New Zealand was chosen as the location for filming of the award winning film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Being the filming site of one of the most popular movie series says a lot about this place! It is undoubtedly a spectacular tourist destination located in the southeast of Australia. It seems to be a long way to travel but all will be worth it.
As the saying would permit you to finally decide to take on the long due trip
“The greatest glory in living is going some place at least once a year you’ve never been before”
-Anonymous
Zeal to New Zealand!
But of course, you may not be a fan of Lord of the Rings so I gathered a few reasons to visit the place despite it being candidly featured in the said movie. A few of which would be the incandescent wildlife, ease of travel, the wine, the sparse population to name a few. Going to New Zealand is not just about sight seeing what you probably (or probably not) saw in the movie so here are a few of the most unusual places in the country
1.Moeraki Boulders
These boulders are shrouded with mystery. They lie along Koekohe beach up until the towns of Moeraki and Hampden. They compel tourists because of their peculiar spherical shapes with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.2 meters or 4.9 to 7.2 feet. They are almost as tall as the tourists themselves. In addition, Maori legend also believes that these boulders are what was left of the eel baskets, squashes, and sweet potatoes washed away from an ancestral canoe. If you want to know more about the story, then you should definitely visit.
2.Wai-O-Tapu
Wai-O-Tapu is probably one of the most famous geothermal spots in New Zealand. It is a geothermal country so it is expected to see many springs in any area. However, what makes this unique than all the others is its intriguing color.It consists of a gradient of three different colors with different hues. The dark blue color of the water slightly fades as it meets the yellow orange debri and dirty white of the land. Apparently, this may have been sculpted out of thousands of years’ worth of volcanic activity.
3.Teapotland, Owaka
If you are tired of sight seeing with nature as your focus, you may want to visit teapotland. It consists of dainty effects and products of, as the name suggests, teapots. It is a very eccentric house with a garden full of a thousand and more teapots of every size, shape, and variation. This will surely provide your experience with a bit of color with the quirky attraction designed by Graham Renwick who ironically only drinks coffee.
4. Tongariro National Park
Although if you are not into funky and quirky teapots and prefer a more challenging activity, hiking in this national park would be good for you. It is the home to some of the country’s most epic yet dormant volcanoes. In fact, it is considered as a heritage site by UNESCO. Now, that’s saying something. Its terrains literally flood with uniqueness. You can either try the ski slopes, tackle the multi-day circuit, or simply bask in the beauty of it all. Either way, you will marvel at the compelling alpine beauty of it all.
5. Stonehenge Aotearoa, Wairarapa
You may think that this is not the real stonehenge so why bother but if you can’t travel to the real stonehenge just yet, why not go for their unique replica in New Zealand? What makes it interesting is that no one ever figured out why it was built. UNESCO included it as one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Thankfully for the one made in New Zealand, there is a reason and that would be to help Kiwis appreciate the history passed on to them from their ancestors.
6. Waitomo Glowworm Caves
It was mentioned earlier that this country is home to wildlife. In fact many species can only be found in this country. One of which now became a great destination for tourists and Kiwis alike. The Waitomo glowworm caves are literally caves with the waitomo glow worms. It is an underground network of caves with which you can go to using boat, rafts, or self-guided spelunking missions. But what makes it more sought after aside from the tedious travel are the worms themselves because they literally glow and light up the underground limestone formations. Needless to say its uniqueness.
These are just a few of the many reasons to visit New Zealand. The diverse and unspoiled formation of nature is amast. The real home of “middle earth.” This is surely a must visit on your list.
