By: Jake Conte
Submitted: 2010-08-01 06:54:58 | Word Count: 566
New Zealand is a country that is also an island and is split into the north and south islands along with quite a few smaller islands. It is a very developed country with being well known for the freedom in economics, high education, and corruption being nearly non-existent. The population is primarily of European descent and the population is roughly 4,300,000 people.
One of the most well known facts about New Zealand is that The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed here. Tourists and residents alike can visit the Hobbiton movie set. Although the set is not as it was when the movie was filmed there are some areas that still remain from the filming which many are able to experience and enjoy. Along with this are tours of the sheep farms which are located in this rural area. There are multiple tours that are held on a daily basis here.
[ advertisement ]
The Rainbow Springs Nature Park and Kiwi Encounter is another attraction which is highly sought by tourists. The springs and fresh water that run through the area add to the fact that there are plenty of plants and animals in the area that are native to New Zealand. Some of these include the many birds found here, brown and rainbow trout, and of course the kiwi which is the national icon. There is even an entire hatchery dedicated to the kiwi and their history including how they arrived in New Zealand and have been in existence for millions of years.
If it is culture that you are seeking have no fear because the Tamaka Maori Village is a great stop to learn about the history of New Zealand. The theater has a theme of the Maori and the story of how the Maori arrived in the country is told. The stories of what happened before the European explorers arrived here are told as the village is explored and visited. There are songs, dances, storytelling, and myths to allow visitors to get a full grasp of the rich history behind the Maori people. To add to this there is a marketplace that allows for fun and traditionally made foods as well.
The experience of visiting Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is one that you will not be able to get anywhere else in the world. It was won awards nationally and is a lovely geographic view. It is the most natural and colorful volcanic environment in all of New Zealand. You can take a stroll as quickly or slowly as you like to take in everything that it has to offer. You can see the craters formed by the volcano, geysers, mud that bubbles, the steam rising from the ground, and formations on the terrace. At 10:15am everyday the Lady Knox Geyser erupts to an astounding height of roughly 20 meters. There are plenty of souvenirs that make it an experience you will be able to recall for a life time.
These are only a few of the lovely tourist attractions New Zealand has to offer but there are hundreds.
