Aotearoa, as New Zealand is called in Maori, is translated as the land of the long white cloud. It is one of the few countries in the world that offers so much in relatively small area. In few hours rideyou can travel from mountains to beach; from desert to glaciers, from volcano to pastures full of sheep; you can get lost in the vast bush where you will not meet a single person or enjoy the city buzz.
What makes New Zealand even more attractive is the Maori culture that accompanies you on each step – local names, pounamu stone and Maori legends. Who is Hei Tiki and what is Manaia? And do you know that Maori alphabet has only 20 letters?
This photo journey is made by our dear host blogger nomadiciv@.
Do you want to know the prices in New Zealand? Check out my New Zealand budget guide.
Places from the photo journey on the map
There are 10 sheep on each habitant. The landscape is amazingly green most of the year.
The fifths largest urban area in New Zealand and the capitol of the Kiwi region.
Overview of the summits – from left Mt. Tongariro, Mt. Ngaruhoe, Mt. Ruapehu.
Emerald lakes in the middle of the Tongariro Crossing.
Desert-like landscape with Mp. Ngaruhoe in the background – better known as Mount Doom in LOTR.
Whakarewarewa the Living Maori Village - the geothermal phenomenon everywhere around you and rotten egg/hydrogen sulphide in the air as well.
This geothermal area is more amazing in the cold weather when all these phenomenon are easily visible.
One of the pools in Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland.
Sandy, wide, vast and lonely. The usual spare time activity of locals is to drive forth and back in the car or quad-bike.
So much reminds me of the Philippines. This track follows the coast line and is very easy. You can take a break anytime on one of the beautiful sandy beaches with tortoise water.
The trees are covered with Honey Dew (lichen) and give a fairy tale impression.
Rugged and wild.
This is New Zealand - a typical nature – juicy green. On the beach we bumped into a single yellow eye piquing.
First class roads are fine, but the side roads are usually gravel roads.
Wonderful cruise in the fjord. Due to the relatively high mountains clouds do not pass further to the inland a therefore there are 200 rainy days in here.
Southernmost edge of the South Island with typical windswept trees.
As in many places of the NZ it is necessary to check the times of the high tide and low tide to see these places.
At the end of the summer the grass turns yellow even in the New Zealand. Although heard old resident to say that his did not happen in their childhood..
One of the hidden sights worth visiting. Hidden on the private property, but easily accessible. You can be amazed by bizarre shapes and colors.
Very touristic, but definitely the must-see. Check low tide times.
Lovely place with great hikes. You will hear avalanches all the day and the night running the slopes of surrounding mountains.
On the way to the DOC campsite. The road is luckily full of rest areas :)
The moraine and moraine lake
With Mt. Cook in the distance.
A lovely day hike. We met only two people on the route. Trees are covered with black lichen and seem like burnt. There is also an abandoned mine with rests of mining equipment. I recommend the track.
A typical symbol of New Zealand, seen everywhere including All Black dresses.
Places from the photo journey on the map
