TRAVEL TO NEW ZEALAND…

It is well-known for outstanding landscapes with glaciers, the stupendous Milford Sound, breathtaking mountains views from Queenstown, and the stunning azure waters of Lake Tekapo.

Offering epic hikes and freedom camping throughout the South Island, outdoor enthusiasts flock to it, roaming around in campervans throughout the year.

On the other hand of the spectrum, the North Island’s climate ranges from a subtropical climate in the Bay of Islands to an ideal growing one in many regions, producing kiwis, lemons and world-famous wine. It’s also home to the capital of Auckland, the most populous of all the cities in New Zealand.

I got to cruise for two weeks from South to North, aboard a Holland America ship back in 2013, to several months exploring the Waikato in 2019 while on different house-sitting assignments.

NEW ZEALAND AT-A-GLANCE

New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa]) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

The country geographically comprises two main landmasses – that of the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu – and numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life. The country’s varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.