New Zealand's North Island
by: Ramnish Gupta
From Cape Reinga in the north right through to Wellington in the south, New Zealand's North Island offers some unique opportunities to tourist and locals alike.
Auckland city is the busiest New Zealand city and arguably the commercial capital of New Zealand. Being one of the most populated cities, Auckland offers some of the best shopping opportunities in New Zealand.
Wellington is the capital city and has a population of around 400,00. The main attraction in Wellington would have to be Te Papa, which is a museum located in the city. While at Te Papa, make time for a stroll around Queen's wharf or a cruise in the Wellesley or catch a play at Circa theatre. The Interislander ferry can also be caught from Wellington to travel across the Cook strait to Picton in the South Island.
Other attractions in the North Island include the Maori village in Rotorua, ski fields in the central North Island, stunning beaches in the Coromandel and Hawke's Bay, Huka falls near Taupo and Mt Taranaki (also known as Mt Egmont), which was the location for the filming of the Tom Cruise flick "The Last Samurai". Lord of the Rings tours are also available and extremely popular with Tolkien fans!
About The Author
Ramnish Gupta is based in New Zealand and has a keen interest in travel and photography. How website New Zealand Photography has travel information and photographs from all over New Zealand.
ram@newzealandphotography.co.nz
Friday, June 15, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
by: Adrien White
Given the exposure it has received in movies, New Zealand is becoming a very popular tourist destination. Exploring it by motorhome is a great option if you visit.
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
One of the biggest regrets many travelers have is that they rush, rush, rush to see and do everything when they go traveling. Given the fact you are taking a break from work, you would probably be far better off taking it slow and relaxing. In short, we are talking about quality of travel time over quantity of things seen during a trip. If you are considering a trip to New Zealand, there is a perfect way to put this advice into practice.
New Zealand is an insanely beautiful country. If you are not sure what it looks like, rent one of the Lord of the Rings movies. They were shot in New Zealand all at once and you can even visit some of the sets. Along with this beauty comes a rather relaxed attitude exuded by some of the friendliest people around. If you rush around to see everything possible in a few weeks or a month, you are doing it all wrong. A much better choice is to go with the flow and tour the country in a rented motorhome.
Renting a motorhome in New Zealand is extremely simple as it is a very popular option with many visitors. The country has excellent roads and plenty of places to just stop and relax. You can cruise along at your own pace and stop when the scenery inspires you.
To rent a motorhome, you are going to need to be at least 25 years old. Rental prices range depending on the type of vehicle you need and the time. Minimum prices run from forty to fifty dollars a day, which isn’t bad when you consider you will not need a hotel room and can pack your own food. There are also a minimum number of days you have to commit to with six being the standard. This can triple during high tourist seasons, which are around New Years. As to a driver’s license, your regular license will suffice.
New Zealand is a country best experienced at a casual pace. Renting a motorhome is the best way to do this and discover little areas that most rushing tourists will miss.
About The Author
Adrien White is with RV Rentals for you - information on RV rentals, dealers, parks and more.
by: Adrien White
Given the exposure it has received in movies, New Zealand is becoming a very popular tourist destination. Exploring it by motorhome is a great option if you visit.
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
One of the biggest regrets many travelers have is that they rush, rush, rush to see and do everything when they go traveling. Given the fact you are taking a break from work, you would probably be far better off taking it slow and relaxing. In short, we are talking about quality of travel time over quantity of things seen during a trip. If you are considering a trip to New Zealand, there is a perfect way to put this advice into practice.
New Zealand is an insanely beautiful country. If you are not sure what it looks like, rent one of the Lord of the Rings movies. They were shot in New Zealand all at once and you can even visit some of the sets. Along with this beauty comes a rather relaxed attitude exuded by some of the friendliest people around. If you rush around to see everything possible in a few weeks or a month, you are doing it all wrong. A much better choice is to go with the flow and tour the country in a rented motorhome.
Renting a motorhome in New Zealand is extremely simple as it is a very popular option with many visitors. The country has excellent roads and plenty of places to just stop and relax. You can cruise along at your own pace and stop when the scenery inspires you.
To rent a motorhome, you are going to need to be at least 25 years old. Rental prices range depending on the type of vehicle you need and the time. Minimum prices run from forty to fifty dollars a day, which isn’t bad when you consider you will not need a hotel room and can pack your own food. There are also a minimum number of days you have to commit to with six being the standard. This can triple during high tourist seasons, which are around New Years. As to a driver’s license, your regular license will suffice.
New Zealand is a country best experienced at a casual pace. Renting a motorhome is the best way to do this and discover little areas that most rushing tourists will miss.
About The Author
Adrien White is with RV Rentals for you - information on RV rentals, dealers, parks and more.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Unusual Birds and Mammals
Unusual Birds and Mammals
by: Emma Snow
We all know what wolves and coyotes look like, and nearly everyone is familiar with bears, deer and turtles; what about some less familiar animals such as capybara, kiwi, or tapirs? There are so many lesser known animals on this planet that we hear little or nothing about most times, it is interesting to investigate a few of these creatures and understand them a little more.
Our next animal is a cute little miniature "bear" called the kinkajou. These are a unique animal in that they are the only mammals that help to pollinate plants. They have very long tongues that they use to lick the nectar inside flowers. While they are licking, they get pollen on their fur and noses and this gets transplanted to other flowers as they feed. They are sometimes called honey bears because they love honey so much, but they are different from regular bears in that they are very small, most times not weighing more than 8 pounds. They are fun loving animals that even make good pets. They feed on fruit, honey and eggs in the wild and their closest cousin is the panda bear of Asia.
Another unusual mammal is a tapir. It looks like half anteater, half pig, yet they are not related to either. They descend from primitive horses and rhinos. They come in various color patterns depending on the region they are from. All baby tapirs, however, are born with a pattern of dots and stripes which make them look like a watermelon with legs. As they age, these markings fade away to be replaced with their adult color patterns. They feed on fruit, berries and leaves, and can live to be 30 years old.
Our last animal is a Marsupial Mouse. While this may seem like just any other mouse, there are some very distinct characteristics about the marsupial mouse that make it stand out. Being a marsupial, its young are "hatched" from inside their mothers and then they crawl through her fir up to their mother's underside where they attach and feed until they are fully developed. When they come out of their mother, they are so underdeveloped that in order to survive, they have to breathe through their skin. They are the only mammal found that can do this. As their lungs continue to develop, they gradually start to take over the breathing process until eventually, when fully developed, their skin no longer plays a role in breathing. They are carnivorous by nature, eating insects, small birds, reptiles and small mammals.
The last unusual bird is the worlds smallest, weighing in at only 1.8 grams, which is less than a US penny. The bee hummingbird's nest is only 3 cm wide. Its tiny wings beat 80 times per second. Using all this energy requires them to eat half their body weight in food each day as well as drink eight times their body weight in water. That's like a 150 pound adult human drinking 144 gallons of water each day. They are found only in Cuba and the Isle of Pines.
About The Author
Emma Snow has always adored wild animals. Emma provides content for Wildlife Animals WildLife Animals and Riding Stable Riding Stable.
by: Emma Snow
We all know what wolves and coyotes look like, and nearly everyone is familiar with bears, deer and turtles; what about some less familiar animals such as capybara, kiwi, or tapirs? There are so many lesser known animals on this planet that we hear little or nothing about most times, it is interesting to investigate a few of these creatures and understand them a little more.
Mammals
Capybara are first on our list of unusual mammals. They are the world’s largest rodent, averaging 100 pounds. They are called rodents because they have sharp front teeth that never stop growing. They are semi-aquatic, spending a lot of time in the water. They live in grasslands and forests alongside water in Central and South America. They are most active during the early morning and late evening and rest during the heat of the day.Our next animal is a cute little miniature "bear" called the kinkajou. These are a unique animal in that they are the only mammals that help to pollinate plants. They have very long tongues that they use to lick the nectar inside flowers. While they are licking, they get pollen on their fur and noses and this gets transplanted to other flowers as they feed. They are sometimes called honey bears because they love honey so much, but they are different from regular bears in that they are very small, most times not weighing more than 8 pounds. They are fun loving animals that even make good pets. They feed on fruit, honey and eggs in the wild and their closest cousin is the panda bear of Asia.
Another unusual mammal is a tapir. It looks like half anteater, half pig, yet they are not related to either. They descend from primitive horses and rhinos. They come in various color patterns depending on the region they are from. All baby tapirs, however, are born with a pattern of dots and stripes which make them look like a watermelon with legs. As they age, these markings fade away to be replaced with their adult color patterns. They feed on fruit, berries and leaves, and can live to be 30 years old.
Our last animal is a Marsupial Mouse. While this may seem like just any other mouse, there are some very distinct characteristics about the marsupial mouse that make it stand out. Being a marsupial, its young are "hatched" from inside their mothers and then they crawl through her fir up to their mother's underside where they attach and feed until they are fully developed. When they come out of their mother, they are so underdeveloped that in order to survive, they have to breathe through their skin. They are the only mammal found that can do this. As their lungs continue to develop, they gradually start to take over the breathing process until eventually, when fully developed, their skin no longer plays a role in breathing. They are carnivorous by nature, eating insects, small birds, reptiles and small mammals.
Birds
Of the various birds in the world, the kiwi bird is one of the most unique. It is similar to the chicken in that it can't fly. Their "wings" are only two inches long and for all practical purposes are useless. They are the sole survivor of an ancient order of birds including the now extinct moas. They are semi-nocturnal animals, so catching a glimpse of them in the wild rarely happens. They can only be found in New Zealand and its surrounding islands. The reason they have survived the ages in New Zealand comes from the fact that there are no snakes or large mammals native to New Zealand. A bird the size of a kiwi, without the capability to fly would be an especially attractive target to snakes. Also...the island has no bears, bobcats, tigers, etc., with also makes it easier for the kiwi to survive. With the coming of humans to the island, especially the colonization by England, house pets such as cats and dogs have become the main predators of the decreasing kiwi population. Some of the biggest birds in the world are condors. They can have wingspans up to 11 feet; they use their large wingspan to "float" on air thermals for miles without having to move their wings, which conserves their energy as they look for food. They are in the vulture family, feeding on the remains of animals and thus they play a very significant role in the animal kingdom. They have highly evolved immune systems to ward off infection from the various bacteria left on the animal carcasses they feed on. They are very clean birds, spending much of their time cleaning their feathers and heads after eating to further keep them safe from disease and bacteria. Their heads are featherless allowing them to stay clean during eating.The last unusual bird is the worlds smallest, weighing in at only 1.8 grams, which is less than a US penny. The bee hummingbird's nest is only 3 cm wide. Its tiny wings beat 80 times per second. Using all this energy requires them to eat half their body weight in food each day as well as drink eight times their body weight in water. That's like a 150 pound adult human drinking 144 gallons of water each day. They are found only in Cuba and the Isle of Pines.
About The Author
Emma Snow has always adored wild animals. Emma provides content for Wildlife Animals WildLife Animals and Riding Stable Riding Stable.
Monday, March 5, 2007
In Search of Hobbits: A Small Adventure
In Search of Hobbits: A Small Adventure
by: Annette Gisby
We couldn't very well visit New Zealand without seeing some of the Lord of the Rings locations and our first stop was the small town of Matamata on the North Island, which became famous as Hobbiton was filmed around there.
All either of us knew was that it was filmed somewhere on a sheep farm near there, but that was about it. My husband John was driving and I was navigating with a map we'd just bought a few days before in Auckland. The map had Lord of the Rings locations marked on it, but places still seemed to take a little bit of finding.
"What does the map say?" asked John.
"It just says 'Matamata' for 'Hobbiton'," I replied, which wasn't much help to us as we both knew that the film location was not in the town but somewhere outside of it. We decided to go into Matamata and see if they had a tourist information centre who would know where the location was.
As we drove into town, there was an information centre sign three hundred metres ahead. Three hundred metres ahead of us was a car park and a small building that looked as if it was in the process of being built or being demolished. There was no information sign anywhere and we wondered if we'd taken a wrong turn somewhere.
We parked the car and decided to have a look around the town, which took about ten minutes. Coming back to the car from a slightly different direction, we finally came across the information centre, which was at the other side of the dilapidated building we saw. And in big golden letters plastered across the window was 'Hobbiton Tours'.
At last! You could only go on a guided tour as the land was privately owned, we just made it in time for the second to last tour of the day. There were about 15-20 people in our tour, although the bus could probably seat about forty.
It was about a twenty minute drive outside of Matamata to get to the Alexander sheep farm, where the movie was filmed. Of course, most of it has returned to its natural state of rolling hills and lots of sheep, but there are a few Hobbit holes left, including Bag End, Frodo and Bilbo's house in the Shire.
The day we went, it drizzled constantly, but it didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirit, everyone was smiling and excited that they actually got to see the Shire. John and I decided that yes, we could quite happily live there. There was just something so peaceful about the area, you could see why they decided to film the Shire there.
Our guide Theresa pointed out the various places where some of the structures had been which were no longer there. There weren't meant to be any structures left at all, but before all of them could be taken down, there was a very bad rainstorm and it was deemed to dangerous to remove the rest, so there are about eighteen Hobbit holes left altogether.
You really do feel that you are walking through the village of Hobbiton, not a film set, despite the Hobbit holes just having a wooden facade now, not gardens and brightly painted doors like in the films. It's just the sense of the place. I
Once we arrived at the steps to Bag End the guide mentioned that she had a tour once where a girl kissed the top step because Elijah Wood had once stood on there!
"I wouldn't recommend it," she said. "There've been a lot of sheep walking around here since then!"
Despite her warning, there were a few people who seemed to be considering it!
Of course as you may know, Hobbits are very shy of the Big Folk, so don't expect to see any on your trip, but if you look closely and are very quiet, you might just get lucky.
For more information, you can visit the Hobbiton Tours website: Hobbiton Tours
About The Author
Annette Gisby is the author of the novels "Drowning Rapunzel" and "Silent Screams" as well as the short story collection "Shadows of the Rose." She enjoys travelling and seeing new places, despite getting travel sick and hopes to visit New Zealand again in the future.
For more information on Annette and her books please visit her website at Annette Gisby
Article may be reprinted with bio information still attached.
by: Annette Gisby
We couldn't very well visit New Zealand without seeing some of the Lord of the Rings locations and our first stop was the small town of Matamata on the North Island, which became famous as Hobbiton was filmed around there.
All either of us knew was that it was filmed somewhere on a sheep farm near there, but that was about it. My husband John was driving and I was navigating with a map we'd just bought a few days before in Auckland. The map had Lord of the Rings locations marked on it, but places still seemed to take a little bit of finding.
"What does the map say?" asked John.
"It just says 'Matamata' for 'Hobbiton'," I replied, which wasn't much help to us as we both knew that the film location was not in the town but somewhere outside of it. We decided to go into Matamata and see if they had a tourist information centre who would know where the location was.
As we drove into town, there was an information centre sign three hundred metres ahead. Three hundred metres ahead of us was a car park and a small building that looked as if it was in the process of being built or being demolished. There was no information sign anywhere and we wondered if we'd taken a wrong turn somewhere.
We parked the car and decided to have a look around the town, which took about ten minutes. Coming back to the car from a slightly different direction, we finally came across the information centre, which was at the other side of the dilapidated building we saw. And in big golden letters plastered across the window was 'Hobbiton Tours'.
At last! You could only go on a guided tour as the land was privately owned, we just made it in time for the second to last tour of the day. There were about 15-20 people in our tour, although the bus could probably seat about forty.
It was about a twenty minute drive outside of Matamata to get to the Alexander sheep farm, where the movie was filmed. Of course, most of it has returned to its natural state of rolling hills and lots of sheep, but there are a few Hobbit holes left, including Bag End, Frodo and Bilbo's house in the Shire.
The day we went, it drizzled constantly, but it didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirit, everyone was smiling and excited that they actually got to see the Shire. John and I decided that yes, we could quite happily live there. There was just something so peaceful about the area, you could see why they decided to film the Shire there.
Our guide Theresa pointed out the various places where some of the structures had been which were no longer there. There weren't meant to be any structures left at all, but before all of them could be taken down, there was a very bad rainstorm and it was deemed to dangerous to remove the rest, so there are about eighteen Hobbit holes left altogether.
You really do feel that you are walking through the village of Hobbiton, not a film set, despite the Hobbit holes just having a wooden facade now, not gardens and brightly painted doors like in the films. It's just the sense of the place. I
Once we arrived at the steps to Bag End the guide mentioned that she had a tour once where a girl kissed the top step because Elijah Wood had once stood on there!
"I wouldn't recommend it," she said. "There've been a lot of sheep walking around here since then!"
Despite her warning, there were a few people who seemed to be considering it!
Of course as you may know, Hobbits are very shy of the Big Folk, so don't expect to see any on your trip, but if you look closely and are very quiet, you might just get lucky.
For more information, you can visit the Hobbiton Tours website: Hobbiton Tours
About The Author
Annette Gisby is the author of the novels "Drowning Rapunzel" and "Silent Screams" as well as the short story collection "Shadows of the Rose." She enjoys travelling and seeing new places, despite getting travel sick and hopes to visit New Zealand again in the future.
For more information on Annette and her books please visit her website at Annette Gisby
Article may be reprinted with bio information still attached.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
by: Adrien White
Given the exposure it has received in movies, New Zealand is becoming a very popular tourist destination. Exploring it by motorhome is a great option if you visit.
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
One of the biggest regrets many travelers have is that they rush, rush, rush to see and do everything when they go traveling. Given the fact you are taking a break from work, you would probably be far better off taking it slow and relaxing. In short, we are talking about quality of travel time over quantity of things seen during a trip. If you are considering a trip to New Zealand, there is a perfect way to put this advice into practice.
New Zealand is an insanely beautiful country. If you are not sure what it looks like, rent one of the Lord of the Rings movies. They were shot in New Zealand all at once and you can even visit some of the sets. Along with this beauty comes a rather relaxed attitude exuded by some of the friendliest people around. If you rush around to see everything possible in a few weeks or a month, you are doing it all wrong. A much better choice is to go with the flow and tour the country in a rented motorhome.
Renting a motorhome in New Zealand is extremely simple as it is a very popular option with many visitors. The country has excellent roads and plenty of places to just stop and relax. You can cruise along at your own pace and stop when the scenery inspires you.
To rent a motorhome, you are going to need to be at least 25 years old. Rental prices range depending on the type of vehicle you need and the time. Minimum prices run from forty to fifty dollars a day, which isn’t bad when you consider you will not need a hotel room and can pack your own food. There are also a minimum number of days you have to commit to with six being the standard. This can triple during high tourist seasons, which are around New Years. As to a driver’s license, your regular license will suffice.
New Zealand is a country best experienced at a casual pace. Renting a motorhome is the best way to do this and discover little areas that most rushing tourists will miss.
About The Author
Adrien White is with RV Rentals for you - information on RV rentals, dealers, parks and more.
by: Adrien White
Given the exposure it has received in movies, New Zealand is becoming a very popular tourist destination. Exploring it by motorhome is a great option if you visit.
Exploring New Zealand by Motorhome
One of the biggest regrets many travelers have is that they rush, rush, rush to see and do everything when they go traveling. Given the fact you are taking a break from work, you would probably be far better off taking it slow and relaxing. In short, we are talking about quality of travel time over quantity of things seen during a trip. If you are considering a trip to New Zealand, there is a perfect way to put this advice into practice.
New Zealand is an insanely beautiful country. If you are not sure what it looks like, rent one of the Lord of the Rings movies. They were shot in New Zealand all at once and you can even visit some of the sets. Along with this beauty comes a rather relaxed attitude exuded by some of the friendliest people around. If you rush around to see everything possible in a few weeks or a month, you are doing it all wrong. A much better choice is to go with the flow and tour the country in a rented motorhome.
Renting a motorhome in New Zealand is extremely simple as it is a very popular option with many visitors. The country has excellent roads and plenty of places to just stop and relax. You can cruise along at your own pace and stop when the scenery inspires you.
To rent a motorhome, you are going to need to be at least 25 years old. Rental prices range depending on the type of vehicle you need and the time. Minimum prices run from forty to fifty dollars a day, which isn’t bad when you consider you will not need a hotel room and can pack your own food. There are also a minimum number of days you have to commit to with six being the standard. This can triple during high tourist seasons, which are around New Years. As to a driver’s license, your regular license will suffice.
New Zealand is a country best experienced at a casual pace. Renting a motorhome is the best way to do this and discover little areas that most rushing tourists will miss.
About The Author
Adrien White is with RV Rentals for you - information on RV rentals, dealers, parks and more.
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