Bucket List Trip
The mystical and diverse lands of New Zealand
By Tania Moffat
Majestic Mount Cook rises above the Canterbury Plains. F
or a country roughly the size of Colorado (270,000 square kilometres), New Zealand offers a remark- ably varied landscape. Lush rainforests, stunning mountain chains, steaming volcanoes, geo-
thermal hot pools, sweeping coastlines, deeply indented fiords and some of the world's most recognised tourist towns; it’s no wonder it is a “must-see” destination for so many. Tis magical land has been featured in films such as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Te Lord of the Rings trilogy, Te Hobbit trilogy and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia trilogy, largely because no single country can offer such diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes as can be found here. Te panoramas, like the grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the mountains look exactly as described in Te Lord of the Rings novels. New Zealand is comprised of two main islands, North Is- land and South Island, as well as several small surrounding islands, each with their own captivating draws. One third of the country is made up of national parks and wildlife preserves. Te seasons down under are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere, but since summer and winter
26 • Spring 2016
temps only vary by about 10 C, New Zealand remains an ideal vacation spot year round. North Island
How to get there
From Canada, flights are available via Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.
Te North Island’s extensive coastline is sur- rounded by a myriad of islands, beautiful bays and beaches. At the northwestern most tip of the Aupouri Peninsula sits the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Reinga. Tis sliver of land divides the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean and can be found by following the Twin Coast Highway. It is a highly frequented tourist destination. Te cape is a sacred place for New Zealand’s indigenous population, the Māori, who believe it is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld.
Auckland is the country’s largest city. Set between two
harbours and close to several hiking trails and vineyards, it is a great multicultural city to visit. Te breathtaking Coro- mandel Peninsula is easily accessible from Auckland and will thrill all visitors with intriguing rock formations and sand beaches surrounded by hills of lush green rainforests. Cathedral Cove, in Mercury Bay on the eastern shore of the Coromandel Peninsula, was used in the Chronicles of Nar-
The Hub
All photos by New Zealand tourism with individual photographers noted.
Photo by Rob Suisted.
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