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The most enviable and distinctive sights to new visitors of Queenstown is the Skyline complex which is high above the city. Make sure you take time on your New Zealand tour for the breathtaking 220 degree panoramic views that include Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and more. For adventure seekers, you can slip downhill in the winding Skyline Luge. Also, take advantage of AJ Hacketts Bungy or even explore a tandem parapente flight. For less adventurous folks, many walking paths can be accessed from the Skyline and range from 30 minute to full day hikes.
If you want to take in spectacular views of Aucklands Waitemata Harbour, all you have to do is sit back and relax and take a sailing and dining cruise. Let the professionals handle your yacht and trim the sales while you enjoy the freshest and most appetizing New Zealand cuisine as well as listen to informative commentary on the sights of Auckland city and the Harbour Bridge. Most tours also include an entry to the New Zealand National Maritime Museum. For those taking a day cruise, you can sail to Rangitoto and Motutapu Island as well as anchor down on the western tip of Waiheke Island for lunch, a walk on shore and even take a swim by the beach.
Global Warming or not, you can take part in a historic guided tour onto the world famous Fox Glacier. Many hiking tours offer a range of walks for all fitness levels. Situated on the west coast of South Island and only 12 miles south of Franz Josef, Fox is New Zealands largest guided glacier tour. While there, you can walk the stunning glacier which is the main feature of Westland National Park and considered a World Heritage area. This edutainment portion of your trip may just be the most fun you have had learning ever.
Other Antarctic attractions include the International Antarctic Center which is located next to the Christchurch International Airport. This fun and exciting environment simulates real Antarctic conditions with a Touch Screen tour equipped with Arctic wind chill. You can slide down a snow slope, or take the Antarctic Hagglund Ride. The International Antarctic Center, a 2 time winner of Best Attraction by the NZ Tourism awards also serves up delicious cuisine in the Cafe and has spacious meeting rooms for themed events.
Do not forget the Willobank Wildlife Reserve where they actually recommend that you feed the animals! Also, with the Wildlife by Night and Kiwi House events, you can observe the kiwi and other rare animal life in their natural environment. An award winning restaurant awaits the hungry with scrumptious New Zealand cuisine where you can also take your tour under the stars.
Those planning to study abroad in New Zealand, Australia or other places in the Southwest Pacific will have no shortage of opportunities to take short breaks during their stay. During most programs while you study abroad in Australia or New Zealand, you will be in a major metropolitan area such as Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, or Auckland. All of these cities are located within a few hours of other interesting places that you will want to visit while you Study abroad.
In Australia: Sydney
While in Sydney, you will definitely want to visit the Blue Mountains. Although Australia is generally though of as being primarily a hot desert scrubland, there is a great deal of scenic diversity not far from Sydney. The Blue Mountains consist of a sandstone plateau rising to over 3300 feet above sea level. Designated as a World Heritage Site, the Blue Mountains are home to spectacular rock formations and a wide variety of flora and fauna that are contained within seven national parks.
Adelaide
The region around Australia’s first city to be founded by free settlers is remarkably similar to California’s Napa Valley and the Bay Area. Nearby day trip destinations include winery tours, Mount Lofty with its commanding view of the Adelaide area, and the Cleland Wildlife Park, where you can actually pet a kangaroo or a koala bear.
Perth
If Adelaide is northern Califorina, this west coast Australian city is south Florida and the Caribbean. You will not want to miss out on Rottnest Island, which features secluded white beaches and unique wildlife that exists nowhere else on the planet. Another spectacular feature is Wave Rock, a forty-five foot high granite cliff that is shaped remarkably like an ocean wave.
Melbourne
This scenic city in the Australian state of Victoria has more attractions than we can list here, but among those you won’t want to miss are:
• Arthur’s Seat: A 915-foot high hill overlooking the harbor. Three mazes are to be found here in addition to excellent panoramas and examples of indigenous fauna.
• Boneo Maze and Wetlands Centre: If eco-tourism interests you, this 15-acre site may be for you. In addition to over a mile of boardwalk paths through woodland and wetland areas, you will find a number of very nice picnic spots.
New Zealand
If you are going to study in New Zealand, you’ll find a number of exciting and novel day trip opportunities as well. If you saw the recent film trilogy Lord of the Rings, you are area of some of the spectacular Alpine scenery to be found in this country. In addition, Auckland and Christchurch are home to many scenic parks where one can see the native plant life as well as museums dedicated to various aspects of this country’s history and indigenous Maori culture.
New Zealand, that rugged set of islands east of Australia and north of Antarctica, offers some truly unique vacation options. The country’s stunning natural scenery and remarkable wildlife in particular offer boundless holiday possibilities for all the family.
New Zealand’s isolation means that 90% of the flora and fauna found here are seen nowhere else in the world. The most famous of these is the Kiwi bird which is the country’s national symbol. With the same size as a domestic chicken, the kiwi is a flightless bird with many mammalian features such ovaries and whiskers.
The kiwi bird is now a protected species and one of the best places to see them is the Willowbank Kiwi Breeding Area nearChristchurch. This open area of bush land covers around two hectares and is home to many species of bird such as the North Island Brown. Fledglings are housed in a large nocturnal house.
Among the natural wonders of New Zealand are the hot springs and geysers of Rotorua which has been a spa town since the 1880s. Located on the south shore of Lake Rotorura in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island, Rotorura is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. It’s also nicknamed Sulphur City because of the fumes that waft out of the earth and the mud pools.
Perched atop a geothermal hotspot, the city and environs are festooned with natural vents and hot mud pools. Many of these are situated in parks and reserves and new eruptions pop up regularly. Kuirau Park, to the west of the city is the most popular spot for taking the waters. The most notable spouter is the Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa.
Other than gasping at the geysers, you can enjoy a wide range of water activities such as fishing, waterskiing, swimming and boating on the 17 lakes in the Rotorua region. In fact, Rotorua hosted the 2007 World Water ski Championships. Rotorua is a 3-hour drive south of Auckland.
If you’re a Lord of the Rings buff and long to gaze at the dark land of Mordor, head for Tongariro National Park which was the location for Mordor in the Peter Jackson movie. It’s a spectacular park with its active volcanoes and offers splendid hiking and walking in the summer. In the winter it’s a popular ski area.
Other than its movie associations, Tongariro has many other claims to fame. For one thing, when it was established in 1887, Tongariro was New Zealand’s first national park.
These are just a few of the activities unique to New Zealand. When you head south to this marvellous Land Of The Long White Cloud, you’ll find many more unique sights and activities to amaze and delight you.
When you first walk through the gates to enter the Atlanta Zoo, you will hear the sounds of wildlife within the confines of the zoo. As soon as you enter the zoo, you will be walking into Flamingo Plaza. If the kids want to have a little fun before seeing the animals of the zoo, you might take a walk to the KidZone, which has a playground, birthday parlor, children\’s petting zoo and many zoo animals to see in their habitats. You will see the kangaroos, exotic birds and the creatures of the wetlands inside the KidZone.
After visiting the KidZone, you can move onto the Wildlife Theatre and the Elephant House. After seeing the huge elephants that live in the zoo, you can move to the leopards and the tigers. This is a spectacular sight to see for the entire family. After the tigers and the leopards, visit the Grand Patio for a rest and a bite to eat. The Ford Pavilion is located right next door as well as the Wild Planet Café. After sitting a while and enjoying some good food, you will be on your way to see the giant pandas. They are so much fun to watch. You will find yourself spending some time here watching their antics.
After the pandas move onto the reptiles world, this is were you will see everything thing that makes you shiver. They wiggle by you and jump around all over the place. Then move on to see the otters in their habitat. You will find all these animal and creatures in the Asian Forest. Next, you will move onto the Ford African Rain Forest. You will see the big gorillas and visit the conservation center, the monkeys, and all their antics. This will amuse you for hours as you sit and watch them swing, jump and play king of the jungle.
Next, you will want to move onto the African Plains. You will see the rhinos, zebras, giraffes, lions and visit the elephants again. Visit the pavilion, sit a while, and just watch the wildlife at play. The Atlanta Zoo is spectacular and has everything you could possibly want to see in a zoo environment. Finish you day off back at the Flamingo Plaza, visit the flamingos, take a break, and have a little something to eat. The zoo has everything planned out so well for a great day of visiting.
While you are at the zoo, you might want to take a ride on the Zoo Express Train, do some rock climbing or take a ride on the Endangered Species Carousel. The Panda Gift Shop and the Trading Company are great places to buy some souvenirs before leaving the park. Enjoy the animals and the food and games at the Atlanta Zoo. You can dine at the Wild Planet Café, Willie B\’s, Flamingo Joes and the Otterly Cool. The zoo offers so many things to see and do while visiting, you will want to get there early and leave late.
If not you might want to take a cue from what we have lined up for you. Exotic, enigmatic, stunning, pleasing, the description for these places can just go on and on. Undoubtedly for real, these are not your run-of-the-mill tourist destinations.This is one cat that needs to come of the bag. Travel to any of the mentioned places and you’re bound to be left enthralled for a long time. The monotony of everyday life can get the best of us, a consensus among people around the world. Work pressures, social obligations, and just the whole routine of daily chores, sometime one feels like we are robots programmed to do certain functions again and again. Well this is true, what’s also true is that some sprucing up is completely innocuous. Can you think of a better way other than a nice vacation in some distant land? Your dose of rejuvenation, an exotic destination would do precisely that. Away from the maddening rush and daily tensions, surrender yourself to the allures of extraordinary surroundings. You’ll find them aplenty across the world, you just have to pick and choose. When you’re in need of some serious repose anything commonplace just wouldn’t do. Virgin beaches, lovely mountain views, miles and miles long trails, reefs, etc, some of the ingredients of an exotic destination. And if you could manage to get hold of some culture, art and history, it’ll be like putting finishing touches to your holiday.
Planet earth is a huge place to be in. Of course, you can find a million places that make you feel out of this world, but contemplate the places we recommend. A perfect mix of natural and man-made panoramas, Ecuador is nothing short of being utopia. A beautiful place located in South America, it is a haven for all nature lovers. Rain forests, old churches, ancient ruins and treasures, volcanoes, beaches, museums, and Galapagos Islands make Ecuador thoroughly enticing. Now from South America hop onto to North America. A largest state in the U.S by area, Alaska is a special travel destination. A land of diversity, its myriad islands, imposing volcanoes, deep valleys, lofty mountains, and extraordinary wildlife offer a unique Alaskan experience. Home to attractive antiquities, vibrant bazaars, intriguing architecture, and religious shrines, mystical Morocco calls out to your adventurous instincts. A North African spectacle, you can discover tranquility even within a bustling city here. The Agdal Gardens in Marrakech is one such example. A gastronomical expedition in Morocco is not to be missed as the cuisine here is a mix of Mediterranean, Arab, African, Berber, and Moorish influences so catch the Morocco Cheap flights
If activity is amidst bounties of nature is what defines you then head straight to New Zealand. Nothing short of being stunning, this place gets you moving right from the word go. Ski, surf or do jet-boating over azure waters, hike across glacial mountains, enjoy a walk near swift flowing rivers, or take beautiful pictures of scenic waterfalls as memorabilia. Get your pulse racing or calm yourself watching pretty creeks, New Zealand is a land of endless options. If you’re lucky enough you might catch hold of some great events, including BMW Auckland Marathon, Grey Lynn Park Festival, Sky Tower Vertical Challenge, and Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter. When talking of exotic destinations how can Asia be far behind? Synonymous with serenity and enigma at the same time, Bhutan appeals every adventurous traveler. Ravishing ravines, magnificent monasteries, attractive arts and architecture, game reserves, ancient festivals and traditions, it is truly a getaway. The only place in the world unaffected by colonialism, Bhutan some amazing cities to visit, such as Paro, Phunsholing, and Thimphu.
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.
A nature lovers’ paradise, the Glenfern Sanctuary is home to native New Zealand wildlife that is very rare and unique, and is a popular tourist destination in Auckland. This lush green world is found on Great Barrier Island on the Kotuku Peninsula, and is a safe haven where many endangered and rare native species can be found. Much hard work carried on over years have gone into the creation of this eco system that is based on reforesting the area with rare native plant life and the eradication of pests such as rabbits and cats that oppose it. A trip to the place makes for a great day of relaxing family fun that can be both educational and entertaining.
Upon visiting the Glenfern Sanctuary, you will be transported in to another world where lush greenery and exotic bird life blends in to create a peaceful coexistence. The site contains over 9,000 trees, whilst rare bird species such as the brown teal, chevron skink, black petrel and kaka can be found. Much of the attractions to be viewed and experienced during your visit can be accomplished by taking a sanctuary guided walk.
The exciting sanctuary guided walk begins by taking a ride up Sunset Hill in an all terrain army vehicle. From the top of the hill you are able to take in the amazing view of the 60 acre sanctuary. A trail starts off from here which leads you along the top of the ridge and then branches off to the Kauri Tree Walk. Along the walk, you can enjoy the beauty of native plants and explore a mature lowland forest that has many unique plants and trees. The best part of the walk is still ahead where a suspension bridge leads you to the crown of a 600 year old Kauri tree. A platform accessible by ladder can be ascended to gain an amazing view of the Port FitzRoy.
As you make your way back down the valley, rare birds that exist only in this part world like the black petrel seabird can be seen in its nest. Lush trees that include old nikau, taraire and kohekohe trees can also been seen in their habitat, whilst there is a unique old puriri tree that has a face like image in its trunk. The walk back to the starting point continues to be exciting as you take in the charm of Mother Nature and head back to the starting point by crossing several bridges over a stream.
Tourists looking for elegant and luxurious Auckland hotels to stay in whilst holidaying in the city can stay at the Langham Hotel Auckland. This hotel makes for a great base from which to explore Auckland from a contemporary and relaxing base.
Image taken on 2003-01-10 09:58:39 by darren131.
Auckland: Sailors paradise
On the North Island of New Zealand you’ll find Auckland, a large city set around stunning inlets and bays. Not surprisingly, most of the Auckland’s most celebrated activities are to do with water. These include dinner cruises in the harbor and swimming with dolphins.
Transport: how to get there and around:
New Zealand’s main international airport is situated in Auckland. This makes it accessible to direct flights from the US, Australia, Asia and Europe. Flights also run domestically from the South Island to Auckland.
Auckland city covers a wide area so it is recommended to get around using a bicycle or taxi. To reach other towns and attractions, there are bus and rail services.
Weather
Owing to its location in the southern hemisphere, summer in New Zealand is from November to April. In summer temperatures are around 20 C and the winter is fairly mild as it doesn’t usually freeze.
Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Auckland.
Attractions & Events
There are events held all year in Auckland, although the city really comes to life in the summer time.
*Sports fans can enjoy January with the Open Tennis Championships and the Captain Hobson Anniversary Day Regatta.
*In March, Western Springs holds the Pasifika Festival with Polynesian music and performances.
*Auckland Botanical Gardens have a show in November called the Ellerslie Flower Show.
Wellington: Attractive city of views
The capital city, Wellington is surrounded by hills and offers some splendid views of the Harbor. Home to the main government buildings, Wellington also has a bustling cafe and entertainment culture.
Transport: how to get there and around:
Domestic flights from Auckland and Christchurch as well as other destinations connect with Wellington airport. A ferry also makes it possible to reach the south island town of Picton.
A major bus route runs from Auckland to Wellington. To get around in and around the city itself there are local train and bus services, as well as taxi’s.
Weather
Situated on the coast, Wellington can suffer from windy weather.
Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Wellington.
Attractions & Events
Many sporting and cultural events take place in the capital city, here are just a few.
*During January, the city hosts Wellington Cup Week with fashion, live music and of course horse racing.
*The Arts Festival is held in January with International artists taking part.
*The Jazz festival and Fashion Festival are both during October.
Christchurch: Have fun with nature
From Christchurch you can access nature and have fun on New Zealand’s plains, lakes, mountains and beaches. Being the largest city in the Southern Island, there are always attractions for visitors such as the Antarctic Centre, wildlife showcases, gondola trips and more.
Transport: how to get there and around:
The international airport of the South Island is in Christchurch, connecting with Australia and several other destinations. Air New Zealand serves other domestic locations. Getting around is simple with the city’s cost effective bus service and reliable rail network.
Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Christchurch.
Attractions & Events:
*An international festival of flowers is held in Christchurch during the month os February.
*Fine music, food and wine can be enjoyed during Augusts International Jazz Festival
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