extinct
volcanoes in Auckland are Mt Eden, Mt Wellington and One Tree Hill.
You can
also climb the Auckland Harbour Bridge or do a bungee jump off it -
not for the faint hearted but great for views of the city and an adrenaline
fix!
There are a couple of superb markets on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Check out Otara Market (6.00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays) - great cultural
mix, particularly the Polynesian bargains available, such as Tapa cloths and
crafts. On Sundays, visit Takapuna on the other side of Auckland city. This
has a more Asian feel and also has local crafts and food, as well as bargain
priced imports.
Auckland's busiest tourist season arrives
with the warmer weather between November and April, hitting its peak during
summer school holidays (20 December-late January). To a lesser extent the
Easter weekend, Labour Day weekend (late October) and the mid-year school
holidays are also busy. January and February are the best beach-weather
months, and December and March either side are usually warm - even hot at
times. November and April are slightly cooler and not so good for hanging
around at the beach, but it's noticeably quieter, and accommodation is
easier to find. (taken from Lonely Planet)
MAP OF
NEW ZEALAND AND THINGS TO DO:
THE NORTH
ISLAND: Auckland
is dotted with the Hauraki Gulf islands, some of which are minutes
away from the city and make great day trips. The islands provide a good
escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and provide good views of
Auckland as you sail away.
The most popular island is Rangitoto
which includes a 50 minute hike to the top of the summit where you can look
down into the crater of the extinct volcano which erupted for its last time
600 years ago.
Waiheke Island is also a popular place to visit and is
close to Auckland by ferry. The island boasts many beautiful beaches and
rolling hills with vineyards on them. The Great Barrier Island is the
largest island in the gulf and is a very rugged and scenic island - it is
88km from Auckland.
Northland &
Bay of Islands:
Northland is the winterless paradise, with varied and spectacular
scenery – beautiful beaches, awesome trees, lush national parks and
world-class dive sites.
About three hours north of Auckland is Paihia,
the main town of the Bay of Islands. Paihia has good beaches and you can do
many activities from there: swimming, dolphin watching, diving, sky diving,
etc. Nearby to Paihiais Waitangi, where the Māori chiefs and
the British government signed a treaty in 1840.
From
Northland you can take a day trip to visit Cape Reinga and 90 mile
beach where you
can have a go at sand-surfing on the awesome dunes. The Northland has the
majority of the remaining Kauri trees in New Zealand, the tallest being 51.5
meters in Waipoua Kauri Forest.
If you're into diving you can dive the
rainbow warrior - a sunken Greenpeace ship off the mainland.
View over
Auckland
Rotorua:
known as ‘Rota Vegas’, Rotorua has a large number of attractions and
adventure activities for high adrenalin junkies. Rotorua is renowned for
being the smelliest place in NZ due to the sulphur rich atmosphere in the
area. It has a thermal area with spurting geysers, steaming hot
springs and exploding mud pools. Te Puia and Te Whakarewarewa is a
thermal reserve and Māori cultural centre where you can see geysers spurting
out water and experience a traditional Māori meal. In Rotorua there
is also an abundance of extreme activities such as white water rafting on
the worlds largest drop (7 meters), zorbing, bungee jumping, sky
diving, sledging and more.
Tangariro
National Park: Tangariro
was New Zealand’s first national park and has 3 peaks; Mt Ruapehu, Mt
Tangariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. Tangariro is the most famous mountain and was
filmed as Mordors mount doom in the lord of the rings. The Tangariro
crossing is classed as New Zealand’s best one day hike. The crossing is
17km and takes you inbetween Mt Tangariro and Mt Ngauruhoe and has stunning
scenery of the mountains and various lakes.
Waitomo
Caves: The Waitomo
caves are famous for having large quantities of glow worms inside them - an
incredibly unique sight and a must see in New Zealand. Here you can also do caving and abseiling
up to 100 metres. Black water rafting is
also available in the caves - this unusual activity can only be done in this
part of New Zealand.
Wellington:
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and is located at the bottom of the
North Island. It is renowned for having steep hills and a wonderful cultural
and artistic centre. Wellington has a large number of
museums and historic buildings, and cable cars which will take you to the
hill summits for excellent city views.
THE SOUTH
ISLAND: The Abel Tasman National Park: The Abel
Tasman National Park is a very popular hiking area (or tramping as it is
known in New Zealand). There are a number of treks in the park that allow
you to pass through some beautiful scenery (considered by some to be
the best in New Zealand).
Franz Josef
glaciers: The
glaciers are one of the most famous sights and tourist spots in New Zealand.
The glaciers are well worth a visit - a hike with a tour guide is a must.
Christchurch:
Christchurch is often described as the most English city in New Zealand -
with its' English style buildings and heritage it is not hard to see why.
Christchurch has a number of attractions and is a major stopping off point
for people traveling down the east coast of the South island. There are a
number of attractions to see in Christchurch including; cathedral square, the
botanic gardens, museums or simply just walking through Christchurch to get
a feel for the place.
Queenstown:
Queenstown is referred to as New Zealand’s adrenaline activity capital and
with all the activities it has to offer it is not hard to see why. There are
numerous white knuckle activities to test your nerves; these include bungee jumping, skiing,
skydiving, rafting, sledging, jet boating, caving and hand gliding.
Milford
Sound: Milford
Sound is a Fiord and one of New Zealand’s biggest tourist attractions. The
clear calm waters either side of the cliffs are very picturesque, with a
1692 peak in the distance and rainfall which creates amazing waterfalls. A
beautiful and mysterious place.
Stewart
Island: Stewart
Island is New Zealand’s 3rd largest island and is very rarely
visited by tourists. The island is south of the main South island and is
renowned for its beautiful red sky and natural untouched beauty.
LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND:
New
Zealand is a very friendly and open culture and New Zealanders (or Kiwi's
as they are commonly referred to) are usually informal in their
relationships. We will brief you on cultural characteristics to assist
you in interacting with locals.
New Zealanders are passionate
about sport, especially rugby, and it forms a major part of the culture.
A lot of patriotism is expressed through sport and so it is taken quite seriously. New Zealanders also enjoy many other
sports, such as cricket, netball and rugby league.
Prior
to British settlers Māori's use to cook their meals in what is know as a
‘Hangi’ - an underground oven. Special stones are heated in a fire and
placed in an earthen pit, with the food put on top of it. This is
wrapped and covered with earth and left for several hours. Typical food
that would go into the hangi would be various types of
meats and vegetables, such as kumara or sweet potato.
When
the British arrived they brought their traditional food with them. Food
in New Zealand is similar to that of most of the western world and in
major cities it is easy to eat a variety of food such as American,
Mexican, Asian, Italian etc. Due to New Zealand being a multi cultural
country there is a wide variety of food available. There are a few
dishes that New Zealand is renowned for:
Roast
Lamb: or
'hogget' - a popular choice for meals with the addition of sweet
potatoes, roasted potatoes, greens and pumpkin. A must for visitors to
New Zealand.
Seafood:
New
Zealand's has a bountiful variety of shellfish, oysters, lobsters,
scallops and crayfish. Other seafood, such as cod, flounder, hapuka,
kingfish, John Dory, snapper, squid, and terekihi, all taste great and
are widely available. Fish and chips, wrapped in newspaper
from the local takeaway are one of the best and
least expensive ways to sample New Zealand seafood.
Suite 2A, Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring
Road, Worthing,
West Sussex, BN12 4AP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1903 502595 Fax: +44 (0)1903 708179
Email:
info@travellersworldwide.com
.
+44 01903 502595
