Kia Ora....some things you might not know about New Zealand

Kia ora is a Māori language greeting which has entered New Zealand English. It means literally "be well/healthy" and is translated as an informal "hi". The two main languages spoken in New Zealand are English and Maori.

My husband was "born & raised" in New Zealand - and I was fortunate to have lived there for 11 years myself. If you are curious about this beautiful country and considering it for your own bucket list, here are some things you might like to know about....


New Zealand has become more and more popular as a travel destination...especially after so many people became aware of the stunning scenery after seeing the well know  "Lord of the Rings" movie series. Did you know that the first man to climb Mt Everest (Sir Edmund Hilary) was a Kiwi?



New Zealand is comprised of two major islands (the North and the South Island) and a number of smaller islands. It is similar in size to Great Britain or Japan - but wonderfully uncrowded, with a population of just 4 million people.....in fact they say they have more sheep than people in this small country!  No part of the country is more than 79 miles from the sea.

They have four distinct seasons - but their seasons are reversed from what we have here in the Northern Hemisphere...so Spring is September-November, Summer is December-February, Autumn is March-May, and Winter is June-August. In New Zealand the temperatures are mild year round with little variance...so anytime is a good time to travel "downunder".

New Zealanders are adventurous - and there are lots of outdoor activities available for tourists, including golf, cycling, walking & hiking. Did you know that organized commercial bungee jumping first began in New Zealand? The Jet Boat was originally designed by New Zealander Bill Hamilton in 1953, and has developed into a Kiwi icon - and a must do activity on your New Zealand vacation. Sailing, surfing, diving, fishing - Kiwis love the water, and there are so many choices when it comes to water activities.

There are regular flights to New Zealand from the west coast - and the flight time from Los Angeles to Auckland for example is 12 hours - and the best part is that you fly out in the evening, so by the time you have had a meal, a glass of wine, watched a movie, and had a sleep - it's almost time to land and the flight attendants are waking you up with breakfast! 

If you have the travel time to do so - you can also combine a trip to New Zealand with time in Australia too - it is just 3 hours from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand.

There are lots of choices as to how you see this amazing country - for example there are several cruise options with 9 main cruise ports in New Zealand. There are numerous tour opportunities for both escorted and fully-independent tours - including self-drive tours. Do keep in mind though that in New Zealand they drive on the left-side of the road as they do in Great Britain. There is a wide range of different types of accommodation to choose from.


So....would you like to know more? If you have questions about New Zealand, CONTACT US for more information.

This is a trip of a lifetime....NOW is the time to plan your vacation "downunder", so don't delay!