NAU MAI, HAERE MAI KI AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
I am yet to find a place that impresses me more than Aotearoa New Zealand. Having visited over twenty countries in the last few years I still think Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the best travel destinations in the world. Discover more about some of the places I have visited.
My experience and knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand is vast, after all, it is my home. I love to share and inspire others with travel experiences and knowledge of my homeland. It is important to me that you know what makes Aotearoa New Zealand special and unique.
HISTORY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Aotearoa is the name given to this South Pacific nation by Kupe, A Polynesian Chief. It is said he lead his people across the Pacific Ocean to settle there. Aotearoa translates to ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’.
Many hundreds of years later a Dutchman, Abel Tasman came across Aotearoa. He called it ‘New Zealand’ as it reminded him of Zealand in the Netherlands. Today the name New Zealand is most commonly used worldwide.
We New Zealanders are pretty proud of our little nation! With a land mass slightly larger than the UK and less than five million people, we do all right. We are well known for our love for adventure, our ingenuity and our ‘can do’ attitude.
A PLACE OF TWO PEOPLES
In Aotearoa New Zealand, we have a treaty agreement known as Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). This was an agreement between Māori (not all tribes) and the British Crown. It was signed in 1840 at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. Find out more about visiting Waitangi and the Bay of Islands. The Treaty is at the forefront of much decision making when it comes to what is best for Aotearoa New Zealand.
We have two official languages, Māori and New Zealand Sign. English is often assumed as an official language as it is the most commonly spoken and the first language of most New Zealanders. English however, has never been given ‘official’ status.
Even though we have a treaty between two nations with a bi-cultural heritage we are a very multi-cultural country. And for this reason, I believe we are a majority of tolerant and non-judgmental people. I often hear from other travellers that kiwis are some of the friendliest people they have met.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
The silver fern is a national icon, just like the kiwi a bird native to Aotearoa New Zealand. Both can be found in our forests but the kiwi is much harder to find. You may often hear a New Zealander refer to themselves as a kiwi, by this we mean the bird, not the fruit.
Our native flora and fauna are very unique as humans have only inhabited this country for a thousand years. Before the arrival of people, life on the land consisted mostly of birds, lizards, and insects. The ocean was full of life with an abundance of whales, seals and more.
Aotearoa New Zealand only has one native mammal, a bat. All other land mammals were introduced along with many predators and pests. Many of the species became extinct once man arrived. Today they are still a huge threat to our native plants and animals. There is plenty of wildlife to observe from the mountains to the sea. Check out my trip to Moutohorā Wildlife Sanctuary (Whale Island).
THE LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT
Our unique landscape is a big part of what attracts thousands of people to Aotearoa New Zealand. From stunning beaches to breathtaking glaciers, dramatic volcanoes and bustling cities. You will find lush green forests and rolling hills with lakes and rivers dispersed throughout.
We have four very distinct seasons with normal summer temperatures getting into the high twenties to early thirties (Celsius) and many places will get well below zero in the winter. The further north you go the warmer it tends to be but the weather can be quite unpredictable. It is not uncommon to get four seasons in one day.
TOURISM IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Despite being miles away from most of the world, Aotearoa New Zealand is a very popular tourist destination. Nearly four million people a year visit each year and that number continues to grow. That is a lot of people when the total population is just under five million.
There are some definite tourist hotspots like Queenstown and Rotorua. Take a look at this complete Rotorua City Guide. The summertime is popular for those looking to get outdoors and enjoy great weather. The winter time is popular for those who love to hit the snow-covered mountains and ski fields. My favourite time of year is Autumn, the weather is great, the crowds have gone and it is still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors.
Kiwis love the outdoors and so do their visitors. There is no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy such as hiking, kayaking, mountain climbing, skiing and snowboarding, fishing, diving, biking, surfing, rafting, and hunting. And then there is the 3000km Te Araroa Trail! Find out more about my adventure hiking the first 500km. But let’s not forget the extreme sport! You will not be disappointed by the range of thrilling activities on offer such as sky diving, white water rafting, bungy jumping, zorbing, zip lining, hot air ballooning, and off-roading.
DID YOU KNOW?
New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary along with Tenzing Norgay were the first men in the world to climb Mt Everest.
You can sometimes see the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Aotearoa New Zealand was the first country in the world to let women vote in government elections.
The Atom was first split by New Zealander, Ernest Rutherford
Russell Crowe is a kiwi, not Australian (Australian’s like to claim our things)
The city of Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the dawn of a new day.
We have no snakes or poisonous spiders (with the katipo spider being an exception but I don’t know anyone who has ever seen one)
We make the best Sauvignon Blanc wine in the world
Over one-third of Aotearoa New Zealand is made up of protected parkland and marine reserves.
New Zealand is home to the most successful sports team in history, the All Blacks Rugby team.
The first commercial bungee jump opened in Aotearoa New Zealand having been invented by New Zealander AJ Hackett.
Aotearoa New Zealand has the worlds only flightless parrot, the Kakapo
All energy generated in Aotearoa New Zealand comes from over 80 percent renewable sources.
Nowhere in Aotearoa New Zealand is more than 120 kilometers from the coast.
We produce 100 kilograms of butter per person per year. Dairy is a big industry!
New Zealanders own more cars per capita than just about any other country in the world.
ABOUT YOLO SOLO
At the end of 2015, Karllie left her long teaching career, sold her home and set off on some life-changing adventures. Visiting nearly 20 countries across three continents sparked a real passion for budget solo travel, which you can follow on Facebook. More recently Karllie has returned to Aotearoa New Zealand and is looking to inspire others to explore her homeland. The outdoors is her happy place, especially when she is hiking or near the ocean.
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