Posted on March 25, 2009 - by admin

Off the Beaten Track: New Zealand

Home to gorgeous panoramas, New Zealand saw a surge in its tourism industry when it was popularized by the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was filmed in the country. There are now tour operators offering Lord of the Rings-themed tours for die-hard fans.

For those who are not into hobbits, New Zealand has many historical and cultural attractions. New Zealand was first inhabited by Polynesians in its early days and then eventually, foreigners flocked to the picturesque country. It also experienced a gold rush, and visitors nowadays can still see relics of that time in Central Otago. Napier, a port city, is the epitome of the phoenix rising from the ashes. In 1931, a huge earthquake devastated the city. After the quake, Napier’s residents constructed beautiful Art Deco buildings which are now a must-see for tourists.

New Zealanders are known for their active, outdoorsy lifestyle. This is no small wonder as New Zealand is full of beautiful landscapes and natural phenomena. Fjords can be found not only in the Scandinavian area but in New Zealand as well. Doubtful Sound is the second longest and the deepest of New Zealand’s many fjords. The Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve boasts of rock towers that are products of water erosion over millions of years and look like they belong to another planet.

Thrill-seekers are bound to fall in love with New Zealand as many extreme sports were invented here. Adventurous explorers have a multitude of outdoor activities, such as paragliding and hang gliding, skydiving, abseiling and rappelling, bungee jumping, canyoning, parasailing, rafting, windsurfing, and many more.