Apart from being considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world, New Zealand also has the distinction of being one of the youngest. It was the last major land mass to be discovered by Europeans, and today, this fascinating and unspoiled country offers many reminders of its Maori and Colonial history.

The earliest known settlers in the two islands were the seafaring Maori, who arrived sometime between 1000 and 1300 AD, although some evidence suggests they were there earlier. The Maoris named the new land Aotearoa, meaning “Land of the Long White Cloud”, a name that still seems appropriate today.

The Maoris survived by hunting and farming and later by trading with the European settlers. Today, New Zealand boasts several places where you can still experience several fascinating glimpses into the Maori’s way of life and Maori culture is still an important part of what has become an increasingly multicultural society.

The Maoris were skilled fishermen, as well as expert sailors. One of their traditions was to throw back the first fish caught as a way of thanking the sea god for the catch – a tradition that continues today. They were also adept at hunting the world’s largest bird, the Moa, and harvesting and eating vegetables and potatoes.

One of the best places to gain an insight into their culture is the restored Maori village at Tamaki, which offers the chance to watch traditional singing, dancing and to purchase hand made crafts. The highlight of your visit may be the opportunity to sample a typical Maori meal, prepared the same way as it has been for centuries – cooked for several hours on hot stones buried under the ground.

The Dutch were the first Europeans to discover the two islands, naming them Nieuw Zeeland, after the Dutch province of the same name. The explorer Abel Tasman first sighted the land in 1642 – although the first visit was not a success as there was fighting between the Maoris and the Dutch. Tasman later named the bay where he had anchored “Murderer’s bay”.

The Maoris were left in peace for the next hundred years until the British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in the 18th century. Cook’s group had their misfortunes too – Maori warriors killed and ate nine members of the ship’s crew. New Zealand could just as easily have become a French colony – by coincidence, a French ship was exploring the area at the same time although neither ship sighted the other.

From the late 1790s onwards, the north coast of the North Island became a busy place, as traders, whaling ships and missionaries established settlements there. The settlers traded weapons with the Maoris – often trading muskets for fruit or pigs. This led to the tribes fighting among themselves – a bloody period in New Zealand’s history that has become known as the “Musket Wars”.

The British signed a treaty to colonize the islands in February, 1840 – the Treaty of Waitangi. While most Maoris were agreeable to this, not every tribe was amenable and this led to more fighting – a period known as the New Zealand Wars. One skirmish was triggered off by the Maoris repeatedly cutting down the ceremonial British flagpole in the settlement at Kororareka.

The following year New Zealand officially became a British colony and the New Zealand Constitution Act was established in 1852. The islands saw a further increase in immigrants, not only from the UK, but from other parts of Europe and the US as well. And the late 19th century also saw the beginning of immigration from China, with men arriving to work in the gold mines.

During the 1890s, New Zealand’s economy, which had previously relied mainly on trading and wool, was boosted by the increased export of frozen meat to Britain. The invention of refrigeration suddenly made it possible to keep meat cold for the duration of the long sea crossing – New Zealand would remain a key player in the refrigerated meat business until the 1970s.

New Zealand declared independence from the UK in 1907, although the country remained a part of the British Empire and New Zealanders fought alongside the British in both world wars. A period of cooperation with the United States led to the signing of the ANZUS treaty in 1951, guaranteeing that New Zealand, Australia and America would assist each other if any of the countries were to be invaded.

Today, New Zealand is an independent nation within the British Commonwealth and still retains strong bonds with Britain. The British Union Jack appears on the country’s flag and an image of the Queen can still be seen on some banknotes. People from all over the world visit this remote nation to experience its history and a taste of its unique culture.

If you are unsure about where to take your next vacation then perhaps you should consider New Zealand. It is a beautiful country that has a variety of wonderful scenery and terrain. From the forests in the north to the many beaches in the south, New Zealand offers just about every thing that the visitor could want. This article aims to provide an insight in to just a small selection of the places that you can visit once you decide to go.
Current statistics show that the population of New Zealand is approximately four million people, of which just over a million live in its biggest city, Auckland. The capital city is Wellington which has a population of around 400,000. The vast majority of the urban areas of the country are situated on the North Island and generally people visit the South Island to enjoy the rural environment.
Auckland
If you decide to visit Auckland on your trip then make sure you visit the Sky Tower. It is hard to miss as it stands 1,066 feet into the air. Built in 1997 its primary function is for telecommunications. However, as one of the tallest buildings in New Zealand it is also a favorite place for tourists and locals alike to visit. There are restaurants and shops within the tower and the views can be breathtaking, particularly the sunsets. If you are feeling adventurous then you might want to consider trying the bungee jump off the tower. The Sky Jump will drop you 192 meters at a speed of 83 kilometers per hour in approximately 11 seconds!
Christchurch
This is the largest city on the South Island and is a great place to visit. With its relaxed environment, pleasant suburbs and wonderful scenery it is not difficult to understand why this is a popular city to visit. During its history, Christchurch has become known as the gateway to the Antarctica as it traditionally has been used as a base for explorations into the area. Famous explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton have used the area previously and it is still used for these purposes today.
Christchurch also has amazing botanical gardens. They were established in 1863 and possess a vast array of different and unusual plants. The great thing about this is that entry is free, so if you do go to the city you have no excuse not to visit.
Fiordland National Park
This wonderful place was named a World Heritage site in 1986 and is New Zealand’s largest National Park. The area covers approximately 1.2 Million Hectares and is a vast variety of beautiful natural landscapes.
There are plenty of places to explore within the National Park. Doubtful Sound is the deepest fiord and it is here that you can discover penguins and seals. It is also possible to go Kayaking or enjoy a cruise in this area. Milford Sound is the only fiord that is accessible by road and offers a wonderful drive, one perhaps you are unlikely to experience anywhere else in the world. If you visit this area then you must find the time to see the underwater observatory. It is situated some 10 meters below the surface and offers a wonderful view of the undisturbed natural environment under the fiord.

New Zealand is a beautiful country with a diverse geography. There are glaciers, mountains and even volcanoes which make up the landscape of the islands of New Zealand. The beautiful mountains are almost always topped with snow caps accentuating the beauty of the rivers and lakes of this region of the world.

New Zealand also boasts a diverse culture with both indigenous and immigrant population. There are cities which thrive in the New Zealand Northern Island and small communities which lay off of the beaten paths on the smaller New Zealand islands.

There are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy in New Zealand. You can take advantage of the wonderful natural scenery and go on a guided tour of the mountains or glaciers or you can kayak the beautiful rivers of the area watching for the wildlife.

New Zealand is the home for many varieties of whales, dolphins and a vast selection of interesting birds. Typically, you will want someone to show you where to see these wonderful animals although you can venture out on your own if you so wish. Cave diving is an especially popular sport for those who are looking for a new means of adventure. You can have a guide teach you the basics and then experience the adventure for yourself in a short period of time.

Once you have explored the natural beauty of New Zealand you may want to venture into the cities of Auckland and Wellington for shopping, dining and partake of their various cultural events.

New Zealand is home to several large cities including Auckland. Here you will find museums and shopping malls along with all of the great traditional food of New Zealand. Maori culture is also shown in exhibits located in the local museums of Auckland and featuring an abundance of ancient artifacts and modern information on the lifestyle of the Maori.

Auckland offers traditional entertainment as well and includes casinos and sightseeing tours of the area. If you wish to see all of Auckland in one trip then you will definitely want to visit Sky City. Sky City is an enormous glass tower which overlooks the entire city.

If you want to experience the natural beauty of New Zealand without all of the hassle then you may choose to visit one of the smaller islands. Stewart Island is a pristine picture of New Zealand forests at their prime. The island is mostly undeveloped and is the home of the famous New Zealand bird the kiwi.

You can sit back and enjoy the aurora australis on this small island making it the perfect spot for a camping adventure in New Zealand.

There are so many wonderful things to see and do while visiting New Zealand, so sometimes it is difficult to decide the best way to experience it all. This is the point when you should consider signing up for one of the incredible New Zealand tours. There are so many important attractions to see and partake in when you visit, with one of the New Zealand tours you can be sure that do not miss a thing. This way, you can see all of the history, culture, islands, lakes, parks, reserves and natural phenomena that New Zealand houses.
The history behind New Zealand is strong and it began over 700 years ago. The Polynesian migration to New Zealand many centuries ago is what has made the culture what it is today. Some New Zealand tours highlight the heritage sites and cultural experiences that are still around today. These sites are very important to natives of Australia, but for visitors they are often hard to locate or even to hear about them. This is why looking into one of the New Zealand tours is such a great idea because the experienced tour guides know exactly where to take you.
Vacationers have always flocked to islands because they hold that special charm that you cannot find anywhere else. There are so many different national parks that you can experience on one of the New Zealand tours, but one of the main islands, Stewart Island, houses one of the most breathtaking parks in the entire world. Stewart Island is great for an afternoon of hiking, watching the exotic birds and taking in the beautiful sky and stars at night. There is also a ferry that carts travelers around to all the other smaller islands to experience their beauty. Many of the smaller islands are devoted to the preservation of the wildlife in New Zealand.
New Zealand is situated between two oceans and this causes a lot of natural events to occur. They have experienced ice ages, fault lines and volcanic areas which have all contributed to making it the unique and historical country that it is today. Being located between two oceans causes New Zealand to feel every little thing that goes on beneath the surface of the earth. If you are interested in exploring the unknown and uncharted areas of the world, then New Zealand tours are your answer to a very fulfilling experience.